anso disscusion review

The Development Project

internationally organized strategy (late 1940s–1970s) for nationally managed economic growth; a "protection racket" binding Third World to First World through aid, trade, and military alliances.

Multilateralism

system of international cooperation through institutions (World Bank, IMF) that was presented as universal but actually controlled by First World shareholders.

Bretton Woods System

1944 conference creating World Bank and IMF; established rules for post-WWII global economy with First World imprint.

World Bank

provides large-scale loans for infrastructure and export agriculture; controlled by five largest shareholders (led by U.S.).

International Monetary Fund

stabilizes currencies; enforces conditionality

Shareholder control

five largest shareholders appoint executive directors; U.S. President selects World Bank president; European nations (UK, France, Germany) appoint IMF managing director.

Conditionality

IMF requires specific economic policies (austerity, open markets) for loan approval; other lenders adopt same criteria.

Foreign aid

economic and military aid used to secure geopolitical loyalty, not based on need; flowed to strategic states

Bilateralism

direct aid from one country to another

Marshall Plan

U.S. bilateral aid to rebuild Europe and Japan; undercut socialist movements and secured Western loyalty.

Non-Aligned Movement

formed at Bandung (1955); Third World countries asserting sovereignty and non-interference; attempt to remove self from First World (and Soviet) grip.

Group of 77

demanded fairer trade, stabilized commodity prices, opening First World markets; created "Third Worldist perspective."

Endless cycle

import technology/food → take on debt → export primary goods → never earn enough → more debt → repeat.

Food dependency

result of food aid; countries shift from self-sufficiency to reliance on imported grain.

Agro-industrialization

transformation of agriculture into export-oriented, capital-intensive, chemical-dependent farming.