02A Lesson Proper for Week 7
GLOBAL SOUTH
The term "Global South" collectively applies to Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Oceania.
Like “Third World” and “Periphery,” it pertains to areas beyond Europe and North America
that are predominantly (although not all) low-income and occasionally economically or
culturally disadvantaged. The usage of the term "Global South" indicates a change from a
dominant emphasis on the growth of cultural identity with a focus on its international force
ties. (Dadous and Connell 2012)
Countries in the Global South can adopt sustainable change. However, it must consider the
several obstacles that prevent them from changing the way they manage their economic
growth. When sustainable development is not founded in all strong countries, it is
reasonable why less developed countries do not. Challenges may seem unbearable and
overwhelming, but developed and less developed countries can and should create a
sustainable development system around the globe.
The North and the South are modern-day representations of inequality among countries –
specifically among Western and non-Western states. Nation-states’ primary motivation in
pursuing regionalization is the individual and collective achievement of development and
progress because these are perceived as uneven phenomena. Developed countries tend to
achieve more significant growth, while impoverished states cannot do so. The Brandt
Report identified the divide as an analysis prepared by the Independent Commission on
International Development Issues chaired by Willy Brandt in 1980 (Wikipedia, Brandt
Report. Accessed 2021). It was a line that divided the "developed" Global North and the
"developing or underdeveloped" Global South.
The Global North comprises countries from Europe, Israel, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan,
Canada, the United States of America, New Zealand, and Australia (Wikipedia. North-South
Divide. Accessed 2021). The Brandt Report explains that these countries categorized under
the North are more developed because they can interact frequently and successfully. These
countries benefited from sophisticated trading and economic exchange levels, resulting in
their population's improved quality of life. The North accounts for a fourth of the world’s
combined wealth. This small proportion of the world enjoys high life expectancy and
education levels. The Brandt Report adds that countries identified with the North control
over 90% of manufacturing worldwide. Given that the North of the divide is wealthy, it can
spend a considerable amount of its budget on research in development (Wikipedia, NortSouth Divide. Accessed 2021).
The Southern comprises approximately 130 countries, all underdeveloped or poor --Africa,
Latin America, Asia (including China), Russia, and the Middle East, to name a few. Other
scholars would add the Caribbean and Pacific to this list. They comprise three-fourths of the
world's population and hold only a fifth of the world's wealth. Its citizens' life expectancy is
lower than the North because many of its citizens suffer from hunger or malnutrition. The
South also suffers from a lack of basic amenities. Half of the South’s population has a small
to no chance of getting an education. The South also accounts for 4% of research and
development and 10% of the world’s manufacturing industry because technological
penetration is almost nonexistent in these countries. The economies of these countries rely
heavily on imports from the North. Most countries and financial institutions from the North
for loans, debts, and other obligations.
Several structural factors can explain the persistence of this divide. The widening gap of
inequality among these countries attributes to the unfair trade practices, which have
benefited the North and deprived the South. Scholars attributed this widening economic
divergence because the prevailing economic and political relationship between the North
and South is dependent. The majority of the countries belonging to the Global South are the
former colonies of countries in the Global North. According to Claudio (2014), left-wing
critics argue that the Global South mires in poverty because of the privatized public
services. Claudio adds that international debts bombard developing countries --through
loans given by entities like the World Bank. The "economic norms" applied by the
developed world to itself are not the same as those imposed on the developing world. The
Global South’s economic systems pattern after their previous colonizers. Despite attaining
independence, the Global South economies remain dependent upon their colonizers'
financial system because of the lack of individuals trained to manage the local economy and
the level of dependency cultivated from years of colonialism. There are accusations of the
North imposing structural norms upon the South that will only benefit itself and beholden the
South to the North through debts and loans. Hence, nation-states belonging to the Global
South voluntarily choose to regionalize as a form of reaction to protect themselves from
neo-liberalization.
THIRD WORLD
The term "Third World" was coined in 1952 by the French historian Alfred Sauvy. He
compared "Third World" to the "Third Estate. The Third World, as a phrase, also achieved
acceptance because it gave a clear image to the developing countries in terms of political
alignment and economic status. Although ruled by European colonies, Third World citizens
lived far from global economic, political, and military power. Until recently, most were
subjugated, most illiterate, and few would have been aware that they formed a significant
portion of the world’s population even then. However, these leaders from the developing
countries (educated partly in Europe or America) have raised their awareness. This
awareness and exposure to a Western culture raised expectations and hopes. They
inspired many Third World leaders to improve colonial living conditions and win political
independence (Butler, 2016. https://globalchangemusings.blogspot.com/2016/12/how-thirdworld-became-global-south.html).
