Comparative Politics: Global South

Summary

In this episode of the Learning Playlist podcast, Mr. Ryan Dave Reilla explores the concept of the 'Global South,' discussing its historical origins in colonialism and its association with underdevelopment. The lecture delves into comparative politics, emphasizing the importance of understanding political processes and outputs across different countries. Reilla recommends 'Why Nations Fail' by Acemoglu and Robinson and encourages students to engage with a workshop on the Global South, due on September 10th.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The 'Global South' is a term often linked to underdevelopment and includes regions like Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East that were once colonies and are now considered developing countries.
• 🏛 The term originates from colonialism and imperialism, highlighting geopolitical relationships and the historical legacy of European colonial empires.
• 📚 The book 'Why Nations Fail' by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson is recommended for understanding the factors contributing to a nation's success or failure.
• 🎓 Comparative politics involves analyzing the processes and outputs of political systems, which is a method with ancient roots and is fundamental to understanding how different political systems operate.
• 🌟 Alexis de Tocqueville, a prominent political scientist, emphasized the importance of comparison in understanding political systems, noting that without it, the mind does not know how to proceed.
• 🌍 The study of comparative politics focuses on domestic politics within states, contrasting with international relations which looks at external politics or the interactions among states.
• 📈 The comparative method helps to dissect states and understand their complex functions, providing insights into their operations and internal dynamics.
• 📚 The workshop for the course is available on Brightspace LMS, with a focus on the 'Global South' and requires students to watch 'Why Nations Fail' and engage with provided resources.
• 📅 The workshop is due on September 10th, and students are encouraged to submit their work promptly after absorbing and internalizing the material.
• 💡 A parting thought from Lee Kuan Yew, the first Prime Minister of Singapore, emphasizes that a nation's greatness is determined by the will, cohesion, stamina, discipline of its people, and the quality of their leaders.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the podcast 'Learning Playlist A'?

The podcast 'Learning Playlist A' is a supplement to major and general education courses, aiming to share knowledge with the public at large under the guidance of Mr. Ryan Dave Reilla, a USGR college instructor.

What are the three talking points covered in the lecture on comparative politics?

The three talking points covered are: 1) The definition and implications of the 'Global South', 2) The subject of comparative politics and what is compared within it, and 3) The first workshop for the semester.

How is the 'Global South' commonly defined in the context of the lecture?

In the lecture, the 'Global South' is often associated with underdevelopment and refers to parts of Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East that were former colonies and are now labeled as developing countries.

What is the historical origin of the concept of the 'Global South'?

The concept of the 'Global South' originates from colonialism and imperialism, stemming from the geopolitics of old European colonial empires.

What book is recommended to understand the factors contributing to the success or failure of nations?

The book 'Why Nations Fail' by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson is recommended to understand the factors contributing to the success or failure of nations.

What is the main method utilized in comparative politics as discussed in the lecture?

The main method utilized in comparative politics is the comparative method, which involves looking at comparisons in terms of the processes and outputs of political systems.

Why is the comparative method important in the study of politics?

The comparative method is important because it allows for drawing parallels and understanding how political systems work, highlighting that states are complex entities influenced by both internal and external factors.

What does Alexis de Tocqueville's quote suggest about the necessity of comparison in political study?

Alexis de Tocqueville's quote suggests that without comparisons, the mind does not know how to proceed, emphasizing the importance of drawing parallels to understand political systems.

How does the study of comparative politics differ from international relations?

Comparative politics focuses on domestic or internal politics within states, while international relations is concerned with external politics or the politics among states.

What is the main topic for the first workshop of the semester?

The main topic for the first workshop of the semester is the 'Global South', and students are required to watch 'Why Nations Fail' as part of the workshop.

What is the deadline for submitting the first workshop of the semester?

The deadline for submitting the first workshop of the semester is September 10th.

What message does Lee Kuan Yew's quote convey about the greatness of a nation?

Lee Kuan Yew's quote conveys that a nation's greatness is not determined by its size alone, but by the will, cohesion, stamina, discipline of its people, and the quality of their leaders.