The Divide: A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and its Solutions in The Majority Report Podcast Goodreads Group

Nov 28, 2021 Faaiz rated it it was amazing

Shelves: anxiety-provoking, non-fiction, thought-provoking, accessible, depressing, development, third-world, political, wake-up-call, devastating

This is an excellent introductory resource into the causes of the staggering levels of inequality between the Global North and the Global South. The account offers a comprehensive appraisal of the major causes of this Global divide - colonialism, debt-entrapment, neoliberalism in the form of structural adjustment programs, "free" trade, and all the usual ills of globalization. Hickel takes aim at some of the core assumptions held by people all over about the causes of poverty and underdevelopmen This is an excellent introductory resource into the causes of the staggering levels of inequality between the Global North and the Global South. The account offers a comprehensive appraisal of the major causes of this Global divide - colonialism, debt-entrapment, neoliberalism in the form of structural adjustment programs, "free" trade, and all the usual ills of globalization. Hickel takes aim at some of the core assumptions held by people all over about the causes of poverty and underdevelopment which conventional wisdom would have us naturalize to the Global South or to the so-called corruption amongst the leaders and dictators of the Global South (the same dictators, incidentally, forced upon those countries through coups and military interventions). Some may for the first time be introduced to the massive levels of land grabs undertaken or the tax evasion done by multinational companies in the form of tax havens and transfer mispricing. The central point of this book is that the "divide between rich countries and poor countries isn’t natural or inevitable. It has been created." The statistics are as bone-chilling as they are astounding.

Since this is intended as an introductory text, the analysis does not dwell a lot on the intricacies, details and nuances; but it does point out whole areas that are worthy of deeper study should the reader choose. The book closes with some of the ways in which we can ameliorate the massive global divide and create a more equitable world in the face of climate catastrophe. The ideas are thought-provoking and worthy of much reflection and deliberation. However, in the end, the questions remain: who undertakes these actions and how are they undertaken? For example, how does mass debt-cancellation for poorer countries (who have already paid many times their principal amounts borrowed) occur in the real world where doing so would bring the full might of the US military? Or even in a world where the national bourgeoise would pummel any attempts for a more equitable redistribution of wealth in the poorer countries? Any proposed solutions that do not take into account such major structural factors so deeply embedded into the order of global capitalism will remain things that sound good on paper. ...more

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Mar 03, 2021 Grant rated it it was amazing

Although there are few over simplifications and generalisations, the Divide is an amazing start for those who have never been introduced to the historical realities of capitalism, imperialism, debt, western foreign policy failures and free trade fantasies. Yes there are better books that go into each of things individually of which most are referenced by Hickel, but here you have an amazing summary of all.

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Sep 16, 2025 Doug Poore rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

possibly the best book i've read in the subject. the subject being: how we got into this mess (greedy rich psycho freaks), & how do we get out. basically, the history of extractive capitalism starting in the 1600ms with the new world colonies & genocide, enclosure of the commons, industrial revolution, further colonizations, economic neocolonialism, third world debt & neoliberalism. threads all the needles, quotes all the wise ones. thought provoking & illuminating IN THE EXTREME. i will need so ...more

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