[lbo-talk] The Idea of the Third World (was Re: Iran and LatinAmerica)

[Marvin Gandall]

Yoshie wrote:

>> Perhaps the only authentically Third-World nation was the
>> Islamic Republic of Iran: neither East nor West, in the sense of
>> neither of the capitalist bloc nor of the socialist bloc1; and neither
>> Eastern nor Western in its cultural mythology.2
==============================
But couldn't you say the same also about Quaddafi's Libya - at least, prior
to the invasion of Iraq?

Certainly, the US saw Iran and Libya as identical, each bent on "exporting
terrorism" and pursuing WMD programs. You'll recall that the US's Iran
Sanctions Act, prior to Quaddafi's 2003 policy reversal, was formally known
as the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act.

The Europeans and other US allies - and a large part of the Iranian ruling
class - still see a parallel. They think Iran could be persuaded to follow
the Libyan road if only the US would deal with them in the same way.

It may be that US-Iranian geopolitical interests are uniquely irreconcilable
and will lead to war. Things are still very unclear and in flux at the
present time. But we do know that, as in Iran, a large part of the US ruling
class is also pushing for a political solution, so perhaps it may transpire
that -  rather than Iran being a unique historical phenomenon, the the "only
authentically Third-World nation", as you suggest - the Bush and Ahmadinejad
governments have simply delayed a Libya-style accomodation. I know you don't
rule this out.