Chapter 6

Chapter 6- Global Divides (9 hours)

The Global Digital Divide

The global digital divide describes global disparities, primarily between developed and developing countries, in
regards to access to computing and information resources such as the Internet and the opportunities derived
from such access.[64] As with a smaller unit of analysis, this gap describes an inequality that exists, referencing a
global scale.
The Internet is expanding very quickly, and not all countries—especially developing countries—are able to
keep up with the constant changes. The term “digital divide” doesn’t necessarily mean that someone doesn’t
have technology; it could mean that there is simply a difference in technology. These differences can refer to,
for example, high-quality computers, fast Internet, technical assistance, or telephone services. The difference
between all of these is also considered a gap.

Lesson 1- North
North America, third largest of the world’s continents, lying for the most part between the Arctic Circle and
the Tropic of Cancer. It extends for more than 5,000 miles (8,000 km) to within 500 miles (800 km) of both
the North Pole and the Equator and has an east-west extent of 5,000 miles. It covers an area of 9,355,000
square miles (24,230,000 square km).

Lesson 2- South
South America, fourth largest of the world’s continents. It is the southern portion of the landmass generally
referred to as the New World, the Western Hemisphere, or simply the Americas. The continent is compact
and roughly triangular in shape, being broad in the north and tapering to a point—Cape Horn, Chile—in the
south.

Teachers Insight

Despite very significant development gains globally which have raised many millions of people out of
absolute poverty, there is substantial evidence that inequality between the world’s richest and poorest
countries is widening. In 1820 western Europe's per capita income was three times bigger than Africa’s but
by 2000 it was thirteen times as big. In addition, in 2013, Oxfam reported that the richest 85 people in the
world owned the same amount of wealth as the poorest half of the world’s population. Today the world is
much more complex than the Brandt Line depicts as many poorer countries have experienced significant
economic and social development. However, inequality within countries has also been growing and some
commentators now talk of a ‘Global North’ and a ‘Global South’ referring respectively to richer or poorer
communities which are found both within and between countries. For example, whilst India is still home to
the largest concentration of poor people in a single nation it also has a very sizable middle class and a very
rich elite. There are many causes for these inequalities including the availability of natural resources;
different levels of health and education; the nature of a country’s economy and its industrial sectors;
international trading policies and access to markets; how countries are governed and international
relationships between countries; conflict within and between countries; and a country’s vulnerability to
natural hazards and climate change.