A WORLD

OF REGION
Module 5
The Global North and The Global
South
• Attempts to categorize the
world order have been based
more on politics and
economics than geography.
These include East and West;
developed and developing
nations; and the First,
Second, and Third Worlds.
 The Global North and The Global
South
• In the late twentieth century, the Global
North and South terminology replaced
previous descriptors of the global order. It
was generally agreed that the Global North
would include the United States, Canada,
England, nations of the European Union, as
well as Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and
even some countries in the southern
hemisphere: Australia, and New Zealand.
 The Global North and The Global
South
• The Global South, on the other hand,
would include formerly colonized
countries in Africa and Latin America, as
well as the Middle East, Brazil, India,
and parts of Asia. Many of these
countries are still marked by the social,
cultural, and economic repercussions of
colonialism, even after achieving
national independence.
 What is the Global North?

• Countries that are developed are

considered as Global North countries,
while those developing are considered as
Global South countries. The term as used
by governmental and developmental
organizations was first introduced as a
more open and value-free alternative to
"Third World" and similarly potentially
"valuing" terms like developing countries.
 Which countries are part of the Global
North?
• The division between Global North and Global
South is based on economics rather than
geography, the dividing line between the two is
not the equator, which divides the Northern and
Southern Hemispheres. Instead, most sources
consult either the Human Development Index
(HDI), a quality-of-life metric compiled by the
United Nations; or the Brandt Line, a wandering
borderline which ignores geography and instead
uses GDP per capital as its guide.
 Background
Some Global North Countries :

• UNITED STATES • UNITED KINGDOM

• RUSSIA • FRANCE

• MEXICO • ITALY
• SOUTH KOREA
• JAPAN
• SPAIN
• TURKEY
• GERMANY g
 What is the Global South?

The Global South is a term that broadly

comprises countries in the regions of Africa, Latin
America and the Caribbean, Asia (without Israel,
Japan, and South Korea), and Oceania (without
Australia and New Zealand), according to the
United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD). Most of the countries in
the Global South are characterized by low
income, dense population, poor infrastructure,
and often political or cultural marginalization.
 Background
Some Global south Countries :

• ANGOLA • KUWAIT
• SOUTH SUDAN
• BAHAMAS
• SINGAPORE
• EGYPT
• PHILIPPINES
• LIBYA
• GAMBIA
g
According to N. Oluwafemi Mimiko, the South
lacks the right technology, it is politically
unstable, its economies are divided, and its
foreign exchange earnings depend on primary
product exports to the North, along with the
fluctuation of prices. The low level of control it
exercises over imports and exports condemns the
South to conform to the 'imperialist' system.
The South's lack of development and the
high level of development of the North
deepen the inequality between them and
leave the South a source of raw material for
the developed countries. The North
becomes synonymous with economic
development and industrialization while the
South represents the previously colonized
countries which are in need of help in the
form of international aid agendas.
 In order to understand how this divide
occurs, a definition of "development" itself
is needed. Northern countries are using
most of the earth resources and most of
them are high entropic fossil fuels. Reducing
emission rates of toxic substances is central
to debate on sustainable development but
this can negatively affect economic growth..
 GLOBAL NORTH VS GLOBAL SOUTH: A SIMPLE
COMPARISON
In addition to this Global South countries are
characterized by low levels of labor productivity
throughout the Global South countries levels of
labor productivity (output per worker) are
extremely low compared with those in the Global
North, (Todaro and Smith, 2006) argue that the
concept of production function systematically
relating outputs to different combinations of
factor inputs for a given technology is often used
in the way in which societies go about providing
for their material needs.
But the technical engineering concept
of a production function must be
supplemented by a broader
conceptualization that includes among
its other inputs managerial
competence, access to information,
worker motivation and institutional
flexibility and all these are almost
lacking in the Global South countries.
Population Growth and Dependency Burdens
The population of the world in the year 2004 was
just over 6.4 billion people, of this number more
than five-sixths live in the Global South and less
than one-sixth in the Global North. Still both birth
and death rates are strikingly different between
the Global North and Global South. In Global
North birth rates are low while in the Global
South birth rates are high. For Global North birth
rates are on the order of 15-20 per 1,000
populations where as in the Global South they
range from 30-40 per 1,000 populations.
 Agricultural Global Global
Production
South North
people working in
rural area
65% 27%
labor force 58% 50%
GNI ( Gross National
Income) 14% 3%
THE THIRD WORLD AND THE GLOBAL
SOUTH?

