parties are still ‘progressive’—a term they do not define. The third way is
supposed to be a method by which the traditional values of social democracy
can be protected whilecarrying outthe economic policies of its traditional
conservative enemies (see alsoConservative Party). To the extent that it has
any content, four tenets are cited frequently. These areopportunity,responsibility,
communityanddemocracy. Opportunity is to be increased so that no sector of the
population is excluded from the minimum educational and financial base
needed for successful competition in the capitalist economy, and no vestiges
of discrimination are to remain. Responsibility is more of an appeal to the
citizenry to play their part than a set of policies for them; it comprises stressing
the need to be wise investors for their own future and being good parents who
make plans for their children’s futures—these are particularly important
because the third way is no longer able to guarantee extensive cradle to grave
welfare.
Community, again is largely rhetorical, but may be used to justify legislation
such as tax breaks for married couples, which may shore up what are seen as
traditionally valuable social mechanisms. Finally, democracy implies ever more
extensive consultative mechanisms to make those in power fully accountable to
those they rule. There appears to be absolutely nothing in the third way that an
intelligent and decent Conservative Party member would not regard him or
herself as committed to.
Third World
The Third World is most easily defined negatively, in that it consists of those
countries not in theFirst Worldor Second World. The First World consists of
the leading Western industrialized countries of Europe, North America, Japan
and the old British colonies which are of the same level of economic
development; it is, in fact, the world of the industrially developedcapitalist
economy. The Second World (a term very seldom used, if not now extinct)
covers the industrialized nations of the formerSoviet bloc. Thus the Third
World is the less industrialized, non- or under-developed world, much of it
consisting of ex-colonies of the European powers.
Despite its popularity as a media label, the Third World has very little
homogeneity, exhibits vast social and economic differences, and has little in the
way of common political or economic interests and policies. It is not even
certain whether any particular country not in the first two worlds will always
automatically qualify for membership of the Third World. Is India, for
example, a Third World country? Despite its poverty and its status as an ex-
colony, it is a nuclear power in terms of energy and weapons, and manages to
run a political system not always very different from a Western parliamentary
democracy. Other countries, notably the oil-producing states of the Middle
Third World