This book challenges the conventional North-to-South direction of policy diffusion by examining how policy learning flows from the Global South to the Global North. Through a series of global case studies, it reveals successful, failed, and often concealed instances of policy innovation in the Global South influencing systems in the Global North. Exploring real-world examples from Latin America, Africa, and Asia across various sectors, the chapters demonstrate how solutions in the Global South are frequently adopted yet rarely acknowledged. The volume progresses from analysing missed opportunities and repackaged ideas to explicit transfers, arguing that recognising innovation in the Global South is not just about equity but is essential for effective global governance. It is essential for scholars and practitioners in public policy, international relations, and development studies, filling a critical gap in the literature on global policy learning.

Achim Kemmerling is Professor of International Development and Public Policy at the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, University of Erfurt, Germany.

Hasnain Bokhari is Head of Digital Policy & Artificial Intelligence at the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy, University of Erfurt, Germany.

Luicy Pedroza is a Research Professor at El Colegio de México and an Associate Fellow at the ILAS-GIGA, Germany.