The North/South Gap

The United Nations coined the term “North/South Gap” in 1980 The United Nations coined the term “North/South Gap” in 1980 The term refers to the division of the economic world based on the fact that many wealthy countries can be found in the northern hemisphere; whereas a multitude of poorer countries are found in the southern hemisphere. The term refers to the division of the economic world based on the fact that many wealthy countries can be found in the northern hemisphere; whereas a multitude of poorer countries are found in the southern hemisphere.

Between the North and the South there are great disparities in the range of social and economic development. Between the North and the South there are great disparities in the range of social and economic development. Many poorer nations are chastised, by the wealthier countries, for trying to improve themselves as the result has often led to international instability. Many poorer nations are chastised, by the wealthier countries, for trying to improve themselves as the result has often led to international instability.

Causes of the “gap” included colonization and neo-colonization. Causes of the “gap” included colonization and neo-colonization. The nation states that resulted from European colonization were a direct cause of the gap as the North’s economic system relied on supplies of raw materials which the South was economically, and environmentally set up to provide. The nation states that resulted from European colonization were a direct cause of the gap as the North’s economic system relied on supplies of raw materials which the South was economically, and environmentally set up to provide.

Northern Countries a.k.a Wealthy or 1 st World Southern Countries a.k.a. Poor or 3 rd World Exceptions Canada All others Israel United States of America South Africa: If you are white. Western Europe Saudi Arabia, Brunei: immense natural resources, BUT political and social freedom are a distant dream. Australia Japan New Zealand