[STS-Africa] Ukraine: Why so many African and Indian students were in the country

Fri Apr 8 16:04:00 SAST 2022

*Subject:* Return of the “Third World”? (
https://ict4dblog.wordpress.com/2022/04/06/return-of-the-third-world/)

*Are we seeing a return to the old notion of a “third world”?*

Originating in the 1950s, the term “third world” was used to refer to those
nations not aligned to either the bloc of Western democracies or the
Eastern bloc of communist states.  Over time, and particularly since the
end of the Warsaw Pact and dissolution of the Soviet Union, the term has
fallen from use.

Recent events, though, may point to a revival in two senses.  First,
politically.  Compare the two maps below: of first, second and third worlds
in the 1970s[1] <#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftn1>; and
of reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022[2]
<#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftn2>.  Yes, there are
plenty of differences but the neutral countries are almost all third world;
and very few third world countries have taken a strongly-supporting or
strongly-condemnatory stance.

Second, economically.  Resource procurement and global supply chains are
being rethought.  Western democracies are seeking to delink from Russian
energy[3] <#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftn3>, and Russia
is turning East to find new sales outlets[4]
<#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftn4>.  Russia and China
are collaborating more closely on financial and other systems[5]
<#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftn5>.  Western firms are
considering moving supply chains closer to home, into domains that are both
more secure and less abusive of human rights[6]
<#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftn6>.  China’s “dual
circulation” strategy presages less economic interaction with the West[7]
<#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftn7>.  Overall,
“democracies are banding together, as are autocracies”[8]
<#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftn8>.

If there is some greater economic and political coalescence into a Western
democratic bloc and an Eastern autocratic bloc, what are the implications
for the “third world” of those countries outside those blocs?

Some will benefit as the blocs seek economic collaboration and political
alliance.  Mexico, Vietnam, Indonesia and others are already benefitting,
for example, from US firms’ search for non-Chinese production bases[9]
<#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftn9>.  China’s Belt & Road
Initiative and Western responses such as the US Build Back Better World
initiative are competitively channelling infrastructure funding to
lower-income countries[10]
<#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftn10>.

Some states may be adept enough to play off the two blocs, squeezing
concessions and enabling greater attention to local development goals and
interests[11] <#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftn11>.  But
many will come under pressure to pick a side, as seems particularly to be
happening with Western pressure on states to turn away from Russia and China
[12] <#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftn12>.  Third world
history suggests, if they do this, then such states may then face attempts
at destabilisation from the other bloc.

The world is different, more complex and more connected than it was during
the era in which “Third World” arose as a concept.  The realities of first
and second world bloc formation will likely be less than they might be.
Just as in the 1970s, and as the 2022 diagram above illustrates, many
countries outside those blocs may be more aligned with one than the other.
But, nonetheless, echoes of the Third World are sufficiently strong to be
taken seriously.

Follow @CDDManchester <https://twitter.com/CDDManchester>

[1] <#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftnref1>
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:World_map_worlds_first_second_third.gif
https://rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/tran.12480

[2] <#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftnref2>
https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2022/04/04/who-are-russias-supporters

[3] <#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftnref3>
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/04/pressure-mounts-germany-embargo-russian-energy-imports

[4] <#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftnref4>
https://www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/research/qa/qa-china-russia-energy-relations-will-new-oil-and-natural-gas-deals-help-russia-weather-economic

[5] <#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftnref5>
https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/03/12/will-china-offer-russia-financial-help

[6] <#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftnref6>
https://www.economist.com/business/2022/04/02/is-cancel-culture-coming-to-free-trade;
https://economistchina.com/wp-content/uploads/North-American-supply-chains-Will-reshoring-actually-happen.pdf

[7] <#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftnref7>
https://www.economist.com/china/2021/03/11/a-confident-china-seeks-to-insulate-itself-from-the-world

[8] <#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftnref8>
https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2022/03/19/globalisation-and-autocracy-are-locked-together-for-how-much-longer

[9] <#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftnref9>
https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2022/01/01/new-research-counts-the-costs-of-the-sino-american-trade-war;
https://economistchina.com/wp-content/uploads/North-American-supply-chains-Will-reshoring-actually-happen.pdf

[10] <#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftnref10>
https://www.firstpost.com/world/explained-as-g7-plans-build-back-better-world-heres-how-much-china-has-spent-on-belt-and-road-initiative-9732641.html

[11] <#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftnref11>
https://rgs-ibg.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/tran.12480

[12] <#m_1146410472194983342_m_-4174398597662335546__ftnref12>
https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/07/17/bidens-new-china-doctrine;
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/pressure-building-on-india-to-condemn-russian-invasion-of-ukraine/;
https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/pakistan-under-western-pressure-to-condemn-russia-s-invasion-in-ukraine-122030700563_1.html

View article...
<https://ict4dblog.wordpress.com/2022/04/06/return-of-the-third-world/>

*Gianluca Miscione* <https://bit.ly/2VJV6uq>

University College Dublin <https://bit.ly/3HOiNrS>

Zurich University of Applied Sciences <https://bit.ly/3HZs7ZO>

University of Zurich <https://bit.ly/3sCQO87>

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*From:* gianluca.miscione at ucd.ie <gianluca.miscione at ucd.ie>
*Sent:* Thursday, March 3, 2022 3:25 PM
*To:* sts-africa at lists.wiser.org.za; sts-migtec at listserv.dfn.de
*Subject:* FW: Ukraine: Why so many African and Indian students were in the
country
*Importance:* High

“Ukraine has long appealed to foreign students, which can be traced back to
the Soviet era, when there was a lot of investment in higher education and
a deliberate attempt to attract students from newly independent African
countries.

Now, Ukrainian universities are seen as a gateway to the European job
market, offering affordable course prices, straightforward visa terms and
the possibility of permanent residency.

"Ukrainian degrees are widely recognised and offer a high standard of
education," said Patrick Esugunum, who works for an organisation that
assists West African students wanting to study in Ukraine.

"A lot of medical students, in particular, want to go there as they have a
good standard for medical facilities," he added.”

…

Ukraine: Why so many African and Indian students were in the country
<https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-60603226>

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-60603226

*Gianluca Miscione* <https://bit.ly/2VJV6uq>

University College Dublin <https://bit.ly/3HOiNrS>

Zurich University of Applied Sciences <https://bit.ly/3HZs7ZO>

University of Zurich <https://bit.ly/3sCQO87>

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