A WORLD OF REGIONS

Unit III
 The Global Divide
As the Filipinos patronized international branches of coffee
shops(Starbucks, Figaro, Coffee bean, Tea leaf, Seattle’s best). We
experience the so called globalization as this shops treat its customers
having depending on their nationality. While this shows global
interconnectedness and global modernity, multi-national corporations
(MNCs) and transnational corporations (TNCs) operating in our
countries tend to create problems like cheap labor, exploitation and
the like.
This means that even though the globalization is discussed as a
multi-dimensional phenomenon, the globalization is still viewed
having two faces; The good or the bad, and The positive and
negative. It shows how globalization divides different nations
having different economic status (The poor and the rich,
developing and developed, First and third world, and Global North
and Global South )
Conceptualizing Global South

The idea of global south is associated with the development gaps

observed among states. It is a social and political move against global
inequalities which often lead to categorizing states as developed and
developing or First and Third world. Contemporary critics use the term
‘global south’ to highlight the imbalance distribution of global power as
there are states who take most of the advantages while others are left
behind.
Previously, the term ‘The third world’ was used by those who criticize
cold war-era politics. This pertains to the parts of the world that did not
fall into the capitalist also called ‘First World’ or the communist(Second
World) during the Cold War. “ Third Worldism” on the other hand, was
linked to being ‘not aligned’ of these countries but eventually the term
was abandoned as the Soviet Bloc or the Second World collapsed. The
countries which are less developed in Africa, Asia and Latin America are
also categorized as ‘third’ because of the prevailing poverty and
economic dependence to First World states(Heywood, 2011).
With the changing global scenarios, historical events are still

relevant for these terms. But as the Third Wordlism and non-

alignment (due to collapsed of Soviet Bloc) are no longer

practically used , all these points only to a certain phenomenon:

that there is underdevelopment of states/ people and lack of

representation in global political process( Claudio, 2014).

However, as there could be different effects of world political event like
imperialism and cold war-era, the term ‘global South’ may still evolve,
especially when affected by globalization. In this sense, the important
question may not be ‘what global South becomes relevant’ (Levander and
Mignolo, 2011; cited by Claudio, 2014). Same is true when one suppose
that the ‘global South is everywhere, but it is also somewhere, and that
somewhere, located at the intersection of entangled political geographies
of dispossession and repossession’(Sparke, 2007; cited by Claudio, 2014).
For instance, when global financial crisis hit most of the European

countries in 2008, Greece in particular, were reported to have lost their

jobs and government cut public spending; issues which are common to

global South such as prostitution, heroin addiction, and epidemic arises.

Thus, the problems of the global South are globalized. These terrible

conditions wonder the British daily news to questions “Is Greece

becoming a third World country?” (Moran, 2012, cited by Claudio, 2014)

Similarly, as US President Donald Trump issued policies that restrict
immigrants as anchored on economic nationalism, implies that
unemployment (even poverty) also exist in the global North. While metro
district like Makati where MNCs and large corporations operate is a
manifestation that spaces of developed countries are also found in the
global South of which the Philippines is classified. In this sense, the spaces
of underdevelopment in developed countries may mirror the qualities of
the global South and spaces of the affluence in the developing world
mirror those of the global North.
Third World versus Global South
To locate what are the states in global south, Grovogui (2011. cited by Claudio,
2014) contends that:

The global South is not a directional designation or a point due to south from fixed
north. It is a symbolic designation meant to capture the semblance of cohesion that
emerged when former colonial entities engaged in political projects of decolonization
and moved toward the realization of a post-colonial international order.
Thus, Grovogui suggest that the states in the international system of

governance are those that have common experience i.e colonization.

In the early phase of globalization in 19th century, anti-colonial ideas

reached former colonial territories which eventually were believed to

be the foundation of contemporary concept of global south (Claudio,

2014).
After WWII, more countries are decolonized particularly when UN was created in 1945, when over
80 ex-colonies achieved independence (UN, 2011). This reconstructed the world politics which was
aforementioned terms as the First (capitalist), Second (communist) and Third(non-aligned) worlds
emerged. The vision of non-aligned countries and its solidarity was significantly observed when
Asian and African countries met in Bandung, Indonesia or what was eventually referred as the
Bandung Conference in 1955. This assembly of 29 participants according to Buzdugan and
Payne(2016) is one of the defiance to many form of ‘colonialism’, both imperial and communist
( Espiritu, 2006, cited by Claudio, 2014). The discussion also emphasized the hope that the
assembled Asian and African states, which generally are Third World countries, could change the
structure of global economy that would promote economic independence and well-being. What
united the countries is not based on their common identity or culture but the generalized
affirmation that the Third World countries value freedom and universal human rights (Burke, 2006).
The North-South Divide

Interstate inequalities often pointed to the geographical areas where the

state is located. But more than this criterion of categorization is the

degree of economic and political power which countries possess and are

evidently observable in the interstate politics.

