Development discourse and the third world

Abstract

This article presents a critique on the development discourse within the context o f post colonial relations between the West and the ‘Third World'. The author views the concept o f development and the notion o f 'Third World'as constructs rather than objective realities. Because the language o f development 'and the 'Third World'came to the common usage in a specific period o f the western Colonialism fa ced challenges in continuing its domination over the subject countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The explicit meaning o f the two concepts cannot be grasped fu lly without understanding their closer linkage. In reality, ‘development 'is not a set o f actions but a deployment o f knowledge which is associated with a powerful ideology. It is through this ideology the 'Third World'is constructed as a reality fo r 'development'. The power o f this ideology can be understood when look at the way in which the thoughts and action ofpeople o f the 'Third World'have guided to the direction o f western modernity over past five decades. In the language o f 'development', western modernity is the ideal and thus the West insisted others to follow this model disregarding their historical, cultural and economic differences. The article attempts to explain the falsity o f this ‘same path fo r a ll’ approach in development and it argues that the notion o f 'development' is a post-colonial construction o f the West to continue its domination over the rest o f the world, particularly the 'Third World