College of Arts and Sciences
1st Semester, S.Y. 2022-2023
Module 4
Course: GEC 8 – The Contemporary World
Topic: World of Regions
I. Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the module, you are expected to be able to:
1. Discuss the concept of global stratification and division
2. Explain the term Global North and Global South
3. Discuss the North and South Gap
II. Core Values / Biblical Principles / Inspirational Quote / Life Application
“I believe that we can create a poverty-free world because poverty is not created by poor
people. It has been created and sustained by the economic and social systems that we have
designed for ourselves; the institutions and concepts that make up the system; the policies that
we pursue.”
-Muhammad Yunus
III. Learning Activities and Resources
This material discusses the regions of the world. Having knowledge of the geographical
regions can contribute to a better understanding of economic, political, and cultural changes in
the world.
A copy of the worksheet will be provided for the assessment and found at your Canvas
account.
IV. Introduction
The world consists of different regions which refers to group of countries situated in same
geographic location or amalgamate one another to oversee flows arid policy choices. Countries
on these regions respond economically and politically to globalization thereby forming regional
associations for common purposes like military defense and economic security.
V. Discussion
Global Stratification
Refers to the unequal distribution of wealth, power, prestige, resources, and influence among the
world’s nations. There are two dimensions to this stratification: gaps between nations and gaps
within nations. When it comes to global inequality, both economic inequality and social
inequality may concentrate the burden of poverty among certain segments of the earth’s
population (Myrdal 1970).
One way to evaluate global and social stratification is to consider how many people are living in
poverty.
To Put it more simply, global stratification refers to extreme difference between the richest and
poorest nations around the globe.
For example: A few nations, such as the United States, are very wealthy, while many more
nations are very poor. Reflecting this latter fact, 40% of the world’s population, or about 2
billion people, lives on less than $2 per day (United Nations Development Programme, 2005).
Classification of Global Stratification
1. First World
2. Second World
3. Third World
The Global North and the Global South
The North-South Divide or “Rich-Poor Divide” is the socio-economic and political
division between the wealthy developed countries known as “the North,” and the poorer
developing countries or “the South.” Although most of the countries under “the North” are in the
Northern Hemisphere, the divide is purely not based on geographic location. Some countries
located in the same hemisphere may be qualified for “developed” status. In effect may deemed
part of “the South.” This divide is recently known as development gap which puts greater
emphasis on the gap between the economically rich and poor countries.
The Global North mostly encompasses the West and the First World, along with many of
the Second World. It is the home of all the G8 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United
Kingdom, United States and European Union), Global North also includes the outermost regions
of the European Union Australia, New Zealand, and developed members of Asia (the Four Asian
Tigers - Hongkong, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea).
In addition, the North, with one quarter of the world population, controls four-fifths of
the income earned anywhere in the world. It owned 90% of the manufacturing industries which
are also located in the countries belonging to the North. They have relatively high levels of
economic growth and security that makes them rich, wealthy, and developed region. Ninety five
percent (95%) of its population has enough food and water. The North having high educational
development believes in human capital theory that formal education is highly necessary to
improve the productive capacity of a population as it often leads to increased economic output,
higher individual income, and increased economic mobility for families. They have low fertility
rates and low child mortality. For example: in Japan there are government subsidies for medical,
obstetric, and pediatric complications. They also have the highest form of technology that is
available because they invest in research and development.
On the other hand, the Global South refers to regions of Latin America, Asia, Africa, and
Oceania. It includes the countries belonging to the Third World and Periphery. These are regions
outside Europe and North America. With three-fourth of the world populations, only has access
to one-fifth of the world income. Hence, countries that have low-income and often politically or
culturally marginalized. “The use of the phrase Global South marks a shift from a central focus
on development or cultural difference toward an emphasis on geopolitical relations of power,”
(Dados, 2012).
In the 1980s, the Brandt Line proposed by Willy Brandt was developed as a way of
showing how the world was geographically split into relatively richer and poorer nations.
According to this model: Richer countries are almost all located in the Northern Hemisphere,
except for Australia and New Zealand. Poorer countries are mostly located in tropical regions
and in the Southern Hemisphere.
VI. Summary and Conclusion
The North-South Divide is criticized for being a way of segregating people along economic
lines and is seen as a factor of the widening gap between developed and developing economies.
However, several measures have been put in place to contract the North-South Divide including
the lobbying for international free trade and globalization.
The United Nations has developed a program dedicated to narrowing the divide through its
Millennium Development Goals.
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and women empowerment
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development
VII. References
• https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/sti-college/the-contemporary-world/chapter-3-a-
world-of-regions/20754663
• https://open.lib.umn.edu/sociology/chapter/9-1-the-nature-and-extent-of-global-
stratification/#:~:text=Global%20stratification%20refers%20to%20the,the%20richest
%20and%20poorest%20nations.
• https://openstax.org/books/introduction-sociology-3e/pages/10-1-global-stratification-
and-classification
• https://www.slideshare.net/wildbush/global-divides
• https://www5.worldbank.org/mdgs/
