Divinagracia, Jay Aimeen F.

October 2, 2018
GE 3 – Section G

The Global South: Conflicting Invention of the New Geography

The world we know today is a web of intermingled subjectivities within power,

knowledge and space. We know places by their borderlines; and their boundary is the extent of
their territory. Back then, places were classified according to their geographic location and the
continent they belong in. However, at present, some places are classified by their economic
capacity – those rich countries belong to the elite regions while those who aren’t belong to a
coined term for less-developed countries called Global South.

What exactly is Global South? Why does it create a new geography? And how can this
create a conflict between them and those belonging to the other section?

Global South was coined in 1969 by an American writer named Carl Oglesby. The term
is a result of a complex historical and social process and up until now, debates continue on why
this name emerged in the first place. Global South is basically another way to describe
“developing countries” or those poorer “southern regions” compared to the rich “northern
regions.” Instead of saying “third-world countries”, economists suggest that Global South is to
be used since it is less provocative and it is harmless in its term itself. Examples of places
belonging to the Global South are Philippines, India, Thailand, Brazil and some other countries
belonging to the continents of Asia, Latin America, and Africa. In one way or another, using the
term ‘Global South’ invented a new kind of geography because instead of classifying countries
by their location and global position, they get classified by their economic and social status
instead. Rich and developed countries belong to the Global North, while developing countries
situate themselves in the Global South. This conflicting idea leads to more discrimination and
belittling situations to take place between the Global North and the Global South.

Now, how can the countries in the Global South improve their economy to better lift
their status towards progress and ultimate development? The process is certainly not a one-man
job. One must consider the following:

First, there must be an enabling environment for the people to enhance theirselves. Any
development starts with the basic element of the society which is man himself. The community
he or she lives in must be open for change and improvement. If a man wants to improve his
country, he must first do it himself. But how can he do that if the society hinders him to do so?
More than economic trade and domestic affairs, I believe that a man must have a supportive
and enabling environment for him to reach new heights.

Second, the government must be an asset towards economic progress; if not, it only
becomes a liability. National or international trade, investments, and commerce all boils down
to the tansparency of the government. If a country wants to improve, it must be made sure that
the government is corruption-free so that real development takes place.
 Lastly, the country must include high quality of education in its platforms. Good
education reaps better financial analysts and economists that would help the country in terms
of monetary and trade activities. Also, it would also produce better, civilized and hard working
citizens who have their hearts in helping their country improve. Good education produces
better quality of inhabitants, if not, the best. What more can a country ask for?

In a nutshell, thought being a fully-developed country seemed like a very hard star to
reach, but the truth is that it is attainable. Anthing that a man thinks that’s impossible is
certainly the other way around. The countries belonging to the Global South received much
discrimination and humiliation from those who don’t and I think that this should be abolished.
We all need a game plan and start working for ourselves and for our country. We can’t always
complain on being poor and doing nothing to change it. Because as what Viktor E. Frankl had
said, “When we are no longer able to change the situation, we are challenged to change
ourselves.”

Let being part of the Global South be the inspiration of a country to strive harder, and
decide more carefully so that ultimate development can take place.

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