, HED4805 ASSIGNMENT 02 2026 (COMPLETE ANSWERS)
DUE DATE: 26 JUNE 2026
QUESTION 1
1.1 Meaning of “Global North” and “Global South” (10)
The terms “Global North” and “Global South” are used in social sciences to describe global
inequalities in power, knowledge production, economics, and history rather than simply strict
geographical locations. The “Global North” generally refers to highly industrialised,
economically developed countries such as those in Western Europe, North America, and parts
of East Asia. These countries have historically held dominant positions in global politics,
education systems, and knowledge production. In the extract, this dominance is shown through
the fact that most research output and leading authors in education history come from
countries such as Germany, the USA, the UK, and France (Seroto, Davids & Wolhuter, 2020).
The “Global South,” on the other hand, refers to regions that have historically been colonised,
economically disadvantaged, and often excluded from mainstream knowledge production
systems. These include most countries in Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia. The extract
highlights that scholars from Africa contribute a very small percentage of global educational
research outputs, showing their marginal position in academic publishing systems dominated
by the Global North (Seroto et al., 2020).
Importantly, these terms are not purely geographic but also epistemological. They reflect
differences in who produces knowledge, whose knowledge is considered valid, and whose
histories are prioritised. The Global North has traditionally defined academic standards,
research agendas, and theoretical frameworks, while the Global South has often been
positioned as a “site of study” rather than a producer of knowledge (Seroto et al., 2020).
Therefore, the concepts also reflect colonial legacies in education and knowledge systems,
where Western perspectives are centred and Southern perspectives are marginalised.
DUE DATE: 26 JUNE 2026
QUESTION 1
1.1 Meaning of “Global North” and “Global South” (10)
The terms “Global North” and “Global South” are used in social sciences to describe global
inequalities in power, knowledge production, economics, and history rather than simply strict
geographical locations. The “Global North” generally refers to highly industrialised,
economically developed countries such as those in Western Europe, North America, and parts
of East Asia. These countries have historically held dominant positions in global politics,
education systems, and knowledge production. In the extract, this dominance is shown through
the fact that most research output and leading authors in education history come from
countries such as Germany, the USA, the UK, and France (Seroto, Davids & Wolhuter, 2020).
The “Global South,” on the other hand, refers to regions that have historically been colonised,
economically disadvantaged, and often excluded from mainstream knowledge production
systems. These include most countries in Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia. The extract
highlights that scholars from Africa contribute a very small percentage of global educational
research outputs, showing their marginal position in academic publishing systems dominated
by the Global North (Seroto et al., 2020).
Importantly, these terms are not purely geographic but also epistemological. They reflect
differences in who produces knowledge, whose knowledge is considered valid, and whose
histories are prioritised. The Global North has traditionally defined academic standards,
research agendas, and theoretical frameworks, while the Global South has often been
positioned as a “site of study” rather than a producer of knowledge (Seroto et al., 2020).
Therefore, the concepts also reflect colonial legacies in education and knowledge systems,
where Western perspectives are centred and Southern perspectives are marginalised.