WHAT IS THE THIRD WORLD?

TRACING BACK HISTORY •
The DECOLONIZATION process of the
1960's brought the newly independent
countries from Africa into the halls of United
Nations. • The newly independent countries
of Africa and Asia became independent
after WWII gathered in Indonesia to form
movement that is not aligned in the raging
Cold War.
TRACING BACK HISTORY •
The term "Third World" was first used by French
economist and demographer ALFRED SAUVEY in
1952, who saw Third World as modern parallel to
Third State. • The breakup of the SOVIET UNION
paves way for the disappearance of the term
"SECOND WORLD.
"However, the historical, social, economic, political
and cultural landscape of the countries grouped under
THIRD WORLD is conditioned by the cumulative or
continuing effects of colonization, imperialism and
Western domination.
TRACING BACK HISTORY •
SOME PREVIOUS DEFINITIONS
• GLOBAL SOUTH- less-developed countries.
• GLOBAL NORTH- wealthy and industrialized
countries. •
THIRD WORLD- Cold war term for Global South.
SECOND WORLD- Cold war term for Soviet Union and
communist countries
 WHAT IS COLD WAR?
The cold war was a geopolitical chess match
between the US and the Soviet Union in order to
project their respective ideologies across the
globe in the wake of colonialism's collapse
following the WWII. (1947-1991)
•POSSIBLE FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO COLD WAR

The Soviet Union refused to become part of the UN for

a long time. Stalin felt that America and Britain were
delaying D-Day causing more Soviet losses in a plot to
weaken the Soviet Army. The Soviet Union's actions in
Eastern Germany, in the Soviet zone.
The Soviet's union's fear of America's nuclear
weapons and refusal to share their nuclear secrets. So
how do we know if a country is developing and what
does it mean to be developing ?
 No clear cut definition or guideline , although all countries have
been classified
• A lack of materials wealth does not necessarily mean that one
is deprived
• A strong economy in a developed nation doesn’t mean much
when a significant percentage of the population is struggling to
survive
Successful development can mean many things
•Access to all basic needs such as food, water, shelter, clothing,
health and education .
• Stable political , social and economic environment.
• Ability to make free and informed choices
• Ability to participate in a democratic environment
• To have full potential for what the United Nations calls Human
development.
Which countries belong to the 3rd world?

Nonetheless, some countries that were historically

referred to as “Third World” include Afghanistan,
Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burkina
Faso, Cambodia, Chad, China, Congo, the
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras,
India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica.
The Third World:
Historically, the term "third world" emerged during the
Cold War and was used to categorize countries that
were not aligned with either the capitalist Western bloc
(the "first world") or the communist Eastern bloc (the
"second world"). The term was more about political
alignment rather than economic status.
The Third World:
Over time, "third world" came to be associated with
countries that faced challenges such as poverty, lack of
industrialization, political instability, and underdevelopment.
It was often used to describe nations with lower standards of
living and lower Human Development Index (HDI) scores.

However, the term has fallen out of favor due to its negative
connotations and simplification of complex global issues.
Instead, more accurate and respectful terms like "developing
countries" or "low-income countries" are preferred to discuss
the challenges faced by these nations.
The Global South:
The term "global south" is a more modern and
nuanced way of referring to countries that
generally face socio-economic challenges and are
located in the southern hemisphere. It
acknowledges the historical legacy of colonialism,
exploitation, and unequal distribution of resources
that have contributed to the disparities between
different parts of the world.
The Global South includes a diverse range of countries,
some of which have experienced significant economic
growth and development in recent years. The term is
not just about economic status but also encompasses
political, cultural, and social aspects.

