Global Divides: North vs. South

Global Device and Restrictive Problems

  • Discussion of global divides stemming from the period between the 1920s and 1930s.
  • Involves labor-related issues, with the US and Europe as key players.
  • Neoliberalism and capitalism are central themes, encouraging free trade.

Neoliberalism

  • Functions by facilitating diplomatic protests from one country to another.
  • Contrasted with socialism.
  • The concept is tied to Immanuel Kant's idea of global governance.
  • Global government is seen as prone to violations of national sovereignty, explaining why it hasn't occurred and is unlikely to.

Communist Global Divide

  • Division into First World (capitalist), Second World (communist), and Third World countries.
  • This division remained until a shift in terminology.

Shift to Global North and Global South

  • The terms "global North" and "global South" replaced "First World" and "Third World".
  • The North/South division is more comprehensive, considering political and economic aspects.
  • Economic globalization has reinforced global inequality.

Understanding Global Inequality

  • It's crucial to understand global inequality to move beyond blaming the poor and to hold those accountable for economic disparities.

The Philippines as an Example

  • Discussion of the Philippines within the context of global imperialism and miseducation.
  • Reference to the Thomasites and the establishment of institutions like the University of the Philippines (UP).
  • Filipinos are portrayed as naturally oriented towards agriculture.
  • Criticism of the Philippines' submissive orientation in globalization, particularly its economic dependence on the US.
  • Criticism of the colonial past, citing the institutionalized labor force through agencies like POEA.

Third World Context

  • The term "Third World" has historical roots in the economic globalization that caused the global divide.
  • It refers to the non-aligned countries during the Cold War between capitalist and communist blocs.
  • After the Cold War, the Third World was redefined as the global South, especially after the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s.
  • This led to the establishment of the global South definition versus the global North, framed in geopolitical and socioeconomic terms.
  • The shift emphasizes development in poorer countries.

Global North

  • The global North is the polar opposite of the global South, comprising economically developed countries.
  • Examples include the US, Canada, Western Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Scandinavian countries.

Characteristics of the Global North

  • Industrialized with advanced technology.
  • Influential in global governance, especially within organizations like the UN.

Global South

  • Characterized by less economically developed regions.
  • Includes areas in Asia (but not all), Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
  • Shares a history, particularly regarding marginalization in global decisions.

Key Differences Between Global North and South

  • Economic: Global North is developed, while the global South is developing.
  • Political: The global North is dominant, while the global South's issues are marginalized.
  • Technological: The global North has advanced technologies constrained by financial limitations in the global South.

Examples of Countries

  • US is part of the global North.
  • Singapore is considered part of the global North.
  • Latin American countries like Mexico and Bolivia are part of the global South.

Exploitation and Neoliberalism in Latin America

  • Latin America is presented as being abused and exploited by colonial masters.
  • Resistance against neoliberalism and the global economy is noted.
  • Contributions of Latin America include new experiences and dependency theory.

Dependency Theory and Global Inequality

  • Scholars in the Philippines use dependency theory to explain global inequality.
  • This theory helps understand why the Philippines is poor despite its characteristics.

Influence of the Global South

  • Campaigns regarding primary justice.
  • Climate issues disproportionately affect vulnerable areas in the global South.

Global Trade and Supply Chains

  • Critically examined with a necessary compromise.

Migration and Refugee Crisis

  • A result of global inequality, with people seeking better economic opportunities.
  • Phenomena to regulate migration are observed, such as protectionist tendencies in the US.

Unequal Representation in International Organizations

  • The UN Security Council, with its permanent five members, reflects the global North's dominance.

Asserting Equity and Mutual Respect

  • Emphasis on decolonial perspectives and first development perspectives.

Decolonial Thinking

  • Encourages ways of thinking not determined by the past.
  • Aims to localize bodies of knowledge, rejecting dependency.
  • Disciplines like philosophy and sociology are undergoing decolonialization.

Global South as a Political Project

  • Seen as a project of resistance and solidarity.
  • Represents mutual respect and concern, not just a division.

New Ways of Thinking

  • Focus on new divisions between the global South and global North.