 Global north Global South

• Home to all members of G8 (USA, Japan, • Africa, Latin America and Developing Asia
Russia, Italy, United Kingdom, Germany, including Middle East
France, Canada) and to four of Security
Council’s P5 ( France, Russia, UK, USA)

• USA, Canada, Western Europe Developed

parts of Asia, Australia,

• And New Zealand

• Rich, industrialized, wealthy nations • Developing nations

• Democratic, Capitalist Countries • Non-Democratic countries
Another way of classifying states as either developed or
underdeveloped is by the concept of human development that was
first used by United Nation in 1993. Human development is a standard
of human well-being that takes account of people’s ability to develop
their full potential and lead fulfilled and creative lives in accordance
with their needs and interest ( Heywood, 2011). UN Development
Reports rank countries according to human development
indicators(HDI) which include life expectancy and health profile;
education and literacy; fuel, sanitation, shelter; food, jobs, crime,
personal distress; careers/jobs and political participation.
 Top Ten and Bottom Ten Countries in Terms of HDI Rankings (UN Human Development Report
2010)
Top Bottom
1. Norway 1. Mali
2. Australia 2. Burkina Faso
3. New Zealand 3. Liberia
4. USA 4. Chad
5. Ireland 5. Guinea-Bissau
6. Lichtenstein 6. Mozambique
7. Netherlands 7. Burundi
8. Canada 8. Niger
9. Sweden 9. Congo
10. Germany 10. Mozambique
While geographical structures show location of states which are characterized
by poverty and affluence, the concept of ‘North-South divide’ must have been
reinforced by certain indicators which are associated with globalization. The
idea was derived from Brandt Report, entitled North-South: A Programme for
Survival (1980) and Common Crisis: North-South Cooperation for World
Recovery (1983), which was conducted by Independent Commission on
International Development Issues. This was chaired by Willy Brandt, the former
Chancellor of West Germany. The report suggests that instead of
concentrating on geographical split, the terms are essentially conceptual and
theoretical although it is prone to assume that in the ‘global North’ is where
industrial development is to be concentrated while ‘global South ‘ (Except
Australia) is where poverty and disadvantage exists.
• The concept points out that structural inequalities between high-
investment industrialized North and low-wage, low-investment rural South
is attributed to the aid, developing world debt and the practices of
TNCs(Heywood, 2011). Global South, therefore, are generally recipients of
either aids and debts and deemed victims of ‘violent economic cures’ of
international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund. In the
same way why TNCs in developing states negate globalization because the
growth of TNCs from global North means domination of global market and
exploiting cheap labour in developing countries. Moreover, the report also
emphasized that the prosperity of the North is dependent on the
development of the South.
However, such classical image of TNCs was altered at the start of 21 st century where TNCs
from developing countries have reported to have become increasingly important
( UNCTAD, World Investment Report 2006 and 2009). According to the report, the top 10
TNCs in 2007 were from 16 developing countries: China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India,
Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, S. Africa,
Kuwait, Qatar, and Turkey. Furthermore, most of the developing country TNCs, though
small, are found to become major players in particular industries like cars, electronics,
steel and container shipping.

Therefore, these evolving conditions and structures in interstate politics suggest that we
must not limit the conception of global South and global North in their conventional
characterization but could be a representation of an emerging form.
 The North and South
Divide
Richer countries are almost all located Poorer countries mostly
in the Northern Hemisphere, with the located in tropical regions
exception of Australia and New and in the Southern
Zealand. Hemisphere
 MAJOR LENSES OF
GLOBAL RELATIONS
Realism
Perhaps the most criticized perspectives yet most dominant and influential, realist
ideas can be traced from Niccolo Machiavelly and Thomas Hobbes. Realist vision is
pessimistic, i.e. international system is uneven. Highly conflictual and marked by power
struggle which based from how the human nature is being characterized; selfishness
and greed. States, as key global actors, prioritizes self-interest and survival. Being so,
the degree of peace is believed to be relative and temporal and can be disrupted
anytime. Thus, in interpreting the concept of ‘North-South divide’, realists postulate
that the states in the global North and interacting with the countries in the global South
in order to promote their very own interest.
Liberalism/Constructivism
• Liberals offers the opposites of realism for its optimistic approach. They offer that
the principle of balance and harmony is found in all forms of social interactions.

• Liberals assume that through trade and economic interdependence, division and
war are less likely to happen.

