Crisis of Inequality and Dependency of Third World States in Global Politics: An Evaluation

Abstract

The study examines the historical evidence of the phenomena of colonialism that led to the situation of economic subservience and political control by the industrialised countries who incidentally are the former colonial master of most third world states. Arising from this, the study was guided by two main objectives. The first is to examine the major contradictions in the relationship between scarcity and human inequality in the distribution of available resources in developed and third world states. The second is to evaluate the crisis of inequality and dependency and their effects on the political economy of third world states, including Nigeria. To achieve these objectives, the study adopts the World System theory as its explanatory framework for analysis of the issues raised in the study. The study is historical in nature; therefore, it is purely descriptive, and it relied on secondary data as the main sources of information. Findings of the study show that the existing relationship between third world states and developed countries is a product of structural historical discontent built on the exploitation of the post colonies or developing countries. Findings further reveal that very little had changed as third world states were still being dominated and controlled economically and politically by developed countries, hence the clamour by third world states for more freedom for individuals and states to guarantee rapid economic growth and political stability. It recommends the redressing of the structural imbalances of globalisation and deliberate proactive development interventions in the area of new economic order to mitigate the problems of inequality and dominance by developed countries.