Understanding Inequality: Types and Perceptions

Introduction to Inequality

• Inequality differs from diversity
• Inequality violates human dignity, reducing opportunities for self-realization and contradicting equality principles
• Inequality stems from consistent patterns of advantage and disadvantage
• Inequality requires legitimization and can be changed since it is a product of human actions

Types of Inequality

• Vital Inequality: Pertains to humans as organisms, involving unequal life chances
• Existential Inequality: Focuses on humans as persons, dealing with the unequal distribution of human potential and the denial of dignity and rights
• Resource Inequality: Concerns humans as social actors, addressing unequal options for action and access to resources

Perception and Inequality

• Cultural and political attitudes along with legal standards influence the perception of social inequality
• Systemic integration into global structures can render inequality invisible in everyday life when comparing individuals or groups
• National borders and spaces of perception create separation

Global Interconnectedness

• Local, regional, national, and international relations of inequality are interwoven
• Relational inequality research examines unequal power relations and distribution

Distribution of Wealth

• A north-south divide exists, with rich regions in Europe and North America, and poor regions in Africa, India, and Latin America
• Africa accounts for 34.5% of the world population but only 1.9% of global private wealth
• North America represents 4.8% of the world population and possesses 38.5% of global private wealth

Economy and Resources

• Industrial export-oriented agriculture in the Global South caters to needs of global north
• This results in food imports, famines, and water shortages for the South
• Extraction of raw materials occurs in the Global South

Global Overview: Resource Distribution

• Aluminum sourced from Guinea, Jamaica, India, Australia, and Brazil
• Oil from Saudi Arabia, Russia, USA, Iraq, Canada, Norway, and GB
• Natural gas from USA, Russia, Iran, Canada, Qatar, and China
• Iron ore from Brazil, Australia, China, Russia, and India
• Coal from China, Turkey, and Russia
• Lithium from Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina, holding 70% of the reserves for lithium-ion batteries
• Palm oil sourced from Indonesia and Malaysia for the food industry
• Phosphorus from Morocco, holding 70% of reserves
• Sand for construction from China and Australia
• Rare Earth metals from China for electronics
• Cobalt from Kongo for batteries

Resource Consumption

• Natural resource use is unevenly distributed across regions
• Excessive resource exploitation leads to pesticide pollution, scarce water, and extreme temperatures
• Material consumption is rapidly increasing, reaching 70 billion tons extracted globally in 2010 (10 tons per capita per year)
• Global material consumption grows at 1.5 times the rate of world population growth

Unequal Material Consumption (2015)

• High-income countries with >12,275 USD per capita in 2010 represented 16% of world population, consuming 21% of biomass, 41% of fossil fuels, 23% of metals, and 24% of non-metallic minerals.
• Low-income countries with <1,005 USD per capita in 2010 represented 12% of global population, consuming 8% of biomass and 1% of minerals
• Richer countries exhibit higher consumption, especially of fossil fuels

CO2 Emissions and Impact

• The richest 10% accounts for nearly half of total lifestyle-related CO2 emissions
• The poorest 50% contributes only around 10% of these emissions
• Higher-income groups consume more resources and energy, leading to higher CO2 emissions
• Lower-income groups contribute very little to total emissions

Climate Inequality & Global Manufacturing

• Those who contribute least to emissions often suffer the most from climate change effects
• The wealthiest have significantly larger carbon footprints due to their consumption patterns
• The Global North profits from outsourced production in low-wage countries, where workers face poor conditions and low pay

Global Institutions

• The education system perpetuates social and economic disparities
• Labor, real estate, and financial markets favor wealthier entities, disadvantaging poorer populations
• Nation-states' policies benefit developed nations at the expense of developing nations
• A "global patriarchy" causes gender inequalities in wealth, power, and opportunities

Ongoing Exploitation

• Colonialism and neo-colonialism exploit developing countries and create socio-economic hierarchies
• Structural and institutional discrimination reinforces these hierarchies

Human Development

• "Human Development" encompasses more that economic growth
• Focus is on quality of life, including health and education
• Political factors play a role

Understanding Inequality

• Systematic differences between countries and regions cause unequal opportunities
• These differences are reflected in data measureable

Human Development Index

• Dimensions: Measured by life expectancy, knowledge via schooling, and Gross National Income (GNI)
• These are combined to show development beyond growth
• Compares countries relatively

The "Gini" Coefficient

• Measures inequality levels in society
• Ranging between 0 and 1, zero means perfect equality
• A higher coefficient shows more inequality

Global Human Development Analysis

• The OECD tends to have higher life expectancies, education levels and incomes, while the sub-Saharan struggle with outcomes and low incomes
• The IHDI shows the importance of addressing disparities within countries using policy implementation

Findings and Summary

• Massive educational awareness, but differences persist
• Gender progress is slow
• High-income inequality is incompatible with high HD levels, however HDI have constantly improved
• Inequality is decreasing between world regions in many dimensions of human development.

Colonialism vs. Imperialism

Colonialism Definitions

• Dominant group controls life of a colony, external interests considered
• Reinforced through beliefs

Colonialism Impacts

• System of thought with ideological agenda
• Shift historical perspective beyond colonial rule

Colonialism Periodization

• 1520-1570: Spanish colony starts in Mexico
• 1630-1680: Caribbean plantation foundation
• 1760-1830: European influence in Asia
• 1880-1900: Colonies forms in the Old World
• 1900-1930: Export economies of the colonies increase
• 1945-1960: Begins decolonization

Colonialism Implications

• Constant relationship reveals that phases are organically linked
• Slow domination, social forms build up with spatial claimed territories
• longue durée: an continuous process

Development and Approaches

• Historical, social, economic and cultural aspects looked at to legitimize domination and/or oppression
• Historical factors can lead to misinterpretations and misconceptions

Colonialism Impact

• Drawing borders at levels causes conflict and increases struggle for resources
• Causes economic development issues and limitations
• Slave trades and limited production
• Promotes feudal system and doesn't change social structures

Global Bordering and Its Process

• Colonial penetration and administrative states are established through bordering
• Historically grown units and communities are fragmented, impacting communities

Violence During Colonialization

• Conquest wars took place that led to conflicts and slavery
• Traditions negations impacted society and resulted societal alienation

Global Inequity and Its Measurements

Basic Metrics

• Measured for comparing living conditions
• Quality of life depends on the quality of the public sector and context quality
• But, services only available for money in poor countries

Measuring Income Inequality

• Ratio between bottom and top
• Palma ration, Gini coefficient, and Theil indices

Global Income

• Top percentages of society hold more money than percentages as the very bottom

Factors of Global Income

• Family background, investments, and savings rates factor

Wealth Accumulation

• Self-reinforcing effects at high incomes and wealth