4th World
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The term 4th World was coined by Manuel Castells to refer to black holes of social exclusion. 4th World is deliberately opposed to 1st World, 2nd World and 3rd World, all of which imply a certain degree of connectivity. This connectivity is what is notably absent in the notion 4th World.
One sense of the phrase 4th World denotes nations without states (such as Kurds in the Middle East, Roma in Europe, many Native American/First Nations groups in the Americas, Tamils in Sri Lanka, and so on). This sense emphasizes the non-recognition or exclusion of often ethnically or religiously defined groups from the political and economic world system. [1]
Examples of places described as 4th World include Sub-Saharan Africa, rural Latin America and inner city ghettos or banlieues. Because of their disconnection from the rest of the world these places are powerless, and thus unable to change. In the case of ghettos or banlieues this disconnection stands in stark contrast with the city centres which are the most connected spaces.
Another sense of the phrase 4th World also distinguishes these countries and territories from "3rd World" as a synonym for "developing countries". 4th World, on the contrary, implies countries or regions with little or no potential to develop: these would include small island nations with limited usable land and few natural resources.
[edit] References
[edit] External Links
- Fourth World Journal
- World Center for the Study of Indigenous Law and Politics at University of Colorado, Boulder
