Developing nation

A developing nation is an undeveloped nation. Such countries may actually be developing, but the term is often used euphemistically to include those which are not. Borrowing from the natural sciences the comparison to an organism, to say that a nation is "developing" or en route to developing, means that it has passed a certain critical threshold of evolution and compares its growth stage to those of other countries.

Measure of development

The term 'developing' is often taken as a short-cut for economic development, but also relates to social development, that is, other parameters that could be considered positive for society (education, health, life expectancy, etc.)

One measures the development of a country with statistical indexes such as income per inhabitant, the rate of illiteracy, and access to water. The UN then puts forth a ranking for these lists of statistics, to create, for example, a "social development indicator" of a country.

Developing nations are in general countries that have not achieved a significant degree of industrialization relative to their populations, and which have a low standard of living. There is a strong correlation between this status and high population growth.

Nature of development

Even though a good part of the world seems to aspire to development, the term itself is criticized by those who think it is too centered on Western countries. The term implies a direction and a movement that the countries must follow; it implies an inferiority of the developing countries.

The terms utilized when discussing 'developing nations' refer to the intent and to the constructs of those who utilize these terms. Other terms sometimes used are lesser developed countries or less [economically] developed countries (LDCs/LEDCs); underdeveloped nations or undeveloped nations; third world nations; the South; or non-industrialized nations. Conversely, the opposite end of the spectrum is termed developed nations, more economically developed countries (MEDCs), first world nations, or industrialized nations.

The United Nations allows each nation to decide for itself whether it will be designated as "undeveloped" or "developing" (though many economists and other observers ignore the UN rule about self-designation).

To moderate the euphemistic aspect of the word "developing", international organisations have started to use the term "least developed countries" (LLDCs) for the very poorest nations which can in no sense be regarded as developing. That is, LLDCs are the poorest subset of LDCs.

The concept of the developing nation is found, under one term or another, in numerous theoretical systems having diverse orientations -- for example, theories of decolonization, liberation theology, marxism, anti-imperialism, and political economy.

Sources of (under)development

According different theories, sources of underdevelopment, or mal-development include:

Intrinsic attitudes and aptitudes, real or used as justification
- attitudes and culture of the people;
- aptitudes and behavior of the elites and leaders;
- legal structures and institutions.

Extrinsic factors, real or used as justification
- geopolitical or commercial interest that it creates compared to other countries;
- place of the country in a historical and cultural system;
- inadequate reforms imposed in counterpart with financing of last resort, by multilateral organizations (like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank) to get out of situations of deficit and indebtedness in which the country is placed.
- lack of interest in and comprehension for the specific dynamics of a nation, by multinational companies.

Typology and names of countries

There are at least four types of nations:

Developed nations (Canada, United States, European Union members, Japan, etc.)
Nations with a developing economy (China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, etc.)
Developing nations (most countries in Asia, Africa, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean)
Underdeveloped or mal-developed nations (other countries in Asia, Africa, and South America, etc.)

The term 'developing nation' is not a label to assign a specific, similar type of problem. One designates these nations depends on the angle at which one approaches them, and according to the solutions envisoned to solve their problems. Each one of these terms has meanings beyond its first appearance:

Third World

The term was first for the first time by demographer Alfred Sauvy and refers to the Third Estate. The Third world does not comprise the nations of the liberal West nor of the Soviet block.

Countries of The North and The South

The world could be conveniently divided in northern and southern hemispheres. However, this division does not meet world realities (Australia and New Zealand are countries of the South but both are not underdeveloped. On the contrary, China and India are part of the northern hemisphere).

Rich and poor countries

This notion is based on income per inhabitant, a conception employed by the World Bank. This distinction only reflects the average wealth of a country and not the actual situation of its inhabitants.

Industrialized and non-industrialized countries

Most countries that are currently being industrialized or are in advanced phases of industrialization, also have characteristics of a post-industrial economy.

Developing nation

Measure of development

Nature of development

Sources of (under)development

Typology and names of countries

See Also