Chapter 4: Global Divides: The North and South

Introduction:

We WERE ALL HUMANS until race disconnect us, religion separated

us, politics divide us, and wealth classified us.
-Anonymous

While the world is broadly demarcated geographically and demarcated through

continental divisions, it is imperative to note that there exist other delineations on
developmental patterns, wealth distribution and emerging economic situations.
This is the primordial consideration when one seeks to better understand the
concepts underlying the Global North and South divide.

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Learning Objectives:

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At the end of this topic, learners should be able to:

1. Articulate the definitions as well as differences of the Global North and Global
South;
2. Undermine the rationale behind such division/classification;
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3. Understand the current configurations and manifestations of the Divide;
4. Recognize how this division affects the path of Globalization and the current
world in general; and
5. Equip students with 21st century learning and develop higher order thinking
skills that will lead towards a deeper understanding of Global economic
structures as well as articulate a stance of the Global North-South Divide and
how it impacts the Philippines, the Filipino society and the individual self.
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Discussion:

North- South divide can be related to an economic division between richer and
poorer countries.

 This explains the reason why it is considered to be more of a socio political

and economic classification.

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The
Global North

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- It is generally viewed to be more affluent and economically stable countries
and generally includes the United States of America, Canada, the member
nations of the G8(Group of 8), the four permanent members of the UN

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Security Council.

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This includes countries that lie below the equator namely Australia and New
Zealand.
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- We could find in the North the More Economically Developed Countries
(MEDCs) in the world. Some countries which lay in the North part of the divide
are Canada, United States, Greenland, and Russia. They are considered the
“richer” and more stable countries.

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Photo: G8 member states

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Why are the countries in the North considered MEDC?

The countries are considered MEDC because of:

o Economic Stability
o Better standard of living and quality of life
o High life expectancy
o Free quality education
o Free universal healthcare

The Global South

- It includes most nations located in Africa, Latin America, and the developing
parts of Asia with the exception of Japan.
- The area below the North-South Divide is known as the South/developing, or

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“Poor side.” These countries are known as developing countries, meaning the
GDP, HDI and general standard of living within these countries are
considered inferior to that of countries in the “North”. Some examples of these

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countries include Somalia, Vietnam, Haiti and India.

Why are countries in the South considered LEDCs?

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The countries in the south may be considered LEDCs because of:
o Unstable government
o Poor economy
o Contain citizen who have a poor standard of living and quality of life
o Low Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
o Low Human Development Index (HDI)
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Why is the South at such a disadvantage?

Of the many possible reasons for the south’s woes, the one factor that stands out
is colonization. When the countries that are considered MEDC are listed down, it
becomes apparent that the most of these countries were, at some point in history,
imperialists. From the 13th century, most countries that were powerful have stayed
powerful, such as France and the United Kingdom. And therefore, most countries
that were inferior have stayed inferior. However, like any aspect in history, there
is always an exception, as the United States, a former British colony, has
developed into the most powerful country in the world. (Guttal, 2016).

 It can be argued that the division goes beyond merely geographical since not
all states found north of the equator belong to the Global North and in the

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 same manner, not all states that lie south of the equator form part of the
Global South
 One attempt to produce an objective classification uses the UNDP’s Human
Development Index to differentiate.
 In brief, the Global North consists of those 64 countries which have a high
HDI (mot of which are located north of the 30th northern parallel), while the
remaining 133 countries belong to the Global South

First, Second and Third Worlds

 First World

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SS
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- Drawn upon political ideologies and alliances with the US and much of the
Western world who preached for Democracy and Capitalism.
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 Second World
- The Communist bloc led by USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republic)/
Russia, China and other states who employed Marxist principles.

 Third World
- Non-aligned states, the underdeveloped nations and states that have
unstable political and economic conditions.
- Serves as “ready and willing markets”
- Coined by a French scholar Alfred Sauvy.

Flashpoints and Perspectives of the Divide

 As underdeveloped countries become more visible, they are frequently

referred to under the collective label the “Global South”.

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  This designation offers as a synthesizing term and consider it ambiguous
because it uses simple geographical criteria to describe a complex social
situation which distinguishes poor countries from the wealthiest.

Global South
- is normally used to mean countries that are faced with social, political and
economic challenges.

- it should be added also that the term rids itself of the negative political and
economic labeling that Third World had before as it is generally seen to be
more apolitical.

Three factors by Jean Grugel (1990) that direct the economic development of states

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within the Global South are:
– elite behavior within and between nation states

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– integration and cooperation within geographic areas
– resulting position of states and regions within the global world market and

BRICS
related political economic hierarchy
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- acronym for an association of five major
emerging national economies
- originally the first four were grouped as
“BRIC”
- known for their significant influence on
regional affairs and all are members of G20.
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 In effect, Global North-South is actually seen

by many economist as a result of international free trade and unhindered
capital flows across countries which could definitely catapult development in
the South.

 Closing the divide has been a goal for many developmental initiatives.

 United Nations has developed a program dedicated to narrowing the divide

through its Millennium Development Goals aimed at Sustainable
development.

 IMF, World Bank and other progressive Northern countries also provides
loans and grants to the Global South countries in order to attain development.

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Just a Quick Recap!

 The Global North-South divide is a categorization of nation states based on

factors like economic development, political stability as well as living
standards.
 This division was fashioned out of the Cold war era categorization of countries
into the First, Second and Third World.
 The Global North-South divide is not simply based on geographical orientation
for there are Asian countries that belong to the Global North.
 The term South was branded out of the Brandt report in 1983.
 The perspective as well as countries that fall under such categorization is in a
state of flux and is constantly changing.

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References:

 SS
Connell, Raewyn. 2007.“Dependency, Autonomy and Culture. In
SouthernTheory: The Global Dynamics of Knowledge in Social Science.
Cambridge, UK: Polity Press, pp. 139-163.
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 Coronacion, D.C., et.al. (2018). Convergence: A College Textbook in
Contemporary World. Chapter 4: The Global Divides: The North and South
pp. 75-84. Books Atpb. Publishing Corp.

 Lobo, J.L. (2019). The Contemporary World. Chapter 8: Global: Divide the
North and South pp 103-114. Books Atbp. Publishing Corp.
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Name: Date:
Course: Score:

Activity 1.
Instruction: Make an essay

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1. Why are countries in the North considered More Economically Developed
Countries (MEDC)

2. Why are countries in the South considered Less Economically Developed

Countries (LEDC)?

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3. What is the main purpose/function of the Human Development Index (HDI)?
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