Heine Explains the Global South in Latest Article
Ambassador Jorge Heine, Research Professor at Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and Interim Director of the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future, article, “The Global South is on the rise – but what exactly is the Global South?” was recently published in The Conversation.
In the article, Ambassador Heine defines the “Global South” as a group of countries primarily located in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, often described as developing or less developed. These countries experience higher levels of poverty, income inequality, lower life expectancy, and harsh living conditions compared to wealthier nations in the “Global North.” Ambassador Heine further elaborates that the Global South is not strictly based on geography but represents a mix of political, geopolitical, and economic commonalities among nations. It also reflects the shifting wealth and economic power from the Global North to the Asia Pacific. Many countries in the Global South have a history of imperialism and colonial rule, leading to a different outlook on the relationship between the West and the rest. Today, these countries often choose not to align with any one great power due to their imbalanced past relationships with the Global North, which can be seen with how Brazil is addressing the War in Ukraine.
Countries in the Global South are gaining enhanced political visibility and asserting themselves on the global stage. This economic and political shift has led to discussions about the “Asian Century” and a “post-Western world” as the Global South gains increasing influence and challenges traditional power dynamics.
Read the full article here.
Ambassador Jorge Heine is a Research Professor at the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University. He has served as ambassador of Chile to China (2014-2017), to India (2003-2007), and to South Africa (1994-1999), and as a Cabinet Minister in the Chilean Government. Read more about Ambassador Heine on his Pardee School faculty profile.