The Political Economy of Post-COVID Life and Work in the Global South: Pandemic and Precarity

The pandemic and lockdown have had a significant impact on the informal economies of countries in the Global South, leading to inequality and the loss of livelihoods for workers in these sectors. This edited volume examines case studies from India, Brazil, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka to analyze the global economic disruptions and question the sustainability of existing models of neoliberal development in the post-pandemic Global South.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 267 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2023
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This edited volume delves into the profound impact of the pandemic and lockdown on the informal economies of diverse countries in the Global South. The legacy of uneven development following colonization, imperialism, and externally influenced conflicts has left many countries in the formally colonized or semi-occupied regions worldwide lagging behind in terms of wealth accumulation, investments in manufacturing, and technology. The fact that these countries were forced into the global market dynamics on an equal footing with already developed nations exacerbated these inequalities, leading to the rapid expansion of informal economies. The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns implemented by Western countries disrupted global production chains, resulting in the loss of livelihoods for countless workers in the Global South. Even individuals engaged in traditionally locally-bound economic activities, such as domestic work and sex work, found their means of sustenance disappearing. This volume brings together case studies from India, Brazil, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka to examine the global economic disruptions as they affected informal sector workers, who have often been overlooked in state development policies. The chapters raise critical questions about the continued viability of existing models of neoliberal development in the post-pandemic Global South as it endeavors to rebuild economies, livelihoods, institutions, and systems of governance.

Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030932305
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022