The Third World in Perspective

Abstract

What do we mean by the Third World? This title has become a convenient omnibus term for the world’s underdeveloped countries. It came into vogue during the 1960s and embraces a third element in the world power structure. Our world is dominated by the ‘free world’ of the Atlantic bloc and the centrally organised European communist bloc. They comprise the technologically advanced nations but hold only 40 per cent of the world land surface and a minority 30 per cent of the world’s population. There remains a vast community of independent nations, most recently emerged from the colonial era, to be found mainly in the lower latitudes: they comprise the Third World. In this group are the poorest nations in the world, technologically backward but capable of great advances and possessing in their territories a great wealth of mineral, vegetable and energy resources. In the strict sense they are not a homogenous bloc separate from the two advanced power groups, for in their poverty they seek patronage and help, and lean to one group or the other.