A developing country is after general understanding a country, which exhibits relatively low conditions regarding its economic, social and political development. It concerns a comprehensive term for countries, which apply after general linguistic usage as "“poor"”. Which country applies as developing country or is not, from the yardstick, at which one measures the development of a country, dependently (see to section common characteristics of the developing countries). The term comes of to the technical and everyday life language of the development policy and generally enjoys a high acceptance. This high acceptance results on the side by a relatively worth-free word choice and on the other side from a conceptual

The expression developing country - despite most diverse attempts - no theoretical concept is the basis. An attempt of the closer determination of this term leads inevitably to the question, which means development at all.

General linguistic usage

Fundamental notes

For the term "“developing country"” gives it a multiplicity of synonyms, like "“third world"” or "“fourth world"”. These terms are partly disputed - just like "“developing country"” even - and by some specialists are rejected. Critics of the term "“developing country"” object for example that he suggests something, what sometimes do not take place at all: indeed development. One of the most prominent critics of this term is a Swedish economist Gunnar Myrdal.

Any longer are not common: "“underdeveloped countries"” (underdeveloped countries), "“backward countries"” (backward countries) or "“non-developed countries"” (undeveloped countries). These terms published for the first time in the UN program of 1949, are however strongly worth-afflicted and can of the countries concerned by the inhabitants as hurting be felt. They are not any longer used therefore by UN and World Bank and should be rejected also in the public linguistic usage.

International and national phraseologies

Internationally there is no clear phraseology. Thus for example with respect to consequence of a UN-plenary assembly in the year 1971 leases Developed Countries (LLDC) of the Less Developed Countries (LDC) differentiated. Not all UN-organizations differentiate however between the two groups.

For the German linguistic usage the problem of the translatableness of the terms exists. The pedantic expression of "“less developed countries"” never became generally accepted therefore. Thus the Federal Ministry for economic co-operation and development uses (BMZ) either the English-language term "“LDC"” or the German indefinite term "“developing country"”. Also the BMZ makes no difference between LDC and LLDC and shortens "“leases Developed Countries"” off with LDC. The term "“developing country"” avoids Swiss management for development and co-operation (DEZA) in favor of the term of "“partner countries"”.

The expression north south

The expression "“north south"” is used increasingly by the developing countries themselves. Also one can find the expression "“north south relations"” increasing as replacement for the term "“development policy"”. The BMZ uses for example this designation. This term is to a large extent worth-free, since it expresses a geographical location, even if the developing countries are not inevitably on the southern hemisphere. Same applies in the reverse sense also to the term the "“north"”. The term the "“west"” as synonym for rich states is geographically just as inaccurate; in addition it is a Relikt from the time of the cold war.

Industrial nations and non--industrial nations

With "“industrial nations"” one tries to distinguish the industrialized states from the developing countries linguistically, which endeavor to reach this condition. The historical industrialization of Europe cannot be compared however with the processes, which take place today in the developing countries. In addition the assignment problem with the industrialized, former socialist countries (Eastern Bloc) places itself. In a general manner the countries meant with the expression industrial nations would have to be called today "“service states"”, if one compares the portion of the industrie and/or Dienstleistungsektors of the gross national income.

The term third world

Major item: Third world

The term "“third world"” originates from the 50's and was originally politically coined/shaped. It defined the non-aligned states, which did not want to be able to be taken in by the cold war ideologically.

Already before the end of the east west conflict, more exactly said at the beginning of the 80's to do demanded without the term "“third world"”. Ulrich Menzel justified and supported this demand in the year 1992 in its book "“end of the third world"” with the thesis that the second world would have disappeared, and it thereby also no more third world to give could. Many former "“groups of third worlds"” called themselves thereupon in "“groups of A WORLDs"” over.

The BMZ does not use the term "“third world"” no more. Nevertheless the expression did not disappear yet and exists further away, particularly in the everyday life language it is still used.

Richly and poor

The terms "“richly"” and "“poor"” define the development condition of a country only insufficiently. They find their use rather in connection with the fortune of individuals. Thus there is poverty also in countries with high average income (for example in Germany or Switzerland) and wealth in developing countries (for example in the oil-exporting countries).

Structural problems of the developing countries and their causes

Major item: Development theory, development policy

Structural problems work in principle during a longer period and express themselves in the cross-linking of certain phenomena. With structures the basis elements and effect connections, which coin/shape the internal procedures and reaction types of a system, are meant.

Usually a multiplicity of most diverse factors is responsible for the structural problems of the developing countries. The relative to the causes of these structural problems and small development level in the countries concerned exist a multiplicity of development theories. Most theories stress thereby either more strongly the endogenous (of the country concerned caused) or the exogenous (externally caused) factors. A goal of the development policy is to eliminate these structural problems.

Structural problems and their effect connections

Characteristically of developing countries the often insufficient ability the own population is to be supplied with vitally necessary goods and vital services; in other words: to make possible it a human being-worthy life. In this connection for example the World Bank proved that the majority of the Latin American states by a small rearrangement of the existing wealth able would already be, to overcome the mass poverty. Here it concerns thus not around a production problem, but a political structure problem.

Structural problems must to however not inevitably political nature be, but can also within other ranges exist (economics, society, environment etc.). Thus the Unterversorgung of the population leads to poverty, hunger and thus to a smaller productivity. This has a still worse supply situation to the result. Chronic malnutrition leads beyond that (particularly with children) to a mental and physical development restrained from the beginning. Finally their ability is to be improved by creativity or productivity their own situation to develop thus reduced and this concerns a sozio structural problem.

Another structural problem is the discrimination of women, which was recognized in the last years increased as a fundamental cause that problems of the developing countries.

Just as seriously an all too fast population growth can affect the already existing development problems. If the economic growth with the population growth any more step cannot hold, it comes for example in the cities to Slumbildung and unemployment, as well as in the rural area to nourishing problems and inadequate land use (accompanying with irreversible ecological damage).

Articles in category "Developing country"

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