In this chapter, we’ve explored the roots of global inequality. We’ve identified the centuries old colonized perspective, and associated actions, that have created inequities between nations and among groups of people within nations. We’ve also examined two contemporary social changes that impact global inequality: the globalization of the trade and financial sector and the foreign assistance, humanitarian aid, and development movement. While these movements have developed only in this century, they are already far-reaching in their scope and complexity, so it is crucial that we examine them critically. Finally, we explored shifting perspectives, movements, and emerging possibilities that exist to address our global inequality within the global systems of today.

Ultimately, the content in this chapter has asked you to pose questions about how our relationships across global systems influence the way we interact as a global community. How do our ideologies continue to shape patterns of inequality in the world? How fair and helpful are our systems designed to support other countries? To what degree are they self-serving? With those considerations, we are better positioned to improve our international systems of support to better address global inequality.

Review of Learning Outcomes

This chapter has offered you the opportunity to:

• Identify ideologies and systems that are the foundations of global inequality.
• Discuss how foreign assistance, humanitarian aid, and development have instilled positive impacts as well as increased global inequality.
• Explain the mixed impacts of foreign assistance, humanitarian aid, and development.
• Illustrate new perspectives and movements that exist for addressing global inequality.

Key Terms

civilization mission: a perspective that frames colonized people as backward and in need of some “superior” society to intervene to improve their lives.

colonization: the action or process of settling among and establishing control over the Indigenous people of an area.

colonies of rule: colonies governed by a relatively small population of colonial administrators, usually for the purpose of extracting resources and wealth.

colonies of settlement: colonies in which the colonial power sends a large number of its domestic population to settle the colony, thus displacing the Indigenous population.

debt regime: a system of global governance which empowers wealthy countries, through the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, to impose economic and social policies on indebted nations.

foreign assistance: aid given by a national government to countries in need.

Green Revolution: an initiative to increase the global food supply and reduce world hunger by the use of chemicals and engineered crop varieties.

humanitarian aid: aid to alleviate suffering and mitigate the effects of disaster provided by governments and non-governmental organizations for a short-term period until longer-term help can be provided by local governments or other institutions.

international development: the government agencies, non-governmental organizations, philanthropic private businesses, individuals, and their actions working to address poverty and inequality, at a global scale.

neocolonialism: a newer form of colonialism in which colonial powers maintain their economic and political dominance over former colonies through debt, trade agreements and corporate influence but without formal political control.

neoliberalism: a political and economic ideology that emphasizes free trade, benefits of globalization, and a minimal government role in the economy, including spending.

white man’s burden: a framework for interpreting colonial expansion framing colonized people as simultaneously childlike and dangerous, while framing agents of colonial power as stern and wise parents.

Comprehension Check

Licenses and Attributions for Conclusion

Open Content, Original

“Conclusion” by Aimee Samara Krouskop is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

“Comprehension Check” was created by Veronica Vold and Michelle Culley for Open Oregon Educational Resources and is licensed CC BY 4.0.