Reflections on the Global South by Humanidades Digitales https://padlet.com/humanidadesdigitales/ieebt4tkpg7wss42 en-us 2020-07-28 00:40:04 UTC 2022-03-28 22:10:11 UTC hello@padlet.com http://antonio-geography.weebly.com/uploads/3/9/1/4/39148777/138630522.png Global South - by Mantra https://padlet.com/humanidadesdigitales/ieebt4tkpg7wss42/wish/669582644 My first thought about the binary term - Global North-South - as I mentioned in our Zoom meeting, refers to what seems like a continuation of older binaries - West/Rest, Rich/poor, Civilized/Uncivilized,  Scientific/Irrational. 
On second thoughts, I wonder if I am conditioned to think of the world in binaries. Global South automatically brings to mind its opposite and, given the countries that qualify as the opposite, leads me to think of a repetition of the older binaries. The dichotomy seems to be embedded in our epistemologies and we need 'alternative ways to think of alternatives' as  Sousa Santos says.
I would use the term 'Global South' for projects/programs that illustrate the  uniqueness of the circumstances/ideas/challenges that possess scope for critical lessons for plural audiences. 

]]> 2020-08-04 23:27:30 UTC https://padlet.com/humanidadesdigitales/ieebt4tkpg7wss42/wish/669582644 Global South - by Theresa https://padlet.com/humanidadesdigitales/ieebt4tkpg7wss42/wish/670003314 In my childhood days I remember that the term “third world” was frequently used to refer to a group of never clearly defined poor and less developed countries. Due to the negative connotations implied and based on the argument that there is only one world, which we all share, the term global South seems less derogative and therefore more fit – at first sight. However, as we discussed, the world we live in is so complex that it is questionable whether a dichotomy of North/South is really of any help and whether it rather falls short of acknowledging the diversities within and across countries, regions, communities. I think the term global South is very problematic when continuing the geographic understanding of the ‘Brandt line’ because, using the words of Hylland Eriksen, it implies a sort of “methodological nationalism”: very different countries (in size, population to name just a few criteria) “are considered the relevant entities and are thus presumably comparable” which may well lead to a denial of complexities (Hylland Eriksen, What's wrong with the global North and the global South?, Concepts of the Global South – Voices from around the world). As described by Sousa Santos I do find the term global South useful when referring to “the human suffering caused by capitalism and colonialism on the global level, as well as for the resistance to overcoming or minimising such suffering” (de Sousa Santos, Epistemologies of the South and the future, FROM THE EUROPEAN SOUTH 1 (2016), 18). This explicitly includes the existence of the South in the North and leads to an understanding of global South as a concept that focuses on the struggle of the marginalised independent of their geographic position. ]]> 2020-08-05 10:29:06 UTC https://padlet.com/humanidadesdigitales/ieebt4tkpg7wss42/wish/670003314 Living in the Global South - by Bárbara https://padlet.com/humanidadesdigitales/ieebt4tkpg7wss42/wish/670594269 Growing up in a "thirld word country" or a "developing country makes you feel that there is something missing or that you are at fault.

I think the concept of Global South could be useful to talk about our own biases and the experiences of living within a dichotomy narrative. Overall to position ourselves and see if we are capable to transit to a multiverse/pluriverse/kaleidoscopic dialectic.]]> 2020-08-05 20:20:15 UTC https://padlet.com/humanidadesdigitales/ieebt4tkpg7wss42/wish/670594269 Global South - by Guillermina https://padlet.com/humanidadesdigitales/ieebt4tkpg7wss42/wish/671372588 After reading and watching some of the material my take on the "usefulness" of the term is that it can be a starting point for a reflexive approach to knowledge production; moving beyond its geographic and spatial approach that implies a certain binarism, the term can be a means for those who are in a position of power to reflect on the invisibility that universal categories produce. On the other hand I appreciate the potential that the term has to be re-purposed not as a distinction from the North but as a diversity of understandings and experiences. ]]> 2020-08-06 14:51:05 UTC https://padlet.com/humanidadesdigitales/ieebt4tkpg7wss42/wish/671372588 Global South -A Sweet and sour Term -by Mary waitheramaina2015 https://padlet.com/humanidadesdigitales/ieebt4tkpg7wss42/wish/1670922495 On the one hand, if the terms South and North are used to perpetuate the idea that diversity in culture ,political , geographic, economic  and knowledge systems is somewhat a disadvantage and using the very diversity as a yardstick of measuring power and privilege; then I would say please let us refrain from these term.

On the on the other hand , viewed from a point of; all the good we can achieve with the use these terms..

These, in my opinion, are  some  of those words whose impact heavily lies with the persons using them and in what context. As long as the south is used to sensitize and highlight the inequities that have continued to be a divisive element globally, then I am happy to use and let use the word. In the scholarly world for example the differentiation between the north and the south allows for constructive open discussions  that lead in more cases than not to successful collaborations and eventually transformative development. Think of bibliodiversity, multilingualism in science, diversity of research methods.. the list is endless.

In the meantime and as much as I support the discussions in several Disciplines about defining global regions, I am more inclined to dwell in the urgent issues that are characteristic of societies of the world. For the south and the north ; production, access and implementation of knowledge remain an urgent topic for discussion. As I continue to experience research and knowledge from two sides of the globe (Africa and Europe) like most of us in the scholarly communication community , I realize just how important it is to ensure equal voices and create  free thinking spaces for everyone in science and society.

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