A French demographer, anthropologist, and historian named Alfred Sauvy was the first to use the term Third World (French: Tiers Monde) in 1952, referring to countries that were unaligned with either the Communist Soviet bloc or the Capitalist NATO bloc during the Cold War.
Chairman Mao Zedong pointed out during his meeting with Henry Kissinger in 1973 that as long as we share the same goal, we will not harm you nor will you harm us, and we should work together to counter Soviet hegemonism. He emphasized later that to continuously promote the world situation so that it moves in a direction conducive to peace and stability and favorable to the people of various countries, he proposed the "Three Worlds Theory," which is different from the Western theory Three Worlds or Third World. For example, in the Western theory, China and India belong to the second and third worlds. However, in Mao's theory, both China and India are part of the Third World, which he defined as exploitative nations.
Mao observed, "In my view, the United States and the Soviet Union belong to the first world. In-between, Japan, Europe, and Canada belong to the second world. The third world is very populous. Except for Japan, Asia belongs to the third world. So does the whole of Africa and Latin America". At the 6th Special Session of the U.N. General Assembly held in April 1974, Deng Xiaoping expounded the strategic thinking of Mao Zedong on the division of the three worlds.
He pointed out that after a protracted trial of strength and struggles, the various types of political forces are currently undergoing drastic division and realignment. "From the perspective of the changes that have taken place in international relations, the world today has three sides or three worlds in existence which are mutually related as well as contradictory.
Deng Xiaoping emphasized that China is a socialist country, a developing nation, and belongs to the third world. The Chinese Government and people firmly supported all the oppressed peoples and nations in their just struggles. He declared that China was not and would never be a super-power in the future. The European scholars highlighted that the only distinctive characteristic in all Third World countries was that their governments "demand and receive Western aid."
While all these world affairs were brewing at the United Nations in the 70s, public sentiment was at the backdrop of the Vietnam war. There was a pervasive struggle for pollical balance in many parts of the world, especially in African World. The African Worlds refer to African communities in various societies, African societies, nations, the continent, and African focus groups and individual consciousness in all silos. A new art form was developing its own musical genre and was making its way onto the global stage. This art form originated from Jamaica and was called Reggae music. Although it did not start as such, it became a medium of protest, which complemented the era's zeitgeist.
The competition was fierce between Johny Nash, Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley, Toots and the Maytals, the Mighty Diamonds, I-Roy, U-Roy, Dillinger, Alton Ellis, Erol Dunkley, and Burning Spear, Eric Donaldson, and so many others were making a prolific career in the music business. The pressure got the original Wailers line-up disbanded in 1974 due to Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer's refusal to play "freak clubs." The pair believed doing so would violate their Rastafarian faith. This compelled the birth of Bob Marley and the Wailers and the I Three as backup vocalists.
Up until then, most musicians were non-graduates or were musical-note literate. Though they could all make poetry with musical rhythms with heavenly touches. This was what set the Beetles apart from the Rolling Stones. The Beetles could read and write music. And if you recollect, the Stones paired with Peter Tosh to do a song called Keep on walking and don't look back. Amazing hit! During this same time, the same phenomenon was unfolding in Africa. Fela Kuti, the son of a progressive aristocratic family, had graduated from the London School of Music and was going to become a professional musician. At the same time, all his siblings were medical doctors. He had only the support of his mother, Funmilayo Kuti, who was way ahead of her time.
In Jamaica, Stephen "Cat" Coore, the former Deputy Prime Minister David Coore, was already playing music professionally with the Inner Circle. Michael "Ibo" Cooper and guitarist and cellist moved to form the Jamaican reggae fusion band, Third World, in 1973. Inner Circle was already filled with so many talents, so William "Bunny Rugs" Clarke joined the Third World as lead vocalist. Bunny Rugs' outstanding voice and American Rhythm and Blues' fusion made the band a formidable competitor and a pop chart cross over. They would be responsible for bringing reggae music to the mainstream dance floor. They had no confrontational lyrics. Most of the songs were about long and happiness. They even made a great hit song called Lagos Jump, which was about Nigeria's central capital city at the time. They performed with Stevie Wonder at the Reggae Sunsplash festival in 1981 in the wake of Bob Marley's death, which prompted Stevie to dedicate his tribute song "Master Blaster" to Bob Marley. Stevie Wonder wrote "Try Jah Love," a hit song that brought Third World further exposure to North American and Europe. Bunny Rugs died on February 2 2014, in a hospital in Orlando, Florida, battling cancer.
The Third World band did something spectacular. It mitigated the reference to the Third World countries by making it less traumatic and relatively benign to the global public perception. This is an example of what art does, and that is why freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. Nevertheless, it gives due credit to humanity's potential and the wealth generated from human consciousness as a resource. This is the part that is the most overlooked in developing nations and the most critical resources that any society can possess.
