CCW MIDTERM

The North South Divide

is the socio—economic and political division that exists between the rich and poor countries

the North

wealthy developed countries

The South

The poorer developing countries (least developed countries)

The North South Divide

is more metaphorical than geographical—it’s based on socio economic development, not just latitude.

Global North

Developed nations may shift between categories—economic development determines whether a nation is considered part of the Global North, regardless of physical location.

First World

Western Bloc; USA and Allied Countries

Second World

Eastern Bloc; USSR and Allied Countries

Third World

Non—Aligned and Largely Impoverished

1989–1991

The time Soviet Union collapsed

Global North vs Global South

New terminology emerged replacing "First" and "Third World."

Brandt Line

is a visual representation—roughly at 30° North latitude—separating richer nations (even including Australia and New Zealand) from poorer ones.

Brandt Line introduction

Introduced in the 1980s by Willy Brandt

China, Brazil, Mexico

Although many "South" countries have grown economically since then, the Brandt Line is now considered less accurate. These countries are known as newly industrialized nations.

Global North population

Global North has around 25% of global population

Global North manufacturing

Accounts for over 90% of manufacturing industries

Global North access

Approximately 95% of population have basic needs met and access to education

Global South population

About 75% of global population

Global South income

Only 20% of global income

Global South characteristics

Higher poverty, lower GDP, low technological development, reliance on raw materials and labor exports

Global South regions

Predominantly includes nations in Africa, South America, Asia (excluding Japan & South Korea)

85

In 2013, Oxfam reported that the richest ___ people owned as much as the poorest half of world’s population

Inequality causes

resource distribution, health & education levels, industrial base, trade policy, governance, conflict, and climate vulnerability

Mitigation efforts

include promoting free trade, globalization, and UN Millennium

Development Goals

focusing on education, healthcare, gender equality, and environmental sustainability.

Regionalism

the strengthened collective identity among nations within a particular geographic area that share common goals. It involves increasing cooperation in economic, political, and social dimensions.

Regionalism

thrives when countries within a geographic area align their aspirations.

Economic growth

through trade liberalization and market integration

Security cooperation

to address cross border threats like terrorism or climate change

Social development

via education, health, and poverty reduction initiatives

Sustainable progress

balancing modernization with environmental stewardship.

forming free trade agreements, harmonizing tariffs, and investing in regional infrastructure (e.g., roads, energy grids, digital connectivity)

Economic collaboration

Political collaboration

involves diplomatic summits, shared policy frameworks, and coordinated responses to global issues. Such cooperation enhances bargaining power on the world stage and builds resilience against external shocks.

Common heritage

such as language families, religious traditions, or colonial histories, fosters mutual understanding

Cultural exchanges

through festivals, education, and media strengthen regional solidarity

Historical alliances and conflicts

shape the political landscape and influence contemporary cooperation These ties provide a foundation for trust, empathy, and a sense of belonging among member states.

Old Regionalism origin

Imposed by superpowers

New Regionalism origin

Voluntary, multipolar

Old Regionalism actors

Nation states

New Regionalism actors

Includes non state actors

Old Regionalism focus

Security alliances

New Regionalism focus

Multidimensional (economic, cultural, political)

Geographical Unit

A region is first defined by its physical boundaries, landforms, proximity, and spatial location.

Southeast Asia example

bounded by the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean

Central Asia example

landlocked and mountainous.

Social System

Beyond geography, a region becomes a social system when its people share cultural practices, historical experiences, and economic exchanges.

Silk Road

connected Central Asia with East Asia and the Middle East, fostering cultural diffusion.

Organized Cooperation

Regions formalize their relationships through institutions and agreements. These structures promote economic, political, and security collaboration.

ASEAN

Association of Southeast Asian Nations; facilitates regional dialogue, trade, and peacekeeping.

Civil Society

A region gains depth when citizens and non—state actors actively participate in shaping its identity. NGOs, academic institutions, and media contribute to regional discourse and advocacy.

Civil Society

Environmental groups across Asia working together on climate resilience.

