HED4805
ASSIGNMENT 2
DUE DATE: 26 JUNE 2026
,HED4805 ASSIGNMENT 2 2026
DUE DATE: 26 JUNE 2026
Question 1.1: Explain what is meant by the expression "Global North and Global
South"
The expressions "Global North" and "Global South" are terms used to describe broad
geographical, economic, and political divisions in the contemporary world, though their
meaning extends far beyond mere geography.
Definition of Global North: The Global North refers broadly to Western Europe, North
America, Oceania, and the developed countries of Asia such as Japan, Singapore,
South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong (Wolhuter, 2020, p. 10). These countries are
characterised by high levels of economic development, political power, and
technological advancement. They have historically been the colonising powers or their
direct successors.
Definition of Global South: The Global South refers broadly to Africa, the Middle East,
Latin America, and the developing countries of Asia including India, Malaysia, and
China (Wolhuter, 2020, p. 10). The term was first used by Carl Oglesby in 1969 and has
gained prominence in scholarly literature as a preferable alternative to problematic
terms such as "Third World" or "developing countries" (Wolhuter, 2020, p. 10).
Beyond Geography: The extract in the assignment makes clear that "the Global South
does not only refer to a geographical location; it also refers to the pain caused by
capitalism and colonialism at different levels" (Seroto, Davids & Wolhuter, 2020, p. 7 of
extract). In the Global South, the majority of people were silenced, marginalised, and
, unemployed, and were victims of sexism and racism because of colonialism. Strongly
implied in the usage of these terms are asymmetrical power relations, with the Global
North exercising a global hegemony over the countries of the Global South (Wolhuter,
2020, p. 10).
Key characteristics of the Global South include histories of colonialism and neo-
imperialism, ongoing economic dependency, unequal exchange in global trade, and the
persistence of coloniality in knowledge production, culture, and social relations. As
Santos (2014) argues, there is a need to adopt "epistemologies of the South" that
capture ways of knowing developed by social groups as part of their resistance against
systemic injustices caused by capitalism, colonialism, and patriarchy (Seroto et al.,
2020, p. 7 of extract).
Question 1.2: Briefly discuss #RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall as critical
moments in the decolonisation of the history of South African education
The #RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall movements represent watershed moments in
the contemporary struggle for decolonisation of South African education, emerging from
university campuses in 2015 and 2016.
#RhodesMustFall Movement: The #RhodesMustFall movement began at the University
of Cape Town (UCT) and was sparked by the continued presence of a statue of Cecil
John Rhodes, a British colonialist and diamond magnate who epitomised the
exploitation and subjugation of African people (Maluleka & Themane, 2020, p. 253). The
statue symbolised the uncritical celebration of colonial figures who had benefited from
the oppression of indigenous peoples. As described in the prescribed textbook, "the
year 2015 witnessed the rise of the RMF, which was sparked by the continued presence
of Cecil John Rhodes' statue at the centre of the University of Cape Town" (Maluleka &
ASSIGNMENT 2
DUE DATE: 26 JUNE 2026
,HED4805 ASSIGNMENT 2 2026
DUE DATE: 26 JUNE 2026
Question 1.1: Explain what is meant by the expression "Global North and Global
South"
The expressions "Global North" and "Global South" are terms used to describe broad
geographical, economic, and political divisions in the contemporary world, though their
meaning extends far beyond mere geography.
Definition of Global North: The Global North refers broadly to Western Europe, North
America, Oceania, and the developed countries of Asia such as Japan, Singapore,
South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong (Wolhuter, 2020, p. 10). These countries are
characterised by high levels of economic development, political power, and
technological advancement. They have historically been the colonising powers or their
direct successors.
Definition of Global South: The Global South refers broadly to Africa, the Middle East,
Latin America, and the developing countries of Asia including India, Malaysia, and
China (Wolhuter, 2020, p. 10). The term was first used by Carl Oglesby in 1969 and has
gained prominence in scholarly literature as a preferable alternative to problematic
terms such as "Third World" or "developing countries" (Wolhuter, 2020, p. 10).
Beyond Geography: The extract in the assignment makes clear that "the Global South
does not only refer to a geographical location; it also refers to the pain caused by
capitalism and colonialism at different levels" (Seroto, Davids & Wolhuter, 2020, p. 7 of
extract). In the Global South, the majority of people were silenced, marginalised, and
, unemployed, and were victims of sexism and racism because of colonialism. Strongly
implied in the usage of these terms are asymmetrical power relations, with the Global
North exercising a global hegemony over the countries of the Global South (Wolhuter,
2020, p. 10).
Key characteristics of the Global South include histories of colonialism and neo-
imperialism, ongoing economic dependency, unequal exchange in global trade, and the
persistence of coloniality in knowledge production, culture, and social relations. As
Santos (2014) argues, there is a need to adopt "epistemologies of the South" that
capture ways of knowing developed by social groups as part of their resistance against
systemic injustices caused by capitalism, colonialism, and patriarchy (Seroto et al.,
2020, p. 7 of extract).
Question 1.2: Briefly discuss #RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall as critical
moments in the decolonisation of the history of South African education
The #RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall movements represent watershed moments in
the contemporary struggle for decolonisation of South African education, emerging from
university campuses in 2015 and 2016.
#RhodesMustFall Movement: The #RhodesMustFall movement began at the University
of Cape Town (UCT) and was sparked by the continued presence of a statue of Cecil
John Rhodes, a British colonialist and diamond magnate who epitomised the
exploitation and subjugation of African people (Maluleka & Themane, 2020, p. 253). The
statue symbolised the uncritical celebration of colonial figures who had benefited from
the oppression of indigenous peoples. As described in the prescribed textbook, "the
year 2015 witnessed the rise of the RMF, which was sparked by the continued presence
of Cecil John Rhodes' statue at the centre of the University of Cape Town" (Maluleka &
