MODULE 3

A WORLD OF REGIONS

CHAPTER OVERVIEW:

This chapter presents and prove the mechanism of a unique integration of the Asian
regions and how nation-states approach the challenges of the world homogenization and division
that differentiate regionalization and globalization and identifies the factors that leads impacts on
the integration of Asian regions.
It analyse how different Asian states confront the challenges of globalization and
regionalization through regionalism. This module shall make you take a deeper look at regional
development that will help you to widen your own perspective about regionalism. The lesson
from this module will look at regions as political entities and examine what brings them together
as they interlock with Globalization. Other facets of regionalism will then be explored, especially
those that pertains to identities, ethics, religion, ecological sustainability and health.
The lesson will conclude by asking where all these regionalism are bringing us as
member of a nation and as citizen of the world.

DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS/CONCEPTS OF UNLOCKING OF DIFFICULTIES

Global South- refers broadly to the regions of Latin America, Asia, Africa and Oceania, most
countries is characterized by low-income and often politically or culturally marginalized.

Global North- refers to developed societies of Europe and North America, which characterized
by established democracy, wealth, technological advancement, political stability, aging
population, zero population growth and dominance of world trade and politics.

Mercatorian Map- it is a navigational cylindrical map presented by Gerardus Mercator.

First World Country- have a stable democracies and are characterized by the rule of law, a
capitalist economy and a high standard of living.

Second World Country- it is term used during the cold war for the industrial socialist states
under the influence of soviet unions.

Third World Country-is an outdated and offensive phrase that has been used historically to
describe a class of economically developing nations.

Regionalism- is a political ideology focusing on the “Development of a political or social system

based on one or more regions”.

Regionalization- it is the process of dividing a political entity

Socio-Cultural- a set of beliefs, customs, practices and behavior that exist within the population.

SECTION 1
THE GLOBAL DIVIDES: THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH

This section enables the learners to know the concept of the Global South and how this is
seen in both affluent and improverished countries.

INTENDED LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this section, student are expected to:

1. Explain the term Global South; and

2. Differentiate the Global South from the Third World

DIAGNOSTIC S

Instructions: Write agree if you think the statement is correct; otherwise, write disagree.

__________ 1. The Philippines is an example of Global South.

__________ 2. First World countries are communist nation-states.
__________ 3. Second World countries include the United States of America.
__________ 4. The Philippines is a Third World country.
__________ 5. A Global South country is characterized as a poor nation.

Since the process of globalization is uneven. It follows that there is an imbalance in the
socio-economic and political categories of the world. The world is divided into north and south,
and first, second and third.
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Europe, Australia, and America tend to see the big
difference between the ways of living in the Philippines and in Western countries. Some of them
come home as “one day millionaires” giving out presents to their family, relatives, neighbors,
and friends. Although their incomes are relatively higher than if they work in the Philippines,
they realize that life is still tough despite the remittances they send to their families and the taxes
that the country gains from these. Furthermore, they cannot escape the reality that their
occasional vacations in the Philippines are temporary because they would need to go back to
work in order to continue making a living in another country. This is a reflection of the global
divide between the north and the south as experienced by these Filipinos.
 The term Global South is a metaphor interstate inequality and a product of western
imagination (Claudio2014). Historically, there had been divisions and labeling among the
different nations of the world. Countries that were colonized by the Spaniards in the southern
part of American continent are collectively called Latin America. By virtue of the Treaty of
Tordersillas in 1994, the newly discovered lands outside Europe were divided into two – the
West belonging to the Crown of Castille (now part of Spain) and the East belonging to the
Portuguese Empire. There is a split based on labor – the core, the semi-periphery, and the
peripheries. From these divisions, the Global South refers to the socio-economic and political
divide primarily focused on the southern hemisphere of the 1569-designed Mercatorian map. It
consists of Africa, Latin America, and Asia including the Middle East. These nation-states are
deemed to be not aligned with nation-states located in the northern hemisphere that adhere to fair
labor practices, rights, free trade, reduced tariffs, and policies on sustainable development. The
Global South also connotes developing countries as opposed to rich, industrialized, and wealthy
nations. On the contrary, the Global North is the home of all members of the Group of Eight
(G8) – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, Russia, and the United States of
America. It is also the adobe of the four powerful permanent members of the United Nations
Security Council. It also refers to the developed countries in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
As stated by Claudio (2014), the Global South “continues to be imagined and re-imagined by
those who dominate it even as movements from below reshape these constructions through
resistance.
Although usually associated with developing nations, the Global South is also found in
developed countries. Economically poor families, underprivileged individuals, unfair labor
practices, and suppression of human rights, and other violations of basic rights in Europe,
Australia, US, and Canada are the pieces of evidence that people from developed countries also
share similar experiences with people from developing countries. Conversely, a trip to the
cosmopolitan metropolis of Metro Manila by someone from Tupi, South Cotabato – denoting
high standard of living, availability of better transport system, prevalence of banking and
financial institutions, presence of big commercial establishments, and centrality of the national
government – is that person’s experience of the “Global North”. The Global North, therefore, is
also relatively experienced within the geographical boundaries of the Global South.
By now, we can say that the terms Global South and Third World are conceptually the
same. They both refer to conditions usually found in developing countries. But the term Third
World is the antecedent of Global South (Clauido, 2014). Arguably, the term Third World
ceased to exist when the Cold War ended. Historically, the world was once categorized based on
the economic ideology of Western capitalism against the Soviet Unions socialism. As formal
economic freedom while socialism is characterized by the state control of the means of
production, distribution, and exchange. Capitalist economies were considered First World and
socialist economies were referred to as Second World. Those that did not belong to either type of
formal economies belong to the Third World. The term Third World was initially used to refer to
the former colonies of European countries. To illustrate, India was considered a Third World
country for it was a colony of the United Kingdom. According to this categorization, the
Philippines was classified as Third World. Later, the category was used to refer to countries that
were neither capitalist or not socialist. Since many countries were improverished, the term was
also used to refer to the poor world. These countries were considered to be non-industrialized.
They lacked the standard systems in banking, finance, and trade.
Hence, it is outdated to say that countries in Southeast Asia belong to the Third World for
the term has ended its usage after the Cold War. These countries may be classified as the Global
South though some of their citizens experienced the Global North within their territories.
 Exercise 1

Name: _____________________________________________ Date: ____________

Course & Year: ______________________________________ Score: ___________

Instructions: Search for a newspaper or magazine caricature that illustrates your answer to the
question, “Are the Global North and Global South dependent on one another?” Cut or print the
selected caricature then paste it below. Write a short explanation about it.

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 Exercise 2

Name: _____________________________________________ Date: ____________

Course & Year: ______________________________________ Score: ___________

Instructions: Read the referenced article and complete the statements that follow.

 McFarlane, C. (2006). Crossing borders: Development, learning and the North-South

divide. Third World Quarterly, 278, 1413-1437

1. The three (3) things that I significantly learned from the readings are….
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2. The three (3) things that are still unclear to me are….

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3. I used to think that…

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4. The three (3) questions that I want to ask about the readings are…
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