The Global North is a political and economic term used to describe countries that are highly industrialised, economically developed, and hold significant influence in international systems of trade, finance, technology, and governance. The classification is not based on geography but on relative wealth, power, and historical patterns of dominance.
The Global North includes:
- All of North America (United States, Canada)
- All of Western Europe (Andorra, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom)
- Most of Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia)
- Key advanced economies in Asia (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Israel)
- Australia and New Zealand
Countries in the Global North are typically characterised by:
- High income and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita
- Advanced industrial and technological infrastructure
- Strong political and economic influence in global affairs (G7, OECD, EU, etc.)
- Long histories as colonial powers or global economic leaders
- Lower rates of poverty and social inequality relative to the Global South
- Central roles in setting international rules, standards, and norms
The Global North stands in contrast to the Global South, which comprises less wealthy, less industrialised nations with a history of colonial subjugation or economic marginalisation. The distinction is used to highlight persistent global inequalities, structural power imbalances, and the concentration of resources and decision-making in the hands of a small group of wealthy states.
The use of “Global North” is preferred over older terms like “First World” or “developed countries” because it recognises that these countries’ advantages are the result of specific historical and structural processes, not just their present level of development.
References:
- United Nations, “Global North.” https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/global-south
- Dados, N. & Connell, R. (2012). “The Global South.” Contexts, 11(1), 12–13. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1536504212436479
- World Bank, “World Bank Country and Lending Groups.” https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519