Colonial Legacies and Contemporary Economic Inequality in the Global South

Author(s)	Mr. Mayankaditya lohiya
Country	India
Abstract	This research examines why deep economic inequality and underdevelopment persist across large parts of the Global South despite decades of political independence and economic growth. The study analyzes how colonial economic structures and systems of social stratification shaped long-term development trajectories in postcolonial societies. It argues that colonial regimes established extractive institutions and reinforced hierarchies based on race, caste, and ethnicity, which were later embedded within postcolonial governance frameworks. Using an interdisciplinary approach drawing from economics, political economy, and sociology, the paper explores how these institutional legacies continue to influence access to land, education, labor markets, and political power. The analysis highlights why economic growth alone has often failed to generate inclusive development and emphasizes the importance of structural and institutional reform in addressing persistent inequality in postcolonial economies.
Keywords	Colonial legacy, Economic inequality, Global South, Social stratification, Development economics
Field	Sociology > Economics
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 1, January-February 2026
Published On	2026-01-13
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i01.66407

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