Unmaking the Third World via the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD): Experience and Future Action Areas

Abstract

This paper examines the historical dynamics and the dialectical processes that culminated in the designation, characterization and the objective reality of some part of the “Planet Earth” as “Third World”. Specifically, we show, how the expanded reproduction of capital via merchant capitalism, colonialism, neo-colonialism and the current global economic system have partly or wholly generated and reinforced the indices of underdevelopment associated with “Third World” countries and the inertia of continental attempts at unmaking Third World underdevelopment challenges. In doing this we attempt an X-ray of the New partnership for African Development (NEPAD) showing lessons learnt and areas for further research and practical actions.