Development Studies: Socio-economic Development from an Interdisciplinary Perspective Saleha Erdmann |
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Development Vocabulary The Third World: A phrase coined in the 1950's by French authors to bring attention to the plight of poorer countries who were not included in the categories of First and Second World and to highlight their marginalization by those who had the most power on the international scene. The First World and Second World: Emerged out of American Cold War rhetoric--the idea that (Western) democracies were the First World (and better world) and communist countries were the Second World. The phrase Second World is no longer used, mainly because of the fall of the USSR, but First World is still sometimes used. The Fourth World: A term used by some African diaspora scholars to refer to Black people everywhere in the world, the idea being that Black people are always marginalized the most no matter what their location is. The 2/3 World: A transnational group of people who are poor, this does not refer to a group of people living within a certain geographical area but under certain living conditions. Those who are part of the 2/3 world could be the American poor or Ugandan poor. Elites in any country do not fit into this category. Developing countries: A term that came out of modernization theory, based on the idea that development is linear and natural and all countries will follow the same path. The First World, then, is already developed, while the Third World is developing--trying to play catch-up. Today when people use the phrase "developing country," they usually don't mean it in such a condescending way, but that is its historical implications. Undeveloped countries: Also from modernization theory, countries that have not yet begun the inevitable process of development. Developed countries: The First World, the industrialized, traditionally Western countries (although now it does include countries like South Africa). It is assumed that these countries are the model that developing countries should strive for. Underdeveloped countries: A term that comes out of dependenc y theory, the idea is that these countries are now totally dependent on "developed" states for their survival because of abusive relationships between states such as colonialism, imperialism and neoliberal economics. These abusive relationships have actually underdeveloped the Third World, so that it cannot have power within the international system. Maldevelopment: A term I first came across in ecofeminist theory, refers to the concept of traditional development (especially as imposed by the developed countries) actually being harmful to countries economicallt, socially and environmentally. Similiar to underdevelopment. Industrialized countries: Another way of referring to developed countries, but with less of a value judgement. Although it still places the focus on industry and "progress." Unindustrialized countries: Another way of referring to developing countries, but with less of a value judgement. Although it still places the focus on industry and "progress." The North: Roughly refers to the geographical location of the group of states with the most international power (First World, developed world, industrialized countries, etc.), which tend to be in the northern hemisphere. However, there are many states in the northern hemisphere that are considered part of the Third World (especially in Asia and Eastern Europe). The South: Roughly refers to the geographical location of the group of states with the least international power (Third World, developing world, unindustrialized countries, etc.), which tend to be in the southern hemisphere. Less Developed Countries (LDC's): A more recent term to emerge, which is supposedly more politically correct, but hardly ever used. Newly Industrialized Countries (NIC's): A more recent term to emerge, which is supposedly more politically correct, but hardly ever used. Modernization Theory: The theory of development that emerged after World War II, which suggested that the First World should spread Western ideas, money, lifestyles to the Third World so that is could develop.While this theory is largely considered outdated, it continues to operate in many places. It tends to focus on economic growth, industrialization, neoliberal economics, etc. and emphasize the effects of a country's internal factors on development. Dependency Theory: A rejection of modernization theory that came out Latin American intellectual circles in the 1970's and eventually became very popular in Third World countries all over the world. The central idea was that the Third World was forced to be dependent on the First World and could not possibly follow the same development path. It also focuses on economic growth and industrialization but emphasizes the effects of external factors on a country's development and the need to protect the Third World from the First World through things like tariffs. The Washington Consensus: The development paradigm that emerged after World War II at the Bretton Woods Conference, which is basically the same as modernization theory. Neoliberal economics: competition, free market, individualism, comparative advantage, privitization The World Bank: Came out of the Bretton-Woods conference, the intent was for the institution to make long-term loans help large projects get started. The World Bank had a explicit development agenda from the beginning. The International Monetary Fund (IMF): Came out of the Bretton-Woods conference, the intent was for the institution to make short-term loans and grants to countries, all currencies were linked to gold and the US$. The IMF was a free trade institution, not for development, however, in the 1970's and 80's its role began to change because of the high amounts of money that Third World countries owed the IMF and could not afford to pay back (1970's oil crisis, 1982 debt crisis) .
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