The G20 summit in Johannesburg this week is more about the absence of global consensus than the agenda itself. Born out of necessity in the wake of the 1997–98 financial crisis, the forum was designed to address a world far more interconnected than the Western-dominated G7 could manage. Its initial success lay in bringing together major economies from all regions, giving greater legitimacy to the West and a platform to emerging powers. But what was once a pragmatic response to global crises is now a symbol of an outdated approach to international cooperation.
The absence of the U.S. and other major powers from the summit underscores a deeper shift. Donald Trump’s decision to boycott the 2025 meeting signals a move away from multilateralism, replacing it with a strategy of unilateralism and bilateral deals. His skepticism of global institutions is not new, but it has become a defining feature of his administration’s approach. China and Russia, while not completely absent, are also not fully committed to the G20’s framework, reflecting a broader disillusionment with the forum’s ability to respond to today’s global challenges.
At the heart of the G20’s decline is the transformation of the global order. The liberal globalization model that once defined interactions between major economies has given way to a more fragmented landscape. The West, particularly the U.S., is no longer interested in consensus-based global governance but rather in protecting its own interests through a mix of alliances and unilateral actions. Meanwhile, the non-Western world is increasingly looking for alternatives, with BRICS and other regional groupings emerging as more viable options. These platforms offer a way to negotiate without the dominance of Western institutions, reflecting a shift in power dynamics that the G20 has failed to adapt to.
Despite these shifts, the global economy and political landscape remain deeply interconnected. The G20 was created to facilitate coordination in an era defined by this interconnectedness. Now, as the system itself fractures, its role has become obsolete. Trump’s 2026 summit in Florida is expected to be a spectacle of American priorities, signaling the end of the G20 as a meaningful institution. The future of global governance remains uncertain, as the world moves toward a multipolar structure that no longer aligns with the forum’s original purpose.