Re: HDI 2004\"3rd World"

[Paul <paul_@xxxxxxx>]

Chris Doss writes (with related points from Daniel Davies and Ulhas Joglekar) :
> --- Paul wrote: Is there any common cause with any of today's 3rd world
> economic\political elite
> (Malaysians? Brazilians? Koreans? Russians? Vietnamese?)?
> ---
> Russia is not a 3rd world country.

Point taken.  And of course neither are any now "3rd" world countries since
the "2nd" has disappeared.  That may be part of the point.

Doug's post illustrated some dilemmas that were faced: there were elites in
the periphery that shared *some* of our goals vis-a-vis the center but did
not share our goals vis-a-vis their own population.  Likewise, there were
1st world "liberals" (actually includes lots of others) who shared *some*
of our goals vis-a-vis oppressed poor, women, environment etc. in the 3rd
world but only so long as these efforts did not threaten (and maybe
strengthened) their privileged position internationally.

I am concerned over how to handle these cross currents today (aside from
saying 'death to all') and wonder how much can I apply my previous
experience now that the 2nd and 3rd world categories are gone.  I imagine
Chris Doss finds that his difficulties explaining Putin to others on this
list relates to this point - no?  And, of course, all of us are caught in
terrible conflicting priorities when it comes to events in the Middle East.

Paul