Global North and South: Difference between revisions

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(giving it a more anti-colonial perspective, and centering the Marxist definition)
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[[File:1920px-North South divide.svg.png|thumb|Global North is in blue, Global South is in red]]
[[File:1920px-North South divide.svg.png|thumb|Global North is in blue, Global South is in red]]
In [[geopolitics]], the '''Global South''' is a general term that roughly designates the economically exploited countries, in contrast, the '''Global North''' are the [[Imperial core|most advanced capitalist countries]],<ref>IGI Global Publisher Dictionary, "[https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/global-northsouth/50101 What is Global North/South?]"</ref> whose wealth was largely stolen [[capital]] generated from [[colonialism]] and their modern involvement in [[imperialism]].<ref name=":0">LENIN; Vladimir, Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism ([https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/ Read on Marxists.org])</ref>
In [[geopolitics]], the '''Global South''' is a general term that roughly designates the economically exploited countries, in contrast, the '''Global North''' are the [[Imperial core|most advanced capitalist countries]],<ref>IGI Global Publisher Dictionary, "[https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/global-northsouth/50101 What is Global North/South?]"</ref> whose wealth was largely stolen [[capital]] generated from [[colonialism]] and their modern involvement in [[imperialism]].<ref name=":0">LENIN; Vladimir, Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism ([https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/ Read on Marxists.org])</ref> "Global south" is separate from but not mutually exclusive to the reality of [[settler-colonialism]], as some global south countries can also be settler-colonial.


It's important to note that as this is a geopolitical term, some leeway must be accounted for. For example, [[People's Republic of China|China]] is generally considered by financial institutions to be part of the South, despite them soon achieving the highest GDP in the world. [[Israel]] is considered to be part of the Global North, due to its close relationship with the Global North.<ref>Maps of the World, [https://www.mapsofworld.com/answers/regions/division-global-north-global-south/ What is the division between the Global North and the Global South?]</ref>
To be a global south country is to be a country whose economy was suppressed under the historical conditions of imperialism. The Marxist usage of the "global south" follows the line used by AES countries like [[People's Republic of China|China]] according to the Marxist understanding of global [[imperialism]]. China is considered to be part of the South, despite them soon achieving the highest GDP in the world. [[Israel]] is considered to be part of the Global North, due to its establishment by and advancing the imperial interests of thee Global North.


The term [[Third World]] preceded it, first mentioned in Mao's [[Three Worlds Theory]]. The term "developing countries" is misleading, as it ignores the fact that the "developed" countries are the ones imperializing them: overexploiting and making them [[Dependency|economically dependent]] on export/imports from or to the global north.<ref name=":0" />
The term [[Third World]] preceded it, first mentioned in Mao's [[Three Worlds Theory]]. The term "developing countries" is misleading, as it ignores the fact that the "developed" countries are the ones imperializing them: overexploiting and making them [[Dependency|economically dependent]] on export/imports from or to the global north.<ref name=":0" />

Revision as of 23:47, 1 September 2023

Global North is in blue, Global South is in red

In geopolitics, the Global South is a general term that roughly designates the economically exploited countries, in contrast, the Global North are the most advanced capitalist countries,[1] whose wealth was largely stolen capital generated from colonialism and their modern involvement in imperialism.[2] "Global south" is separate from but not mutually exclusive to the reality of settler-colonialism, as some global south countries can also be settler-colonial.

To be a global south country is to be a country whose economy was suppressed under the historical conditions of imperialism. The Marxist usage of the "global south" follows the line used by AES countries like China according to the Marxist understanding of global imperialism. China is considered to be part of the South, despite them soon achieving the highest GDP in the world. Israel is considered to be part of the Global North, due to its establishment by and advancing the imperial interests of thee Global North.

The term Third World preceded it, first mentioned in Mao's Three Worlds Theory. The term "developing countries" is misleading, as it ignores the fact that the "developed" countries are the ones imperializing them: overexploiting and making them economically dependent on export/imports from or to the global north.[2]

In 1500, the average income in Europe was only three times higher than in Africa and Asia, but that difference grew to ten times by 1960.[3] In addition, in 1960, the richest 20 countries were 18 times as rich as the 20 poorest countries in terms of GDP per capita. This ratio grew to 37 times in 1995.[4]

References

  1. IGI Global Publisher Dictionary, "What is Global North/South?"
  2. 2.0 2.1 LENIN; Vladimir, Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism (Read on Marxists.org)
  3. Vijay Prashad (2008). The Darker Nations: A People's History of the Third World: 'Buenos Aires' (p. 66). [PDF] The New Press. ISBN 9781595583420 [LG]
  4. Vijay Prashad (2008). The Darker Nations: A People's History of the Third World: 'Conclusion' (p. 277). [PDF] The New Press. ISBN 9781595583420 [LG]