‘Emerging markets’ outshine ‘global south’


President Vladimir Putin (left) and China President Xi Jinping like “Global South” for a reason. — Bloomberg

AT a recent conference, I was politely told off for using the term “emerging markets.” These days, I was informed, “we prefer” the “global south.” I complied with the advice but, on subsequent reflection, wished that I had pushed back.

For this is another in a lengthening list of linguistic innovations that seem innocuous at first, even polite, but in fact contain much mischief.

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