Introduction

By the end of the introduction, you will be able to:

Distinguish between the Global North and the Global South

Consider decolonisation as contested terrain

Examine the importance of theory-work from the Global South

Understand the textbook’s format and pedagogical tools.

A warm welcome to Roads to Decolonisation: An Introduction to Thought from the Global South, a unique and accessible collection of Global South or majority world theory-work. In this textbook, the terms Global North and Global South are used to conceptualise the contemporary global divide. Global North and Global South are spatial terms that signify separate but entangled worlds in which the North enjoys cultural, economic and political dominance over the South (Blagg and Anthony, 2019). The Global North/Global South divide is a colonial legacy intensified by the forces of capitalism, globalisation, patriarchy and neo imperialism. It is important to note that inhabitants of the Global South live in the geographic North and those of Global North live in the geographic South.