Download 1 Global inequality – huge divide in wealth distribution in world

The Developing World
Global inequality – huge divide in wealth distribution in world (Global South/North)
Uneven development
-Global income inequalities
-Stable lead of Industrial North (N. America, NW. Europe, Australia)
-Worsening positions of Africa, Latin America, and Eastern. Europe
-Growing outputs/incomes in Asia
Colonialism
Direct political control of a territory and its people by a foreign state, whether
accompanied by a permanent settlement or not. (Bernstein 2000)
Imperialism
More general domination by state(s) of other states/regions
-What’s so distinct about European colonialism?
-Capitalism linked to European form of colonialism
Capitalism
System of production of g/s for market exchange (rather than consumption by their
producers) in order to make a profit
-Fundamental social class relation between owners of capital and the owners of
labor power
-Linked to social relations/divisions
Neoliberalism – Dominant Today – Neoliberal Policies – Laze Faire
Economic ideology that favors the reduction of state involvement in the economy,
and believes in the efficiency of ‘free markets’
Colonialism
1500s – mid C17 – old Euro Empires in
the Americas
Decline of old Euro Empires
Shorter period of intense Colo. (Asia,
Africa)
Decolonization (from 1945)
Globalization (Neocolonialism)
Emergence of Capitalism
Mercantilism (1500 – 1770)
Trade created profit – moving products
Rise of industrial Cap. (1770 – 1870)
Rise of monopoly Cap. (1870 – 1930)
-Begin to see establishment of joint
corporations. (early form of
multinational corporations –
monopolies of trade – securing profits
– barriers to entry of market)
Welfare Cap. (1945 – 1980)
Neoliberal Cap. (1980-)
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Summary
-Divide between Global N/S is an outcome of historical processes
-The colonial encounter profoundly re-shaped the economic, political and social
structure of the colonized regions
-Decolonization brought gains for some countries in the Global South, while others
have staggered or worsened
-Global South continues to be tied in important ways to the Global North
-Contemporary patterns of ‘uneven development’
2. Latin America
-How/Why and impact of the colonization in Latin America
Pre-Colonial Societies in the Americas
15th Century: Europeans (Spanish, Portuguese) looked for alternative trade routes to
bypass the Middle East – Looked towards the West for such routes
-South America had major civilizations that existed (Mayan, Aztec Empire, Inca
Empires)
Mayan Civilizations:
-Was still in existence when Spanish arrived but in a weakened/declining state –
wasn’t considered a threat
-Had sophisticated achievements nonetheless
-Accomplished
Aztec:
-Northern Mexico
-Empire: Aztecs were colonizers – they were involved in military conquest and
extraction of wealth from the places they colonized/conquered
-Evidence of a centralized state
-Had three groups: Aztec triple alliance – three city states (Each seeking power over
each other, was exploited/exposed when Spanish conquest came)
Inca:
-Produced more than what their population needed
-Very well known for their agricultural achievements
-Irrigation systems, roads and food distribution well advanced
Conquest
-Journey of Christopher Columbus
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-Spanish and Portuguese claims in South America
How were so few able to conquer so many? And across a vast distance
-Guns, horses, ships and superior battle forces
-Mayan Population was in decline
-Diseases on the continent weakened the population
-Groups that were already divided amongst them weakened the countries – didn’t
unite and fight against the Spanish and Portuguese
-Didn’t view the Europeans as enemies – they were thought to be God’s (the
Spanish) by the locals – they thought it was the return of one of their Gods rather
than a military force – this was exploited by the Spanish – Latin Americans didn’t
initially realize their intentions
-Spanish and Portuguese agreement – they were not fighting each other
-Treachery: tactics of ‘divide and rule’ – used political leaders against each other
-State centralization: strong state capitals – when rulers were captured and the
central city seized the whole empire collapsed
Indigenous Accounts
Florentine codex
-Documentation of society, religion etc. and account of training of indigenous
young men to write – their perspective of the conquest
An Inca Account
-Account of various ways in which the Spanish were treacherous – how they went
back on their word and did not deliver on their promises
Missionaries
-Fought for less harsh conditions for the people
Impacts of colonialism – Initial
Demographic
-Changes in the population
-Large decline in indigenous population
-Many died – disease brought from Europe (declined rapidly by 1620/22), ill
treated, overwork, disruption of traditional coping mechanisms (Food distribution
systems were disrupted – created famine and other hardships that didn’t previously
exist)
-Spanish and Portuguese settlers – influx of new population – new generations
-Mestizos: people who were born out of union from Spanish and native people –
considered illegitimate children, some had more rights than others depending on
recognition from people
-African slaves introduced: 13% of total slave trade absorbed in Latin America
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Political Rule
-Displacement of Aztec and Inca rule by Spanish rule – Political reorganization
-Many died and many villages deserted but remaining people were congregated
into smaller towns
-Establishment of Settler administrators that established their control in towns and
cities
-Role of Catholic Church: Important because the Pope sanctioned military conquest
to Latin America – to save souls of native population – convert to Catholic faith –
also documented and moderated (brutality) the conquest
Colonial Economy
-Gold & Silver: discovered, engaged in rapid process of looting that treasure and
artifacts (native made artifacts) and native population was sacrificed with its
extraction
-Also discovered silver in highlands and Andes: harsh physical environment (forced
native labor), a lot of silver mined in the period
-Portuguese found gold in rivers in Brazil
-15mil kg’s gold exported over period
-Spanish forced to pay tax – to Spanish Crown – despite tax there was a lot to be
gained – looting provided great benefits to them
-Taxation and labor extraction: Spanish crown granted Spanish people a grant of
land and number of natives for labor for the land – establishment of vast land with
laborers (forced, harsh, brutal system)
-Missionaries tried to help the conditions
-Mita: another form of labor extraction - male population forced to work in the silver
mines – resulted to many deaths
-Land & Plantation Production: sugar plantation (1520’s onwards) used African
slaves
Wider impacts of colonialism
In Spain & Portugal
-Merchants and nobility accumulated great personal wealth – luxurious living –
imports from other countries – wealth also used in military campaigns – engaged in
European campaigns which funded military progress – very little invested in
production – large amounts of wealth aided those they were buying from –
resources gathered ended up in Britain and NW Europe
In Latin America
-Settler elite: those Spanish & Portuguese that settled In Latin America that were in
power and have left a legacy – created a racial inequality and class divide –
indigenous people marginally less privileged still today
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-Hybrid population: less easy to separate what is Spanish and what is indigenous in
today’s culture
-Spanish colonies in Latin America could only trade with Spain – disregarding the
price of goods – long term disadvantage for Latin America – didn’t have freedom to
trade with other countries – stunted development
-Great wealth was generated but Latin America overall didn’t benefit from colonial
rule – individuals benefited but economies didn’t
-Many consequences continue today – legacy left
-History can repeat itself – imperialism – Spanish control was replaced by US control
(indirectly)
Former colonies today
-Many are suffering but there are several that have emerged – Brazil (7th GDP
ranking) and Spain = 13th, Portugal = 40th (GDP ranking)
-Increase in poverty and inequality but also an increase in social movements (1990’s)
– trade unions etc.
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