The real and ultimate solution to "third world" designation for so called third world countries is the countries doing what is necessary to move up the economic development ladder. Countries like Chile, Singapore, and South Korea have done what is necessary and have moved up that ladder. They have been declared advanced economies by the Organization for Economic cooperation and Development (O.E.C.D.). They are no longer third world countries even though their financial markets are still categorized as emerging markets. Malaysia and Taiwan are moving up that ladder and are nearly up there. China and India are another set of works-in-progress.
If one is told that they stink and it is true, the one should know what to do if the one is unhappy about what they are told. It does not really help therefore, to moan about a designation that the moaner can do and be seen to be doing something about. Moaning may be comforting but it is not a solution or answer.
There are by the way, advantages of being a third world country. Leaders of the countries usually have no responsibility for what has become of their countries. They blame other countries and sometimes their fellow citizens. Other benefits include the supply of foreign aid and grants that should not be necessary if the country would simply practice good housekeeping. A third world country's leaders can always go cap in hand to non-third world countries begging for foreign aid and grants that they (leaders) know before the fact, they would misuse. Is it conceivable that these and other benefits help to generally explain African countries' refusal to develop and implement policies that will help them climb up the economic development ladder?
Long-term underdevelopment in today's world, is a state of mind and also choice.
oa
-----Original Message-----
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Emeagwali, Gloria (History)
Sent: Monday, October 11, 2010 9:39 AM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Winner Of The 2010 ATWS Toyin Falola Africa Book Award
Toyin Adepoju has a point. These days the term Third World is used insultingly. See for example
Huffingtonpost.com on the series 'Third World America'.
Studies of Emerging Economies, African and Asian Studies, Non-Aligned Studies
or Majority Studies are some possible alternatives that come to mind.
GE
www.africahistory.net<http://www.africahistory.net/>
________________________________
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of toyin adepoju [toyin.adepoju@googlemail.com]
Sent: Monday, October 11, 2010 5:16 AM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Cc: leonenet; dw2216@columbia.edu; pmanning@pitt.edu; worldhis@pitt.edu
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Winner Of The 2010 ATWS Toyin Falola Africa Book Award
Very impressive.
Within the name of the prize,however,I have a problem with the section I highlight in black:
"Third World Studies Toyin Falola Africa Book Award"
I am wary of such self categorisation,even if it has a degree of validity. Is Africa,for one,Third to the West,in all aspects?Even if one argues that, taken generally,this classification can be sustained,how helpful is it to the psyche of those who belong to this so called Third World?
I might have problems,I might not be living up to my potential but I would not be keen to be NAMED IN TERMS OF MY PROBLEMS beceause I am convinced I can rise above them sooner or later.
I would be much more comfortable if the prize were simply named Toyin Falola Africa Book Award
Thanks
Toyin
On 10 October 2010 23:52, Abdul Karim Bangura <theai@earthlink.net<mailto:theai@earthlink.net>> wrote:
Professor Patrick Manning Is the Winner of the 2010 ATWS Toyin Falola Africa Book Award
Good Greetings:
It is with great enthusiasm that I share with you the wonderful news that the winner of the 2010 Association of Third World Studies Toyin Falola Africa Book Award is Professor Patrick Manning of the University of Pittsburgh for his book titled The African Diaspora: A History Through Culture (2009) published by Columbia University Press. As in previous years, the Award's committee received numerous and excellent books from which the selection was made. The following is just a small sample of what the judges of the Award had to say about Manning's effulgent book:
"The author is adept at tying together what are seemingly separate and unconnected phenomena. Integrating such a complexity (six centuries and several continents) was challenging enough, but it was done with an almost elegant simplicity...."
"Manning challenges three paradigms that have shaped the study of African peoples: (1) their exclusion from studies on modernity, (2) their exclusion from a global integrated study as a group, and (3) their absence of clearly defined thematic structures that encapsulate the experiences of the Africana. Through a new approach to the study of the African Diaspora, Manning shows how African peoples in the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean contributed to modernity through Diasporas, networks, mixes, hinterlands, and exchanges on the roads between centers...."
Please find below more details on the ATWS Toyin Falola Africa Book Award and the call for next year's Award. Next year's ATWS conference will be convened in Brazil, home of the Afrikan Samba.
In Peace Always
Abdul Karim Bangura/
Committee Chair
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
CALL FOR BOOKS
THE 2010-2011 TOYIN FALOLA
ATWS AFRICA BOOK AWARD
The Toyin Falola Africa Book Award, in honor of Toyin Falola, one of Africa's outstanding historians and intellectuals, will be given for the best book on Africa published in 2010-2011. Book submissions must be published in 2010 through June 15, 2011. The deadline for the submission of entries is June 30, 2011. The award will not automatically be given each year, but only whenever the committee decides that a book of considerable merit has been submitted. ATWS members are encouraged to enter their publications into the competition. The recipient will receive an elegant plaque, citation, and a $500 cash award.
Qualifications are:
1. Only monographs and studies will be considered. Please do not submit anthologies or edited works.
2. An individual who wishes to be considered must send a letter of application to the committee chair, Dr. Abdul Karim Bangura, The African Institution, 7532 Eighth Street, Washington, D.C. 20012 E-mail: theafricaninstitution@verizon.net<mailto:bangura@american.edu>
3. Publishers are permitted to nominate an author's book as long as the above rules are observed.
4. An individual seeking the award is responsible for sending a copy of his/her book to each member of the committee.
Committee members are:
Dr. Abdul Karim Bangura, committee chair, The African Institution, 7532 Eighth Street, Washington, D.C. 20012. E-mail: theafricaninstitution@verizon.net<mailto:bangura@american.edu>
Dr. James T. Gire, Department of Psychology, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, VA 24450. E-mail: GireJT@vmi.edu<mailto:GireJT@vmi.edu>
Dr. Jose Arimateia da Cruz, Department of Criminal Justice, Social and Political Science, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah, GA 31419-1997. E-mail: dacruzjo@mail.armstrong.edu<mailto:dacruzjo@mail.armstrong.edu>
Dr. Ishmael Munene, Center for Education Excellence, Northern Arizona University, Flagg Staff, AZ 86011-5774. E-mail: Munene@nau.edu<mailto:Munene@nau.edu>
<mailto:Munene@nau.edu>
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