Global South explained

American writer and activist Carl Oglesby coined the term in 1969, using it in an essay about the Vietnam War to describe nations dominated by wealthier northern powers. The phrase built on older labels like third world, but only gained wide use after the Cold War ended in 1991.

Third world is the older label, coined in 1952 for countries aligned with neither the US nor the Soviet bloc during the Cold War. Global South replaced it after 1991, once third world came to sound outdated and tied to poverty, and now stresses shared economic history instead.

Yes, China calls itself part of the global south, pointing to a shared history of colonialism and underdevelopment with other developing nations. But its economic and military weight now rivals wealthy northern countries, so some analysts argue it no longer belongs in the same category as smaller developing states.

It matters because most of the world's population lives within it, along with a large share of the raw materials and labour that keep the global economy running. Its governments increasingly coordinate on trade, climate policy, and international institutions, giving the group real influence over global decisions.