Development and the Third World Some Introductory Concepts and Definitions

What is the Third World? Great awareness of contrasts in living standards Originated after WWII as a political category implying ‘positive neutralism’ in Cold War context Talk broadly about ‘rich’ and ‘poor’ countries Less affluent countries also referred to as: ‘backward’, ‘underdeveloped’ , ‘less developed or developing’ More recently terms used such as: ‘South’, and ‘2/3rds World’

‘Development Worlds’ 1st World: largely Western industrial and market economies 2nd World : planned economies-former East European countries but now shrinking rapidly 3rd World: poor or developing economies 4th World: the very poorest economies where little development progress has occurred

How to Identify the Third World? 2003 World Bank scheme based on per capita income (Per Capita Gross National Income) (www.worldbank.org/data/countryclass/ countryclass.html) Low Income: < $735 Lower Middle Income: $736-$2935 Upper Middle Income: $2,936 - $9,075 High Income: >$9,075

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

Other Measures of Underdevelopment But income is only one measure used to indicate levels of development- others are: Literacy- Education Levels especially beyond Elementary School Agriculture- Arable Land, Average Daily Caloric Intake and more generally Diet Health- Lifespan (< 50 years), Access to Medical Care, Delivery of Family Planning Services

Other Measures of Underdevelopment Access to basic services such as potable water and electricity Land- Owning, rather than renting, sufficient land to provide for an average sized family Availability of Employment beyond minimal services occupations

Historical Perspectives on the Third World 1945-1955: Period of western disconcern-little interest in problem of underdevelopment; developed nations preoccupied with their own reconstruction and growing East-West-Cold War 1955-1965: Period of optimism and high expectations; 3rd World was object of intense attention; primary belief-poor countries were lagging and with outside assistance they would catch up; various aid schemes conceived

Historical Perspectives on the Third World cont’d 1965-1975: period of growing skepticism; widespread disillusion with realization that development more complex than previously realized 1975-1990: period of pessimism and re-evaluation; growing frustration brought on by worldwide economic crisis (increased energy costs, high inflation, massive unemployment, economic stagnation, growing indebtedness; expansion of deregulation, PVOs, NGOs; decline in demand for raw materials from 3rd World

Contemporary Situation Strong impact of globalization at all levels (nation, region, village and family) especially significance of firms searching for cheap labor Democratization: empowerment and participation movements Liberalization: deregulation and privatization Women and gender roles in development scrutinized and emphasized