Development and the Third WorldDevelopment and the Third World

Some Introductory Concepts and Some Introductory Concepts and DefinitionsDefinitions

What is the Third World?What is the Third World? Great awareness of contrasts in living standardsGreat awareness of contrasts in living standards Originated after WWII as a political category Originated after WWII as a political category

implying ‘positive neutralism’ in Cold War implying ‘positive neutralism’ in Cold War contextcontext

Talk broadly about ‘rich’ and ‘poor’ countriesTalk broadly about ‘rich’ and ‘poor’ countries Less affluent countries also referred to as: Less affluent countries also referred to as:

‘backward’, ‘underdeveloped’ , ‘less developed ‘backward’, ‘underdeveloped’ , ‘less developed or developing’or developing’

More recently terms used such as: ‘South’, and More recently terms used such as: ‘South’, and ‘2/3rds World’ ‘2/3rds World’

‘‘Development Worlds’Development Worlds’

11stst World: largely Western industrial and World: largely Western industrial and market economiesmarket economies

22ndnd World : planned economies-former East World : planned economies-former East European countries but now shrinking European countries but now shrinking rapidlyrapidly

33rdrd World: poor or developing economies World: poor or developing economies 44thth World: the very poorest economies World: the very poorest economies

where little development progress has where little development progress has occurred occurred

How to Identify the Third World?How to Identify the Third World? 2003 World Bank scheme based on per 2003 World Bank scheme based on per

capita income (Per Capita Gross National capita income (Per Capita Gross National Income) (Income) (www.worldbank.org/data/countryclass/www.worldbank.org/data/countryclass/ countryclass.html) countryclass.html)

Low Income: < $735Low Income: < $735 Lower Middle Income: $736-$2935Lower Middle Income: $736-$2935 UpperMiddle Income: $2,936 - $9,075UpperMiddle Income: $2,936 - $9,075 High Income: >$9,075High Income: >$9,075

http://www.worldbank.org/data/maps/maps.htm

Other Measures of UnderdevelopmentOther Measures of Underdevelopment But income is only one measure used to But income is only one measure used to

indicate levels of development-others are:indicate levels of development-others are: Literacy- Education Levels especially Literacy- Education Levels especially

beyond Elementary School beyond Elementary School Agriculture- Arable Land, Average Daily Agriculture- Arable Land, Average Daily

Caloric Intake and more generally DietCaloric Intake and more generally Diet Health- Lifespan (< 50 years), Access to Health- Lifespan (< 50 years), Access to

Medical Care, Delivery of Family Planning Medical Care, Delivery of Family Planning ServicesServices

Other Measures of UnderdevelopmentOther Measures of Underdevelopment

Access to basic services such as Access to basic services such as potable water and electricity potable water and electricity

Land- Owning, rather than renting, Land- Owning, rather than renting, sufficient land to provide for an average sufficient land to provide for an average sized family sized family

Availability of Employment beyond Availability of Employment beyond minimal services occupationsminimal services occupations

Historical Perspectives on the Third Historical Perspectives on the Third WorldWorld

1945-19551945-1955: Period of western disconcern-little : Period of western disconcern-little interest in problem of underdevelopment; interest in problem of underdevelopment; developed nations preoccupied with their own developed nations preoccupied with their own reconstruction and growing East-West-Cold Warreconstruction and growing East-West-Cold War

1955-19651955-1965: Period of optimism and high : Period of optimism and high expectations; 3expectations; 3rdrd World was object of intense World was object of intense attention; primary belief-poor countries were attention; primary belief-poor countries were lagging and with outside assistance they would lagging and with outside assistance they would catch up; various aid schemes conceivedcatch up; various aid schemes conceived

Historical Perspectives on the Third Historical Perspectives on the Third World cont’dWorld cont’d

1965-1975: 1965-1975: period of growing skepticism; period of growing skepticism; widespread disillusion with realization that widespread disillusion with realization that development more complex than previously development more complex than previously realizedrealized

1975-1990: 1975-1990: period of pessimism and re-period of pessimism and re-evaluation; growing frustration brought on by evaluation; growing frustration brought on by worldwide economic crisis (increased energy worldwide economic crisis (increased energy costs, high inflation, massive unemployment, costs, high inflation, massive unemployment, economic stagnation, growing indebtedness; economic stagnation, growing indebtedness; expansion of deregulation, PVOs, NGOs; decline expansion of deregulation, PVOs, NGOs; decline in demand for raw materials from 3in demand for raw materials from 3rdrd World World

Contemporary SituationContemporary Situation

Strong impact of globalization at all levels Strong impact of globalization at all levels (nation, region, village and family) especially (nation, region, village and family) especially significance of firms searching for cheap significance of firms searching for cheap laborlabor

Democratization: empowerment and Democratization: empowerment and participation movementsparticipation movements

Liberalization: deregulation and privatizationLiberalization: deregulation and privatization Women and gender roles in development Women and gender roles in development

scrutinized and emphasizedscrutinized and emphasized