Global South Studies Center Erfurt

Global South Studies are a rather recent, vibrant and interdisciplinary research field. Global South is understood here in its relation to the Global North and Global East, as a relational concept. The term first appeared officially in world politics in 1980 with the report of Willy Brandt’s North-South Commission (1977-79), entitled North-South: A Programme for Survival, but "Global South" was used since the 1960s.
The concept of the Global East has recently been introduced into the discussion in order to include the post-Soviet and postsocialist spaces, the former “Second World”, liminally positioned between Global South and Global North. Global South, North and East are not to be understood as geographical descriptions, but rather as deterritorialized concepts used to describe and analyze transregional, transnational and translocal relationships, spaces and movements within the global economic and political order. Thus, there is “South” to be found in the “North” and "East" (and vice-versa). Through related experiences of subaltern positions of marginalization (and often alienation), the concepts Global South and East are also used to both express and analyze powerful social and political Imaginaries that have been able to transcend the contradictions and disjunctions of the societies and politics involved.

Navigating China: A Tri-Regional Conversation on Power, Policy, and Partnership.

21.04.2026.
Haus Dacheröden: Anger 37, 99084 Erfurt.

Panel:

• Thomas Yoshimura, Policy Advisor China, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V.
• George Yin, Senior Fellow, Mercator Institute for Chia Studies
• Michael Laha, Senior Fellow, German Council of Foreign Relations (DGAP)
• moderated by Dr des. Madeleine Böhm, Academic Coordinator of the doctoral program De-Globalisation and Global Decoupling (DeGlobE)

When: Monday May 4th, 18:00

Where: LG 1, HS 3

Running Time: 99 min

Organizers: FSR Geschichte 

Global South Movie Night Presents: 

 Memories of Underdevelopment (1968) 

The Cuban Revolution at its very earliest. Tómas Gutiérrez Alea's Memories of Underdevelopment is set in the critical moment between the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis , a time of great uncertainty when Cuba was still coming to terms with its own revolution. The film follows Sergio, a well off Havana landlord , who nevertheless is critical of the mentality of his class. Thus when his family leaves for Miami, he decides to stay in Cuba to observe the development of the country. But is it possible to be a spectator in a revolution? 

As Sergio explores Havana, a city caught between the fear of US invasion and revolutionary enthusiasm , we witness him in his difficulties in relating to his fellow Cubans, the ordinary people , who have suddenly become active participants in shaping the future of Cuba . 

The film poses several important questions. What is a revolutionary mentality? What is the relationship between the individual and the masses? And can we overcome the prejudices of our own class origins?

Due to the dire situation Cuba is currently facing , we considered it important to create a space of discussion dedicated to this topic. We are still living with the aftereffects of the Cuban Revolution, as is clearly evident in the illegal US blockade of the island. By presenting a movie of the early years of the Cuban Revolution, we are hoping to let the country speak for itself .

Thus we warmly invite all of you to join us for this next Global South Movie Night and Memories of Underdevelopment, which  is considered to be one of the greatest Cuban movies!