Knowra Global South Global South The Global South is a political and economic grouping of countries shaped by histories of colonialism and unequal global power. It is not a strict geographic region or a uniform bloc.
Brandt Line : A proposed boundary dividing wealthier northern countries from poorer southern countries. The 1980s line popularized a north–south division that helped shape later uses of the Global South.
World-systems theory : A theory that explains global inequality through a capitalist system divided into core, semiperiphery, and periphery. It models how wealth and power concentrate in core economies while peripheral regions supply labor and resources.
Raúl Prebisch : An Argentine economist who argued that trade between industrial centers and commodity-exporting peripheries entrenches inequality. His center–periphery analysis influenced economic arguments made by developing countries.
Global North : A political and economic grouping commonly associated with wealthy, influential states, though not strictly defined by latitude. The paired label highlights structural inequality but can obscure differences within both groupings.
Group of 77 : A coalition of developing countries at the United Nations, established in 1964 to advance shared economic interests. It gives institutional form to some collective bargaining associated with the Global South.
Decolonization : The process by which colonies gained independence from imperial powers. Newly independent states challenged the global hierarchies inherited from colonial rule.
Dependency theory : A theory that explains underdevelopment through unequal economic relationships between wealthy and poorer countries. It links persistent disadvantage to the terms on which poorer economies enter global markets.
Frantz Fanon : A Martinican psychiatrist and writer whose work analyzed colonial violence, racism, and anticolonial struggle. His account of colonial power illuminates the historical experience behind Global South solidarity.
Developing country : A country commonly classified by lower income or industrialization, without a single universally accepted definition. This economic label differs from the Global South’s emphasis on historical and political relations.
Climate justice : An approach to climate change that emphasizes unequal responsibility, vulnerability, and access to remedies. Global South arguments often connect lower historical emissions with greater exposure to climate harms.
Show all 30