Europe got its wealth from the Global South. Colonial exploitation bankrolled the industrial revolution and Enlightenment era. A certain threshold of wealth and urbanization is needed for that progress to occur and “poor” countries paid for it with their bodies and blood.
That wealth (75% of global gold reserves) was transferred to the US during WW2 as they were in a geographic position to not face any significant infrastructure loss while raking in money selling arms to their allies.
If you’re asking for introspection from either faction mentioned here, dont hold your breath. Its hard enough to find here, let alone in a direct discussion with ordinary people out in the street. People struggle with the idea of being born in the West amounting to being born on third base (and I say this as someone born there) so we’re a long way from any kind of deeper understanding, humility or gratitude.
This is at the state, not individual, level. The coal miners certainly thought they were better off than people living in the Global South (and more worthy of individual rights). They also enjoyed infrastructure developments paid for by their state’s exploitation.
So yes, they did have a form of privilege, on a global scale.
Europe got its wealth from the Global South. Colonial exploitation bankrolled the industrial revolution and Enlightenment era. A certain threshold of wealth and urbanization is needed for that progress to occur and “poor” countries paid for it with their bodies and blood.
That wealth (75% of global gold reserves) was transferred to the US during WW2 as they were in a geographic position to not face any significant infrastructure loss while raking in money selling arms to their allies.
If you’re asking for introspection from either faction mentioned here, dont hold your breath. Its hard enough to find here, let alone in a direct discussion with ordinary people out in the street. People struggle with the idea of being born in the West amounting to being born on third base (and I say this as someone born there) so we’re a long way from any kind of deeper understanding, humility or gratitude.
What? You think the coal miners from the 19th century were exploiting anyone?
This is at the state, not individual, level. The coal miners certainly thought they were better off than people living in the Global South (and more worthy of individual rights). They also enjoyed infrastructure developments paid for by their state’s exploitation.
So yes, they did have a form of privilege, on a global scale.