The Nordic Africa Institute – Publications

The traditional division of labour in the world economy, with its clearest expressions during the colonial period, is gradually disappearing. The emerging world order exhibits as one of its most significant features, increasing economic and political contacts between countries situated in the South. This trend represents a challenge to the previously so dominant North-South relations. It therefore raises a number of important questions, particularly with regard to the future of the South. To examine and discuss the problem areas involved, the Scandinavian Institute of African Studies organized a seminar in May 1981 on "The Emergence of South-South Relations in a Changing World Order". The agenda of the seminar concentrated on two major issues: Do South-South relations contain possibilities for development in the South not found in the old international division of labour? Or do they simply possess the same exploitative characteristics as the classic North-South exchange, therefore creating a process of accelerating unequal development in the South? The present volume addresses itself to these important issues by focusing on two particularly interesting cases of expansionism in the South, the Brazilian penetration of West Africa and the Indian activities in Asia and Africa.