The term Global South is more than a metaphor for underdevelopment; it encapsulates a history of colonialism, neo-imperialism, and ongoing global inequalities in wealth, resources, and power (Dados & Connell, 2012). As a critical framework, it highlights how the geopolitical and socio-economic disparities impact infrastructure, the built environment, and socio-economic resilience that define regions in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania—areas often marginalized in the global narrative dominated by Europe and North America. Emerging from a history of colonialism and imperialism, the concept shifts focus from development or cultural differences to geopolitical power relations and global inequalities of the North-South (Fanon, 1961). Early sociologists categorized societies as "advanced" or "primitive," often associating the latter with colonized regions, while thinkers like Antonio Gramsci and Raúl Prebisch highlighted economic and cultural marginalization to define the South. The core-periphery model, post-colonial theories, and movements like the Zapatista revolt and the World Social Forum further solidified the North-South divide, emphasizing resistance to imperialism and the legacy of colonialism (Dados & Connell, 2012). Today, the Global South represents not just underdevelopment but a site of intellectual production and ongoing struggle against global inequalities, challenging the homogenizing narrative of globalization.

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As urbanization, climate change, and globalism reshape cities and spaces, the architecture of the Global South offers diverse perspectives rooted in sustainability, cultural resilience, and community-led development. Terms like ruralization, desa kota, vulnerability, and kampung emerge as counter-discourses to colonial narratives, reflecting the unique built environments that prioritize local adaptability, environmental justice, and social inclusion over homogenized global models.  Through a process of inter-referencing—where regions within the Global South learn from and inspire one another, particularly following the Bandung Conference (1955) and the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Group of 77 (G77)—the Global South asserts its intellectual autonomy, fostering a knowledge system independent of the North (Gray & Gills, 2016). This process enables the theorization of resilient and sustainable futures from the perspective of the Global South, reclaiming agency in shaping its built environment.

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This conference explores how architecture and urbanism in the Global South contest dominant narrative and highlight localized responses to pressing socio-political, environmental, and infrastructural challenges. With the increase of cultural homogenization and ecological uncertainty, this conference puts forward the concept of architecture as a tool for recovering power, identity, and environmental sustainability, which promotes transformative and contextualized approaches towards the built environment. From informal settlements to traditional urban fabrics, architecture in the margins offers responses to socio-political and environmental challenges, pushing the boundaries of innovation, sustainability, and cultural relevance. This conference fosters a dialogue that respects diversity in architectural narratives and honors localized responses to global challenges, creating a more sustainable, resilient, inclusive and representative architectural discourse.