From personal observation, more and more reference libraries are subscribing to this remarkable guide, described by the publishers as “an alternative reference to the countries of our planet”. First published in Mexico as Guía de Tercer Mundo, in 1979, the first English‐language edition, Third World Guide, appeared in 1986, with subsequent editions issued at two‐year intervals to 1992, and a change to the present title in 1995 and 1997, and a millennium edition in 1999. The fact that it is published biennially, and not annually, at a price far below that of other world directories, makes it an attractive proposition for libraries. Although it continues to be published with a strong leaning to Third World and environmental issues, the text appears to be less shrill and strident in tone than the early editions.
First off are informative analyses of 28 pressing global issues, many of which require a degree of expert knowledge, and understanding, that are not always apparent in the world statesmen to whom falls the daunting responsibility of resolving them, evident from a bewildering list of failures to deal with identified social and environmental problems. “The Earth and its peoples” spotlights the accelerated destruction of the planet’s biological resources; the underlying causes of deforestation; the problems of human‐driven environmental deterioration, bringing devastating climatic changes; the urgent problem of growing scarcity of water resources; the increasing imbalance between demographic growth and the distribution of the earth’s resources; and the ruthless exploitation of the indigenous peoples of the Americas over a period of 500 years. “Society” is concerned with the hopes and dreams of technological and philosophical progress and the reverse nightmare scenario of reality; the continuing unfavourable position of women and their constant struggle for greater equality; the crisis in education resulting in the adaptation of individuals to the globalised market rather than adhering to the principle of moulding them to participate in social and communal affairs; the limits of biomedicine; poverty and discrimination in childhood leading to premature and preventable deaths; the struggle of labour for basic rights; and the debilitating evil of child labour.
“Science and technology” investigates the historical and social relativity of Western science which arguably nurtures the seed of its own destruction; the nightmare domination of the mass production of internal combustion engined cars; the improbability that modern communication systems can actually solve human problems; and the toxic legacy of nuclear energy. “Economics” examines the fiction of modernisation, progress, and development; the unfettered expansion of transnational corporations and their effect on the poorest national economies and the power exercised by centralised decision making; the speculative nature of international monetary transactions; the infinite Third World debt spiral; and the disturbing links between international aid organisations, international trade and international corporations. “International relations” takes a critical view of the United Nations, considers the plight of the tens of millions of refugees, and reviews the expansion of NATO despite the end of the Cold War.
Having established its standpoint on all these global issues as a background, the Guide then embarks on 217 country profiles, comprising an analytical and descriptive text; a thumbnail location map, in many instances other maps to illustrate particular points of contention, or to reflect current news value; graphic and tabular statistics relating to demography, health, education, and communications, the economy and energy; and perhaps a fact box to focus on individual topics of note. In some areas this view from the south inevitably differs from a northern viewpoint. For example, it is understandable that in a world guide, published in South America, the Malvinas are encompassed within the Argentina entry, but the accuracy and bias of the text would no doubt be questioned in London, especially as its location map firmly places the islands a few leagues due west of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean. One hears of cartographic imperialism but this is right out of order! But, in general, we must allow a guide of this nature to exhibit and to place on record alternative and divergent views on world affairs. The Spanish language edition is being updated online over the Internet.
