The 2023 G20 Summit was held in New Delhi, India, on September 9-10, 2023. It was the first time that India had hosted the summit, and it was attended by the leaders of the 20 largest economies in the world, as well as the European Union.

The theme of the summit was “One Earth, One Family, One Future”. The leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including the global economy, climate change, and sustainable development.

The G20: A Club of the Rich and Powerful

The G20 is an informal forum of the world’s 20 largest economies. It established in 1999 to promote international economic cooperation and coordination. The G20 includes the United States, China, Japan, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, Russia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, Argentina, Australia, and the European Union.

The G20 often criticized for being a club of the rich and powerful. The members of the G20 account for about 80% of the world’s GDP and 90% of its trade. This means that the decisions made by the G20 have a major impact on the global economy, but they are not made in a democratic or transparent manner.

The Summit’s Agenda: Climate Change, Inequality, and the War in Ukraine

The main agenda items for the 2023 G20 Summit were climate change, inequality, and the war in Ukraine.

On climate change, the G20 leaders agreed to work towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. However, they did not agree on how to achieve this goal. The United States and other developed countries called for a global carbon tax, while China and other developing countries argued that such a tax would be unfair.

On inequality, the G20 leaders agreed to promote inclusive growth. However, they did not agree on how to do this. Some countries called for increased government spending on social programs, while others called for tax cuts for businesses and the wealthy.

On the war in Ukraine, the G20 leaders condemned the Russian invasion and called for a ceasefire. However, they did not agree on how to pressure Russia to end the war. Some countries called for sanctions against Russia, while others argued that sanctions would only hurt the Russian people.

The Summit’s Outcomes: A Consensus Declaration That Avoids Confrontation

In the end, the G20 leaders were unable to reach any major agreements on any of the major issues on the agenda. They instead adopted a consensus declaration that avoided confrontation.

The declaration called for a “global partnership” to address climate change, inequality, and other challenges. However, it did not specify any concrete actions that would taken.

The declaration also called for a “peaceful resolution” to the war in Ukraine. However, it did not condemn Russia’s invasion or call for sanctions against Russia.

A Marxist Critique of the G20

Marxists criticize the G20 for being a forum for the rich and powerful to protect their interests. They argue that the G20 not interested in addressing the real problems facing the world, such as climate change, inequality, and war.

They also argue that the G20 is undemocratic and unaccountable. They point out that the decisions made by the G20 not made in a transparent manner and that the members of the G20 not elected by the people.

In conclusion, the 2023 G20 Summit was a missed opportunity for global change. The leaders of the world’s largest economies were unable to reach any major agreements on any of the major issues on the agenda. The summit’s outcomes were a consensus declaration that avoided confrontation and did not address the real problems facing the world.