Why, When, and How the Global South Became Relevant
The idea of the Global South gained traction in the second half of the twentieth century, as certain real and discursive changes occurred to the geopolitical, economic, and epistemological processes established under modernity. Three interconnected global processes—colonialism/postcolonialism, capitalism/industrial development and knowledge flows—processes which collectively forged modernity, underwent significant changes. Previously colonized territories became independent and new technologies and connectivity enabled ideas and people from the former colonies to speak and indeed move back to the Global North. These changes formed part of global transformations to economic modes of production and corporate governance. Industrial and economic processes have therefore intersected with geopolitical changes and epistemological flows to enable slivers of the Global South to emerge in the interstices of powerful political, industrial, and epistemological forces. The Global South creates portals of opportunity for a more democratic, inclusive, and collaborative world, but it could also simply produce new inequalities and divisions reinforced along familiar lines.