• Constructivist, however, conveys cooperation, trust and peace among

international actor. These goals, are only possible if there are based on existing
norms and conduct which are institutionalized.
Critical Perspectives: Marxism and Post
Modernism
Critical approaches to global relations have been increasingly
considerably since the late 1980s. These approaches are critical in the
sense that they oppose, in their different ways, the dominant forces and
interest in modern global relations.
Marxism
• Regarded as the principle alternative to mainstream perspectives of realism and
liberalism, Marxism offers a distinctive approach by highlighting the structures of
economic power rather than patterns of conflict and cooperation. It suggests
inequalities in global system. As state in global South engage in trading with the parts
of global North, this would only results to unequal benefits between the players
because generally, the capitalist in global North tend to dominate and exploit the
global South. This is true for Marxism since the playing field or the economic structure
is inherently uneven and further complicated by the impact of globalization.
Post Modernism
• Post modernist debunks the ideas of hierarchy, dogmas or existing structures in global
relations.

• Represented by the writings of Michel Foucault, postmodernism is believed to be based

on the belief that truth is always contested and plural. Hence, emphasis was given that
all ideas and concepts are expressed in language which itself is caught in complex
relations of power. The use of language is referred as ‘idea of discourse power’- human
interactions which can close disclose or illustrate power relations(Heywood, 2011).
Major Lenses of International Relations
REALISM LIBERALISM/CONSTRUCTIVISM

NORTH VS SOUTH
MARXISM POST MODERNISM
CONCLUSION
• As globalization prevails, increase and intensification of global problems are also
detected.
• Global south are actually ex-colonies.
• The success of Global north may bring inspiration to the development of Global
South
• With the problem in environment, global South has been more vocal and decisive
on addressing the threat of climate change through government initiatives and
collective movements. This and other prevailing global problems significantly
demand for those state/people from the North to support alternatives, initiatives
and collective actions from the global South. A network of solidarity is a must.
ASIAN REGIONALISM
Lesson II
What is regionalization?
• In the terms of economy and politics, regionalization is a strategy in economics which focuses on
a particular region

• Employs differentiation based on regions. For example, a product may have different marketing
strategies in terms of packaging and advertising depending on the region it will be promoted.

• Regionalization can also be seen in a broader sense as a political and economic tool for
cooperation and integration.

• Can be a way to recognized your own self. :V

 History of Regionalization in Southeast
Asia
• After the great war (WWII) regional leaders around the world look for new
structure on how they will manage their shared interest, threats and
opportunities. Marginalized economies that had been excluded from the world
market, were increasingly seeing renewed opportunities in the collaboration with
the neighboring countries.
• As the time pass by, New regionalism comes up, it is a process of construction and
deconstruction by different players and changes according to the global processes
firms are established in particular region that an be collectively react to global
pressures, tensions and challenges. The ASEAN is a perfect example of a
successful regional cooperation that responds to external pressures and common
challenges.
• On August 8, 1967, five leader of Southeast Asian countries- the Foreign

ministers of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and

Thailand- met together in the Department of Foreign Affairs building in
Bangkok, Thailand and signed a document. By virtue of that document,
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was born. The five
foreign Ministers who signed it – Adam Malik of Indonesia, Narciso R.
Ramos of the Philippines, Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia, S. Rajaratman of
Singapore, and Thanat Khoman of Thailand – would later be hailed as
the Founding Fathers of ASEAN.
• The goal of ASEAN is more of cooperation in terms of economic, social, cultural,
technical, educational and other fields. Also it is a promotion of regional peace and
stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law and adherence to the
principles of the United Nations Charter.
• The association is open for participation by all states in the S.E Asian region
subscribing to its aim, principles and purposes.
• ASEAN was proclaimed as representing the collective will of the nations of South east
Asia to bind themselves together in friendship and cooperation and, through joint
efforts and sacrifices, secure for their people and for posterity the blessings of peace,
freedom and prosperity (ASEAN.com).
• From the article of Akkerman (2007), the main reason for the ASEAN cooperation is
primarily from the outside- the US feared that communism will spread out all over the
region – to prevent this it sponsor the creation the association for stability purposes.
• After Cold war, ASEAN extends its cooperation with Lao PDR, Vietnam, Cambodia,
and Myanmar and adopting the ASEAN Free Trade Area to attract Foreign Direct
Investment.
Challenges and Response
• The crisis that hit Asian region in 1997-1998 made the ASEAN realize the
importance of cooperation among member and non-members.

• One of the result of the crisis is the creation of Asian monetary policy – despite of
being allied with the IMF – that Asia is imposing their own financial framework for
future crisis and that countries will no longer depend on US assistance.
• ASEAN created bilateral agreements with China, Japan, and South Korea
(ASEAN+3), a framework that besides financial issues also includes deeper
economic cooperation.
• Other primary regional organizations are Asia- Pacific Economic
Cooperation(APEC) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
• There are global forces that meet in the region – United States, The European
Union, China and Russia.
• US has encouraged economic cooperation in APEC, for it had no role in the
ASEAN.
• Many regions are challenge since ASEAN is referred to as a Third World Regional
cooperation – with countries so diverse with each other and yet it is successful. It is
amazing that despite of diversity in many aspect, countries in Southeast and East
Asia came together with just one slogan- ‘Unity in diversity’.