Global South and Development: A Philosophical Interrogation

Abstract

The study on Global South and Development is a discourse and debate on ‘Global South’ or its twin brother from the opposite ‘Global North which is interestingly relevant because of world inequality. It explained the world division between Global South and Global North which existed during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries while some nations were able to take advantage of the industrial revolution and the technologies and methods of organization that it brought others were unable to do so. The study further observed that; the type of development which the bulk of African countries were seeking for was in essence one that made the industrialized western countries the model of development so that the African countries engagement in the quest for development was really trying to fashion itself after the image of the West. Therefore, the thrust of the work was on development in the global south and the challenges they experienced. The work also analyzed the origin of the concept global south, development, imperialism, developmental theories and call for New International Economic Order (NIEO) among others. The study concluded that the Global North came and used her strength to exploit the countries in the Global South and ensure that they remain underdeveloped. The power of the metropolitan bourgeoisie (Global North) presence in African socio-economic formation lies in the structural dependence of African economics brought about by colonialism and now neo-colonialism and the framing of development strategies around the vertical links between African and the metropole. Thus, Global North countries have always been responsible for economic and political underdevelopment of the global south countries. Finally, the study recommended that development in the Global South is a possibility but will remain a gradual, systemic and epistemic process of building strong inclusive institutions.

Keywords: development, global north, global south, new international economic order (nieo)

Cite this Article

Anyim Benjamin Anyim, Francisca Anyim-Ben, Modestus Orji, Ngozi Chijioke, Christopher Nwaeke. Global South and Development: A Philosophical Interrogation. Omni Science: A Multi-disciplinary Journal (OSMJ). 2019; 9(2): 25–33p.