Republic of the Philippines
President Ramon Magsaysay State University
The Contemporary World (GEC 3)
TOPIC V – A WORLD OF REGIONS
Learning Objectives
After studying this topic, the student will be able to:
1. Define the term “Global South”
2. Differentiate the Global South from the Third World
3. Analyzed how a new conception of global relations emerged from the experiences of Latin
American countries.
4. Differentiate between regionalization and globalization
Governments, associations, societies, and groups from regional organizations and/or
networks as a way pf coping with the challenges of globalization. Globalization has made people
aware of the world in general, but it has also made Filipinos more cognizant of specific areas
such as Southeast Asia. How, for instance, did the Philippines come to identify itself with the
Southeast Asian region? Why is it part of a regional grouping known as the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)?
While regionalism is often seen as a political and economic phenomenon, the term
actually encompasses a broader area. It can be examined in relation to identities, ethics, religion,
ecological sustainability, and health. Regionalism is also a process, and must be treated as an
“emergent, socially constituted phenomenon.” It means that regions are not natural or given;
rather they are constructed and defined by policymakers, economic factors, and even social
movements.
This lesson will look at regions as political entities and examine what brings them
together as they interlock with globalization. The other facets of regionalism will then be
explored, especially those that pertain to identities, ethics, religion, ecological sustainability, and
health. This lesson will conclude by asking where all these regionalisms are bringing us as
members of a nation and as citizens of the world.
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FERDIE ORDONEZ BATARA | PRMSU – IBA CAMPUS
THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD (PEACE EDUCATION) / GEC 3
Republic of the Philippines
President Ramon Magsaysay State University
The Contemporary World (GEC 3)
What is World Region?
A world region is a large primary division of the world used in higher education
— originally in anthropology, but then also in geography and history, and
as the basis for area studies.
The Global South
The Global South is a term that has been emerging in transnational and postcolonial studies to
refer to what may also be called the "Third World" (i.e., Africa, Latin America, and the
developing countries in Asia), "developing countries," "less developed countries," and "less
developed regions."
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FERDIE ORDONEZ BATARA | PRMSU – IBA CAMPUS
THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD (PEACE EDUCATION) / GEC 3
Where is the Global South?
The Global South is made up of Africa, Latin America, and developing Asia including the
Middle East. The North is home to all the members of the G8 and to four of the five permanent
members of the United Nations Security Council.
What defines the Third World?
The term "Third World" arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-
aligned with either NATO or the Communist Bloc. ... It was also sometimes taken as
synonymous with countries in the Non-Aligned Movement.
What is the Global North and the Global South?
North and South, the (Global) the terms the North and the South, when used in a global
context, are alternative designations for “developed” and “developing” countries. Together,
the North and South constitute virtually
the entire global population.
Is Third World Country offensive?
According to AP: "Developing nations is more appropriate [than Third World]
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FERDIE ORDONEZ BATARA | PRMSU – IBA CAMPUS
THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD (PEACE EDUCATION) / GEC 3
when referring to economically developing nations of Africa, Asia and Latin America. Do
not confuse with 'nonaligned,' which is a political term." And mostly a historical term now. So
"developing world" seemed to be a good solution.
What problems to developing nations face?
One problem they face is being able to effectively run a government. Developing countries are
often very poor. Therefore, there is not a lot of money available to effectively run the
government. This poverty causes other problems.
Term we used when we wish to discuss the collectivity of countries that constitutes the poor
world?
• The Global South
• The less-developed world
• The majority world
• The non-western world
• The poor world
• The south
• The third world
• The undeveloped world
The Top Causes of Global Poverty
1. INADEQUATE ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD
2. LITTLE OR NO ACCESS TO LIVELIHOODS OR JOBS
3. CONFLICT
4. INEQUALITY
5. POOR EDUCATION
6. CLIMATE CHANGE
7. LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE
8. LIMITED CAPACITY OF THE GOVERNMENT
9. LACK OF RESERVES
“East Asia will be likely be the next region to define its economic and political interests on a
transnational basis, either with China at the helm of an East Asian community and Japan
managing to contrive some form of partnership…”
“In effect, a tri-partite division of the United States, the European Union, and East Asia is
merging, with India, Russia, and Brazil and perhaps Japan preferring to act as swing states
according to their national interests.”
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FERDIE ORDONEZ BATARA | PRMSU – IBA CAMPUS
THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD (PEACE EDUCATION) / GEC 3
SUMMARY
Official regional associations now cover vast swaths of the world. The population
of the countries that joined the Asia-Pacific Economic Council (APEC) alone comprised
37 percent of the world’s population in 2007. These countries also part of “smaller”
organizations that include the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization, the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Caribbean and
Pacific Group of States, and the Union of South American Nations. Even “isolationist”
North Korea is part of the Regional Forum, which discusses security issues in the region.
In the same way the countries will find it difficult to reject all forms of global
economic integration, it will also be hard for them to turn their backs on their regions.
Even if the UK leaves the EU, it must continue to trade with its immediate neighbors and
will, therefore, be forced to implement many EU rules. None of this is to say that regional
organizations will remain unaltered. The history of regionalism shows that regional
association emerge as new global concerns arise. The future of regionalism will be
contingent on the immense changes in global politics that will emerge in the 21st century.
FERDIE ORDONEZ BATARA | PRMSU – IBA CAMPUS
THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD (PEACE EDUCATION) / GEC 3
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FERDIE ORDONEZ BATARA | PRMSU – IBA CAMPUS
THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD (PEACE EDUCATION) / GEC 3