Acting Subject

the highest level: the region becomes a self—aware actor in global affairs. It expresses a collective identity, negotiates as a bloc, and influences international policy.

East Asian region

asserting its stance on global trade regulations or climate agreements.

Central Asia

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan

Central Asia identity

Legacy of the Silk Road, nomadic cultures, post Soviet transitions, strategic energy reserves

East Asia

China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Taiwan

East Asia identity

Ancient civilizations, Confucian heritage, technological innovation, regional power dynamics

South Asia

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives

South Asia identity

High population density, diverse religions, colonial history, emerging economies

Southeast Asia

Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Brunei

Southeast Asia identity

Maritime trade routes, cultural diversity, ASEAN cooperation, Ring of Fire, spice trade

Middle East

Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait

Middle East identity

Strategic waterways (e.g., Strait of Hormuz), oil—rich economies, religious epicenter, conflict zones

North Asia

Russia (Asian part), Mongolia

North Asia identity

Vast steppes, Siberian resources, historical ties to Central and East Asia

Southwest Asia

Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan

Southwest Asia identity

Crossroads of Europe and Asia, ancient empires, geopolitical tension, cultural hybridity

Dialogue and diplomacy

Includes summits, bilateral talks, and cultural tourism that foster mutual trust and cooperation.

Trade and investment expansion

Growth in intra—regional trade, foreign direct investment, and shared economic interests.

Infrastructure and connectivity

Development of transport, digital, and energy networks that physically and virtually link nations.

Shared public goods and regional safety

Collaborative efforts in health, disaster response, climate action, and regional peacekeeping.

Economic Resilience

By pooling resources and coordinating policies, Asian countries can better withstand external shocks like financial crises or pandemics

Financial Market Connectivity

enhances liquidity, reduces transaction costs, and allows for more stable investment flows across borders.

Resource Pooling

Countries can share infrastructure, technology, and expertise especially in areas like disaster response, energy, and education.

Coordinated Response to Crises

Joint frameworks allow for faster, more effective responses to emergencies, whether environmental, health—related, or geopolitical.

Product standard compatibility

Countries may have varying safety, quality, and labeling standards, making cross border commerce more complex.

Financial regulation alignment

Aligning banking rules, capital controls, and risk management practices across diverse economies is a major hurdle.

Macroeconomic policy coordination

Inflation targets, fiscal policies, and exchange rate regimes often diverge, complicating unified regional strategies.

Cross border social and environmental policies

Pollution, migration, and labor standards demand joint action, yet legal and institutional gaps persist.

Regionalism

is dynamic and multidimensional

Asia’s diversity

presents both opportunities and challenges

Cultural identity

is central to sustainable cooperation

Culture

in simpler terms, refer to human’s way of life – how we present ourselves, what are the choices we make, how we relate with one another, and how we pursue our aspirations

Tangible objects

like the clothes we use, the infrastructure we build, the things we create.

Material culture

The other term for Tangible Objects

Intangible ideas

that we hold dear like our beliefs, traditions, our practices

Non material culture

The other term for Intangible Objects

Culture

is articulated in symbols or illustrations that convey meanings.

Values

what we deem good, desirable, and important

Beliefs

what we deem true

Practices

how we do things

Norms

rule, roles, and expectations that we have and others have relative to our membership in a society.

Humans

are carriers of Culture.

Accommodation

we may tend to adopt the new culture when we are in public

Assimilations

in a larger degree such that we begin to resemble the people in a larger group

Cultural Flows

a term often used to refer to the dynamics of culture in the age of globalization.

Cultural differentialism

recognize that cultures are inherently and strongly unique from one another and are not significantly affected by input from other cultures in the process of globalization.

Cultural Hybridation

this looks at the global flows as creative process which yield combination of global and local cultures when external inputs interact with internal inputs.

The Scapes

Example by Apparudai (1996)

Cultural Convergence

recognized that globalization, in some ways, making cultures across nations states a little more similar and homogenous, leading to isomorphic or uniform culture.

Cultural Imperialism

when cultures impose themselves to other cultures