Third World Politics: A Concise Introduction - Softcover

Haynes, Jeff

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0631197788 ISBN 13: 9780631197782

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 1998

Synopsis

Purposefully written for those coming to politics for the first time, this textbook provides an exploration and analysis of the most important political issues affecting the developing world. Offering a different perspective from standard texts in this field, Politics in the Developing World encourages an understanding of the breadth and nature of a range of pressing - and previously understated - issues: the striving for democracy; the political consequences of economic growth and development; the struggle of religious and ethnic minorities; human rights, particularly women's rights; the impact of globalization; and the politics of the natural environment. In doing so, the interaction of domestic and global factors affecting many of the developing world countries is highlighted and a new, qualitatively different set of concerns is identified. Some have resulted from recent international changes following the demise of the Soviet bloc, including the shift to democracy in South Africa, and the ramifications of the late 1990s Southeast Asian financial crisis. To illustrate the importance of these themes and issues, five developing world regions are examined in detail: Latin America and the Caribbean, South Asia, East and Southeast Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. While based on Haynes's previous publication, Third World Politics: A Concise Introduction (1996), this is a new book, completely rewritten, with updated regional analyses and data throughout. It concentrates on changes in the developing world in the last decade, with an increased focus on its international relations, complementing those chapters concerned with domestic issues. An ideal introduction as well as an invitation to further study, this text is essential reading for introductory students studying a range of courses including development studies, global politics, world politics, developing world politics, comparative politics, and international relations.

About this title

Review:

"Haynes has written a concise and lucid introduction to the developing world. At the same time, the work is rich in analysis and in empirical examples drawn from a wide variety of developing countries and the political and economic developments occurring within them. Politics in the Developing World is a welcome and an important addition to the growing literature on political and economic development." Professor Mehran Kamrava, California State University, Northridge

From the Back Cover:

Purposefully written for those coming to politics for the first time this new textbook provides an exploration and analysis of the most important contemporary politics issues of the Third World.

It offers a different, deeper perspective to the standard texts in this field, encouraging an understanding of the concerns - and drawbacks - of the traditional approaches. This ensures that the reader can fully appreciate the breadth and nature of a range of pressing - and previously understated - issues: the striving for democracy; the political consequences of economic growth and development; the struggle of religious and ethnic minorities; women's and human rights; and the politics of the natural environment. In doing so, the interaction of domestic and global factors affecting many aspects of Third World politics is highlighted and a new, qualitatively different set of concerns is identified resulting from recent international changes such as the end of the Cold War and the demise of the Soviet bloc.

To illustrate the importance of these throughout the Third World thematic chapters focus on five Third World regions: Latin America and the Caribbean, South Asia, East and South East Asia; the Middle East and North Africa, and sub-saharan Africa.

A comprehensive introductory chapter not only explains the structure of the book, defines terms and introduces the range of concepts and issues discussed but also compares, contrasts, explains and criticizes the range of traditional paradigms, setting out a theoretical framework for the book. Finally, a discussion of the decolonization process since 1945 and an examination of the characteristics of state-society relationships enables the reader to locate the contemporary period in historical perspective.

Both an ideal introduction and invitation to further study, this volume is essential reading for beginning students studying a range of courses, including global politics, world politics, Third World politics, comparative politics, development studies and international relations. It will also be especially useful to those in the second year of their degrees, following a range of modular courses, such as Third World Politics.

About this edition

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0631197788
• ISBN 13: 9780631197782
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240