The Need for a Revival of Third Worldism and the Continued Relevance of the Concept of the Third World

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Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2010 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Topic: Development Politics, grade: 76%, University of Cape Town, course: International Relations Honours, language: English, abstract: The end of the Cold War, some have argued, 1 has dealt the three worlds classification scheme a fatal blow and the break-up of the former Soviet Union and the associated disintegration of the Second World has to a large extent diminished the rationale which underlay the concept of the Third World.2 Furthermore, from its heyday in the 1970s, Third Worldism has been on a path of terminal decline due to a number of factors, such as disproportionate economic development among Third Worldist states, 3 political differences and the failure to establish a "common programme for international economic and political reform."4 Within the literature relating to Third Worldism, the concept of the Third World itself, and the three worlds scheme, there is a lively debate with some arguing that the concept has become an anachronism, 5 others maintaining that the concept maintains significance in the contemporary era. Furthermore, while there is general consensus within the literature that Third Worldism has experienced a declining trend, some argue that there is both the need and space for a revival of Third Worldism.6 == 1 Arif Dirlik, "Spectres of the Third World" Global Modernity and the End of the Three Worlds, " Third World Quarterly 25 (2004): 131, Vicky Randall, "Using and Abusing the Concept of the Third World: Geopolitics and the Comparative Political Study of Development and Underdevelopment, " Third World Quarterly 25 (2004): 43, Marc Williams, "Re-Articulating the Third World Coalition: The Role of the Environmental Agenda, " Third World Quarterly 14 (1993): 7, Mark T. Berger, "After the Third World? History, Destiny and the Fate of Third Worldism, " Third World Quarterly 25 (2004): 10. 2 Williams, 7. 3 Berger, After the Third World, 11. 4 Hans-Henrik Holm, "The End of the Third World, " Journal of Peace Research 27 (1990): 2. 5 Dirlik, 131, Randall, 43, Williams, 7, Berger, After the Third World, 10. 6 Hee-Yeon Cho, "Second Death, Or Revival of The 'Third World' in the Context of Neo-Liberal Globalization, " Inter-Asia Cultural Studies 6 (2004): 501-3, Kinhide Mushakoji, " Bandung Plus 50: A Call for Tri-Continental Dialogue on Global Hegemony, " Inter-Asia Cultural Studies 6 (2005): 514, Rajeev Patel and Philip McMichael, "Third Worldism and the Lineages of Global Fascism: The Regrouping of the Global South in the Neoliberal Era, " Third World Quarterly 25 (2004): 241.