Jameson’s Rhetoric of Otherness and ‘The National Allegory’ discusses ‘Third World Literature.’ ‘Third World Literature’ is explained as literature that is produced by those of post-colonial nations, that must be translated into the English language and “taught as an antidote to the general ethnocentricity” of the United States (Ahmad 77). ‘Third World Literature’ implies the larger idea – the Three Worlds Theory -which is also mentioned throughout this writing.
Today, I will be discussing the Three Worlds Theory of Maoism. This theory was first introduced in 1974 and is accredited to Mao Zedong. The main idea behind it is that there are three worlds into which nations are categorized based on a political standpoint. The First World is made up of the United States and the Soviet Union, also known as the “superpowers”. It is the imperialists, meaning the nations that plan to use their power and extend rule over other nations. Contrarily, the Third World is made up of the developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. These are known to often be poorer nations that struggle politically and economically. Lastly, the Second World is made up of the developed countries in between: including Japan, Canada, and Europe. These nations practice socialism, which is the idea that the public owns and regulates the means of production. Furthermore, there are differences in these nations beyond a political standpoint. The First World has the greatest amount of power, the strongest militaries, and the greatest access to resources. The Second World comes next; These nations are not the strongest nor the weakest. Lastly, the Third World is the weakest and the most susceptible to struggle, due to economic and social issues.
Although nations have been placed into one of the three worlds, there is potential to change. Our world is constantly being reformed as time passes and new ideas are introduced, and nations are able to move into a different “World.”
Links to additional resources:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/2619937
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/ziliao_665539/3602_665543/3604_665547/t18008.shtml
Citations:
Jameson’s Rhetoric of Otherness and the “National Allegory”’ Social Text 17 (Fall), 1987. A reply to Frederic Jameson’s ‘Third World Literature in the Era of Multinational Capitalism’ Social Text 15 (Fall), 1986.
Yee, Herbert S. “The Three World Theory and Post-Mao China’s Global Strategy.” <International Affairs (Royal Institute of International Affairs 1944-)</i>, vol. 59, no. 2, 1983, pp. 239–249>, www.jstor.org/stable/2619937. Accessed 3 Sept. 2021.
This was an insightful read! I really enjoyed how you mentioned in the end how there is potential to change. It helps me realize that change is constantly happening, even if we aren’t aware of it. Our environment is always changing, whether it will be a good or bad change is completely up to the individuals in control.
This was a very informal read. I do agree that each social world is changing to gain a strong political and financial standpoint for their nations. Some of the third world countries are changing for the best to gain more power and money to change their lives and well state of being.