The North–South Distinction: From Consensus to Contestation

Abstract Rooted in the field of intellectual history, this article examines how the meaning of the North–South distinction has changed since its appearance in the 1960s. It explains how the largely consensual vision espoused during the early years has gradually given way to growing polarization and contestation. This evolution is unpacked by studying the genealogy of North–South narratives formulated through the ideologies of liberal internationalism and systemic reformism. The article shows that the 1960–1990 period brought about an international compromise regarding the existence of a North–South divide. Moving to the post-1990 period, the analysis then dissects the growing disagreements over the utility of the North–South terminology for interpreting the global order. While today moderate and radical reformists continue to argue that the North–South cleavage remains a structural feature of global politics, most liberals maintain that it simply fails to describe the real world. Overall, the article helps to clarify what makes the North–South distinction highly contested and nonetheless “sticky” in contemporary global affairs.