Rethinking subnational development: framing Northern Canada within the Global South

This study challenges conventional development paradigms by positioning Northern Canada within the framework of the Global South. Through an interdisciplinary approach integrating Staples Theory, Postcolonial Theory, Dependency Theory, the Basic Needs Approach and the Capabilities Approach, it examines the socioeconomic, infrastructural and political marginalization of Northern Canada. This research highlights how resource dependency, infrastructural neglect and uneven human development interact in the context of Canadian political economy, drawing direct parallels to other historically colonized regions. This analysis demonstrates that Northern Canada’s dependency reflects not only extractivism-driven underdevelopment but also capability constraints, offering a novel framework for understanding subnational peripheralization. By reframing Northern Canada within this paradigm, this article disrupts the traditional Global North/South binary and argues for a more nuanced understanding of regional disparities. This perspective has profound implications for development policy, suggesting a need for localized governance, economic self-determination and equitable infrastructure investment.