Thus, both Cuba and Jamaica made their indelible marks globally. Funny enough, they share borders. While Cuba was a political pain to the so-called First World countries, Jamaica was waging a constant cultural revolution. We can safely argue today that the Islands held their own. For the most part, Fidel Castro lived out his full life, despite so many West attempts to assassinate him and undermine his governmental systems. Jamaican reggae musicians campaigned to legalize marijuana and discredited Christopher Columbus. Both Cuba and Jamaica had their wish list fulfilled. Jamaica and Cuba continue to excel in sports, as best in the world in their crafts. The Islands continue to attract tourists to their countries. Eric Donaldson released the song titled Land of my birth in 1978 on Genius Lyrics. The song remains one of the best tourist marketing materials to the Island of Jamaica.
Land of my birth by Eric Donaldson
"I say this is Jamaica, my Jamaica, the Land of my birth. I will never leave her shores. I will never run away… My Jamaica is a beautiful island. She is the crown of the Caribbean Sea, and our people are free, no oppression here to see…
Ms. tourist, Mr. Tourist, leave your Land and come. Tarry here for a while, and I will bathe in the warm warm sun. We will share a lot with you. Our people, they are true. They will want to be with you. They will love, they will help, they will give to you; if you wish, my friend, you can live. You will be a happier one in the Land of the rising sun."
With charms such as portrayed in the Land of my birth lyrics, communist systems such as Cuba are moving toward more capitalist systems as in the Commonwealth Caribbean. Scholars argue that the contemporary Caribbean systems blend traditional and modern patterns, yielding hybrid systems that exhibit significant structural variations and divergent constitutional traditions yet ultimately appear to function similarly.
The countries of the Caribbean Islands are small but unique from one another. The U.S and the E.U. remain divided about the regional potential of the economy of the West Indies. The term Banana Republic, first used in 1904, resurfaced during the Clinton administration. The Banana Republic history began with introducing the banana fruit to the U.S. in 1870 by Lorenzo Dow Baker, captain of the Schooner Telegraph. He bought bananas in Jamaica and sold them in Boston at a 1,000% profit. President Bill Clinton, backed by American owned banana producers in Central America, launched a challenge in the World Trade Organization against the E.U. over Europe's preferential program, known as the Lomé Convention, which allowed banana exports from the former colonies of the Group of African, Caribbean, and Pacific states (ACP) to enter Europe cheaply. During the US/EU dispute, the United States imposed large tariffs on European Union goods (up to 100%) to pressure Europe to agree with the Caribbean nations in favor of the Cotonou Agreement.
The banana wars have caused some farmers facing increased pressure in the Caribbean to turn towards the cultivation of marijuana, which has a higher profit margin and fills the sizable demand from North America and Europe, where this herb is now legal. One of the most important associations that deal with regionalism amongst the Caribbean Basin nations has been the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). Proposed by CARICOM in 1992, the ACS soon won the support of the other countries of the region. It was founded in July 1994. The ACS maintains regionalism within the Caribbean on issues unique to the Caribbean Basin. Through coalition building, like the ACS and CARICOM, regionalism has become an undeniable part of the politics and economics of the Caribbean.
During the U.S.-CARICOM Summit in Kingston, Jamaica, in 2015, President Obama spoke on the importance of U.S. relations with the Caribbean region and the United States. He reaffirmed his commitment to partner with Caribbean countries in advancing economic development, security, and good governance. The Obama administration agreed to invest in sector reform, regional integration, support projects that improve energy and water efficiency, and exchange best practices in the hotel and tourism industry. The Carioca– U.S. segment of the Organization of American States Seventh Summit of the Americas took place from April 10- 12, 2015. The summit was historic because of Cuba's presence for the first time. The U.S. took Cuba off its terrorist list, heeding the call to end its trade embargo on Cuba, echoed during the Cuba-Caricom Summit of 15 Caribbean nations in Havana. The U.S. began allowing its citizen to visit Cuba. The Obama administration started the process of normalizing diplomatic relations with Cuba. However, all that changed. The embargoes were reinstated during the Trump administration. Trump Administration also reasserted its belief in the Monroe Doctrine and its hegemonic role in the Western Hemisphere.
During a recent tour of Latin America, the U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, told U.S. allies in the hemisphere that Chinese investments were "corrosive, giving life to corruption, and eroding good governance." Subsequently, the U.S. National Security Adviser, John Bolton, speaking in the context of new U.S. sanctions on Cuba, suggested that the hemisphere was now subject to a U.S. hegemony. "We proudly proclaim for all to hear: the Monroe Doctrine is alive and well," he told a Miami audience.
In a rebuttal of Pompeo's remarks Zhao Bentang, Director-General of the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that China would not force the region to choose sides while describing Pompeo's remarks as slanderous and insulting to its wisdom and that of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Jamaica has signed the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative's memorandum of understanding to take advantage of the advancing Chinese market and access development loans at rates lower than traditional global institutions such as the International Monetary Fund World Bank. Countries already on the program include Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Guyana, Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. The Bahamas, while a significant previous recipient of Chinese investment, has not joined the BRI. St Lucia, St Kitts, Haiti, St Vincent, and Belize recognize Taiwan and not China.