It's used to highlight the structural inequalities in the

global system and the need for collaborative efforts to
address issues such as poverty, lack of access to
education and healthcare, environmental challenges,
and more.
The similarities of the THIRD WORLD and the GLOBAL SOUTH
• The terms "third world" and "global south" are often used
interchangeably or in similar contexts to describe
countries facing socio-economic challenges and
disparities.
• Both terms are used to refer to countries that generally
experience lower levels of economic development, often
characterized by issues such as poverty, limited
industrialization, and inadequate access to basic services.
• Both concepts acknowledge the historical legacy of
colonialism, exploitation, and unequal power dynamics
that have contributed to the disparities between these
countries and more economically developed regions.
• The concepts of third world and global south are
often associated with development goals aimed
at improving living conditions, access to
education, healthcare, infrastructure, and overall
wellbeing in these regions.

• Both terms highlight the need for global

cooperation, aid, and support to address the
challenges faced by countries in these
categories and promote more equitable
development.
The difference of the THIRD WORLD and the GLOBAL
SOUTH
1. Focus:
The term "third world" primarily focused on political
divisions and allegiances during the Cold War, often
obscuring the complex socio-economic issues faced by
countries categorized under this label.
The term "global south" emphasizes the economic and
development challenges faced by countries,
recognizing that these challenges are not solely a
result of political alignment.
The difference of the THIRD WORLD and the GLOBAL
SOUTH
2. Economic and Development Connotations:
 The term "third world" came to be associated with
underdevelopment, poverty, and lack of
industrialization. However, it often oversimplified the
diverse economic realities of different countries.
 The term "global south" encompasses a broader
range of economic and development situations. It
recognizes that while many countries in the southern
hemisphere face challenges, they also exhibit varying
degrees of economic growth and development.
The difference of the THIRD WORLD and the GLOBAL
SOUTH

3. Negative Connotations:
 Over time, the term "third world" acquired negative
connotations due to its simplification of complex issues
and its implication of inferiority.
 Global South is a more respectful and inclusive term
that doesn't carry the same negative baggage as "third
world.“
The difference of the THIRD WORLD and the GLOBAL
SOUTH

In summary, while both "third world" and "global

south" refer to countries facing socioeconomic
challenges, "global south" is a more contemporary and
nuanced term that emphasizes development
disparities and avoids the negative connotations
associated with "third world." It's important to use
terminology that accurately represents the
complexities of global socio-economic issues and treats
all countries with respect
Examples of countries often associated with the THIRD WORLD
might include:
• Afghanistan: Decades of conflict, political instability, and lack of
infrastructure have hindered Afghanistan's development. The
country also faces challenges in education, healthcare, and
poverty alleviation.
• Haiti: Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the Western
Hemisphere, grappling with political instability, natural disasters,
and inadequate access to basic services. Economic challenges
persist due to factors like corruption and limited infrastructure.
• Yemen: Yemen is currently facing one of the world's worst
humanitarian crises due to conflict, displacement, and a
collapsing economy. This has led to widespread poverty,
malnutrition, and lack of basic services.
Myanmar (Burma): Myanmar has faced decades of military rule,
ethnic conflict, and human rights abuses. These factors have
hindered economic development and political stability.

• Democratic Republic of Congo: The DRC faces ongoing conflicts,

corruption, and poor governance that have hindered
development. Despite its significant natural resources, the
country struggles with poverty, lack of infrastructure, and
political instability.
It's important to understand that each country's challenges are
multifaceted and influenced by historical, political, economic, and
social factors. While these examples reflect some of the challenges
faced by countries historically categorized as "third world," it's
essential to approach discussions with sensitivity and acknowledge
the complexities of these situations.
Examples of countries often associated with the GLOBAL SOUTH
might include:
• Sub-Saharan African countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, and
Ethiopia: These nations face various challenges like poverty,
limited access to healthcare and education, and political
instability.
• Countries in South Asia like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh:
While India has a growing economy and technological sector, it
also faces significant poverty and inequality issues.
• Countries in Latin America such as Brazil, Mexico, and Peru:
These nations exhibit a mix of emerging economies, resource-
rich industries, and persistent socio-economic disparities.
• Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and
Vietnam: These countries have varying degrees of economic
development and face challenges related to poverty, corruption,
and infrastructure.
Thank
You