Global South Literary Studies: Reclaiming Voices, Histories, and Cultural Identity

Abstract

Global South Literary Studies has emerged as a significant field within contemporary literary and cultural scholarship. The discipline focuses on literary works produced in societies historically affected by colonialism, imperial domination, economic exploitation, and cultural marginalisation. Literature from Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and indigenous communities offers alternative perspectives that challenge dominant Western narratives. Through themes of resistance, identity formation, migration, language politics, and cultural survival, Global South literature contributes to a broader understanding of world literature and decolonial thought. This paper examines the development, themes, theoretical foundations, and significance of Global South Literary Studies. It also analyses the contributions of major writers and theorists whose works have reshaped literary criticism by emphasising marginalised voices and alternative epistemologies.