Third-worldism

Third-worldismis a political concept and ideology that emerged in the late 1940s or early 1950s during theCold Warand tried to generate unity among the nations that did not want to take sides between theUnited Statesand theSoviet Union.The concept is closely related but not identical to the political theory ofMaoism–Third Worldism.

Overview

The political thinkers and leaders of third-worldism argued that the north–south divisions and conflicts were of primary political importance compared to theEast-Westopposition of the Cold War period. In thethree-world model,the countries of theFirst Worldwere the ones allied to theUnited States.These nations had lesspolitical risk,better functioningdemocracyandeconomic stability,and continue to have a higherstandard of living.TheSecond Worlddesignation referred to the formerindustrial socialist statesunder the influence of theSoviet Union.TheThird Worldhence defined countries that remained non-aligned with eitherNATO,or the Communist Bloc. TheThird Worldwas normally seen to include many countries withcolonialpasts inAfrica,Latin America,OceaniaandAsia.It was also sometimes taken as synonymous with countries in theNon-Aligned Movement,connected to the world economic division as"periphery" countriesin the world system that is dominated by the"core" countries.^[1]

Third-worldism was connected to new political movements following thedecolonizationand new forms of regionalism that emerged in the erstwhile colonies of Asia, Africa, and the Middle-East as well as in the older nation-states of Latin America, includingpan-Arabism,pan-Africanism,pan-Americanismandpan-Asianism.^[2]

The first period of the third-worldist movement, that of the "firstBandung Era",was led by the Egyptian, Indonesian and Indian heads of states such asNasser,SukarnoandNehru.They were followed in the 1960s and 1970s by a second generation of third-worldist governments that emphasized on a more radical and revolutionary socialist vision, personified by the figure ofChe Guevara.At the end of the Cold War in the late 1980s, Third Worldism began to enter into a period of decline.^[2]

Third World Solidarity

Third World solidarity is a key tenet of Third Worldism, emphasizing unity and cooperation among countries and peoples of theGlobal Southin the struggle againstimperialism,colonialism,andneocolonialism.^[3]It embodies the principle of mutual support and shared interests among formerly colonized and oppressed nations, seeking to address common challenges such as poverty, underdevelopment, and marginalization. Third World solidarity encompasses various forms of collaboration, includingdiplomatic alliances,economic cooperation,cultural exchange,andmutual aid.It emphasizes the agency and autonomy of the Global South in shaping its own destiny and advocating for a more just and equitable international order.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]