Opposition to domination by the First World (colonization) also grew by increasing migration
and travel, including stimulated by the two World Wars. Many troops who had participated in
these wars, particularly on the allied side, were from what was soon-to-be called the
Third World. Many Europeans also served in Asia, and their exposure to conditions in the
colonies may have helped erode the colonial powers' resolve to keep their empires
unbroken (Butler, 2016. https://globalchangemusings.blogspot.com/2016/12/how-thirdworld-became-global-south.html).
The term Global South functions as more than a metaphor for underdevelopment (Dados
and Connell 2012). North-South terminology, which is similar to core-periphery, arose from
a figurative application of categories to name patterns of wealth, privilege, and development
across broad regions. The term Global South functions as more than a metaphor for
underdevelopment. It references an entire history of colonialism, neoimperialism, and
differential economic and social change. Significant inequalities in living standards, life
expectancy, and access to resources are maintained.
FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH WORLD COUNTRIES
The world is divided into industrialized countries with political and economic stability and high
levels of human health and countries that do not. We identify these countries have changed and
evolved over the years as we moved through the Cold War and into the modern age.
The terms have since grown to refer to development levels, but they have become outdated.
They are no longer used to distinguish between countries considered as developed versus those
developing.
· First World described the North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries and their allies, which
were democratic, capitalist, and industrialized. The First World included North America,
Western Europe, Japan, and Australia.
· The Second world described the communist-socialist states. These countries were similar to
First World countries because they are also industrialized. It included the Soviet Union, Eastern
Europe, and China.
· Third world described those countries neither involved with the First and Second Worlds -generally defined as less-developed countries. It included developing nations, such as Africa,
Asia, and Latin America.
· Fourth world was coined in the 1970s and referred to the nations of indigenous people that
live within a country. These groups often face discrimination and forced assimilation. They are
among the poorest in the world.
Source: Karpilo, J. "What Does It Mean When a Country Is Developed or Developing?”.
January 29, 2020.
GLOBALIZATION IN LATIN AMERICA
A significant portion of Latin America can be classified as a part of the Global South. Most
of these countries have been characterized by a relationship of dependency to Northern
states. At one point in their individual histories, Latin American countries have been
subjected to colonial rule and adopted their colonizers’ languages, cultures, religion, and
economic and political systems. After these countries attained political independence, they
remained economically dependent on their former colonizers. Most of these countries have
been mired in poverty and underdevelopment as early as the post-World War II era.
Latin American countries worked to regionalize as early as the 1960s. Latin American
countries tried to integrate their economies. They aimed to create the Latin American Free
Trade Association in the South and a Central American Common Market, which all failed in
the 1970s because of the member countries' disharmonious political relationships.
However, the Common Market of the South or MERCOSUR took off in the 1990s.
The founding states of MERCOSUR, such as Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil,
progressively eliminated tariff barriers and established a standard external tariff, thereby
enhancing trade and investment among their economies. MERCOSUR achieved relative
success when employment increased among its member countries.
The Latin American experience in regionalism was primarily a post-colonial era
characterized by poverty, neglect, and underdevelopment. It has led to the development of
world views, which sought to explain the causes of these experiences and eventually
shaped and influenced the leaders of the Latin American countries to create a regional
grouping that would serve as a venue for cooperation and mutual development.
Peter Schott presented an empirical comparison of Latin America’s and Asia’s export
structures to the United States. He found that Latin American manufacturing exports receive
a higher price than Asian exports in product markets where the two regions compete
directly. He argued that the greater productive efficiency of Asian countries is a possible
explanation, thereby raising doubts about Latin American countries' ability to continue
competing with Asian products in the U.S. markets without technology improvements.
However, Bernardo Blum argued that geography, such as resources, location, and climate,
is the main determinant of countries' wealth level and income distribution. He shows
evidence that income per capita is positively correlated with exports' structure. Meanwhile,
Sebastian Claro argued that a part of Latin American countries' poor economic performance
could be associated with their fear to embrace global integration. In a world dominated by
international technology differences, integration in product and capital markets push
countries toward specialization.
In international relations, Latin American countries seem to be showing signs of taking a
many-sided approach in their diplomacy, departing from their conventional stance to attach
importance to relations with the United States. Latin America’s restricted role in global
diplomatic affairs is mainly due to its internal problems, including the constant struggle for
democracy, economic decline, growing inequality, the fight against drugs, and corruption.
These issues absorb enormous energies within these political systems, leaving limited
resources for external diplomacy. The global activities of Latin American countries have
focused on the following two areas:
1. the initiatives of larger Latin American countries
2. the economic relations with the outside world.
(Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_American_economy)