Inventing the Third World: In Search of Freedom for the Postwar Global South

At the end of the Second World War, nation-states in the global south sought to reimagine the future world order at Bandung. This volume explores the alternative visions put forth by these nations to challenge global inequalities and create a more pluralistic and distributive world. It highlights the cultural and intellectual breakthroughs that these new narratives created, such as the invention of the third world and the search for new meanings of freedom, self-determination, and development. The chapters trace the efforts to remake the world and alter the trajectories of the global Cold War, which was marked by attempts to bring about global racial, social justice, and a different kind of peace.

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 01 December 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The end of the Second World War and the collapse of empires marked a significant period of reimagining the global order. As nation-states emerging from colonialism gathered at Bandung to chart alternative paths and confront global inequalities, there was a prevailing hope to establish a less hierarchical, more diverse, and more equitable world. This volume explores the alternative visions proposed by the Third World at the close of WWII, aiming to reclaim their aspirations for global transformation and the cultural and intellectual breakthroughs that emerged.

By examining how the Third World sought to establish new institutions of solidarity, alternative expressions, and narratives to the imperial ones inherited, this book reveals the profound impact of their creative endeavors. Writers, artists, musicians, and photographers formed networks to circulate and exchange these ideas, fostering a sense of interconnectedness and collective identity. The chapters in this book trace the exploration of new meanings of freedom, self-determination, and development within various regions of the global south.

This period witnessed a renewed commitment to creating new histories of global relations, icons, and genres, placing the promises of decolonization and struggles for social and racial justice at the center of global history. By demonstrating how efforts to remake the world intersected with and influenced the course of the global Cold War, Inventing the Third World offers a fresh perspective on this conflict. It challenges the traditional East-West framework and sheds light on a radically different "global cultural cold war."

The book highlights that the Cold War existed beyond the confines of the traditional geopolitical sphere
battlegrounds and reveals the complex interplay of cultural, economic, and political forces that shaped the world during this period. It explores how the Third World, as a marginalized and underrepresented region, played a crucial role
role in shaping the global order and challenging the dominant narratives of power and dominance.

In conclusion, Inventing the Third World is a groundbreaking work that offers a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the ways in which the global south reimagined the future world order at the end of the Second World War. Through its rich narratives, interdisciplinary approach, and critical analysis, the book provides valuable insights into the cultural and intellectual breakthroughs that emerged during this transformative period. It sheds light on the complex interplay of power, identity, and resistance that shaped the world and highlights the importance of recognizing and valuing the contributions of the Third World in shaping our collective future.

Weight: 596g
Dimension: 163 x 241 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350268159