China already has multiple investments in Jamaica in bauxite, sugar, and industrial parks and has been involved in several major infrastructure projects and more effective global connectivity. China has also been funding the construction of Confucius Institutes at various University of West Indies (UWI) campuses. The Confucius institution is a nonprofit organization for Mandarin Chinese language teaching and the promotion of Chinese culture. There is one building at St. Augustine in Trinidad. At the UWI St. Andrews Campus in Jamaica, the budget for the Confucius building was US$4.9 million (J$667 million) and includes a lecture theatre, conference room, training room, library, storeroom, reception center, classrooms, tea break areas, offices, and display areas. It is also equipped with the tools to facilitate video conferencing. Vowed to be the best in the region.
Mr. Zhao Bentang said, "China will never force Latin America to take sides between China and the U.S., nor does it want the current Sino-US disputes to affect China-Latin America relations," He also urged the U.S. to view China-Latin American ties objectively.
President Xi Jinping promotes 'Zhōngguó Mèng' (Chinese Dream), and he affirms that it is the people's dream after all. We must realize it by depending on the people. We must increasingly bring benefit to the people. Realizing the Chinese Nation's great renewal is the most incredible dream for the Chinese people in modern history. China will always remain the builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and upholder of international order: Following in Chairman Mao's footsteps, the BRI win-win proclamation is, in principle, an evolution of what was told to Henry Kissinger in 1973 that as long as we share the same goal, we will not harm you nor will you harm us, and we should work together…
The U.S. Congressional Research Service suggested under the Trump Administration, the U.S. thinking about Chinese influence in the region has moved from being favorable to critical. Trump Administration believes that "China seeks to pull the region into its orbit through state-led investments and loans." The report noted that areas of U.S. concern included growing Chinese investment in regional ports of strategic value, infrastructure investments, and growing arms sales. It suggests that the BRI could lead to the creation of unsustainable debt and economies "becoming less competitive in manufacturing and agricultural technologies, and more dependent upon commodities exports to China and elsewhere." However, the report recognized that regional leaders and analysts doubt the sincerity of the Trump Administration's concerns about Chinese engagement in the hemisphere.
Speaking at an event to mark the handover of a Chinese funded community center, Antigua's Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, publicly criticized the U.S.' position on China. He called upon the U.S. to place a framework from which developing countries could benefit. Browne said that Beijing provides concessional loans at better rates than the World Bank, noting that Chinese lending extended for up to 20 years, with a five-year moratorium at two percent interest.
China is actively and generously involved in African and Caribbean development. There is nothing that the E.U. and the U.S. are accusing of China that they have not already perpetrated on African and the Caribbean nations. What truly matters is that an economic relationship between Africa and the Caribbean is significant to the entire African world's growth and needs to be taken very seriously at an urgent and critical pace.
The extractive and produce based commodity economy turn the developing world into competitors. This situation creates an unhealthy environment that seems to support perpetually cultivated dependency on foreign aids. The rules for building the wealth of nations are simple and have never changed. Nations are expected to develop values and manage their exchange propositions. This means that a society can have a vision or a dream that must practically coincide with the best ways and means for a near-perfect or satisfactory state of being for its people. It is ok to have an American dream and ok to have a Chinese dream. The problem is not to have a dream at all, and it is worse to stop others from fulfilling their dreams. Above all, no dream should be at the expense or burden of others. These are the rules.
Both the A.U. and the Caricom need to have a special summit to address the need for improving trade relations. The immediate need is to address the people's macro socio-economic needs when common interests and common wants require an interdependent policy or interests. That too is very urgent. Government and financial corporations must act in solidarity to encourage large- and small-scale entrepreneurs to work together to connect these African and Caribbean markets because they are essential to economic development.
Economists and investment analysts have forecasted that Africa's economy will continue to grow faster than every other continent's economies. About one-third of Africa's 54 nations currently have a yearly gross domestic product of more than 6 percent. The Caribbean economy should grow in tandem at an equal pace. The African and Caribbean Countries should work together based on common ties, such as heritage, status, and purpose to a necessary uniformity that addresses the need of their society, so that does not compromise the uniqueness of their sovereignty. The Europeans do it. The Europeans in Diaspora, such as Australia, South America, New Zealand, Canada, and America, are generally in an efficacious locked step socio-cultural development trajectory. The Africans and the Caribbeans are doing it separately when they must do it together.
China deserves the right the dream and take measures to achieve its dreams. It has to be said that China is becoming a global leader by the merits of its deeds rather than coercion or displacement of government and other useless bullying tactics that have brought nothing but pain. Countries envious of China needs to step up their game. As for Africa and the Caribbean, they need to understand China, and more importantly, they need to know themselves better. It is crucial to begin to look beyond local precedence and adopt a world view and their role in it. Only then can they see the missing pieces in the jigsaw puzzle. Realize how connected they are and how important it is to their health and survival to begin arranging the necessary conferences and meetings that bring them together and allows them to unravel, grapple, and move forward together- out- and away from the third-world theory.