First we got a quizz where we could check our knowledge about the Third World. It was really hard to find the right answer and I think most of us had a wrong knowledge in the most of the points.
We also heard about Michel Foucault and his opinion of how some discourses have shaped and created meaning-systems that have gained the status and currency of 'truth'.
An example for discourse:
Hut and house: Houses present civilization and huts are not cilizated. It is a difference for us, if we hear, a hut has been bombed or a house has been bombed.
In the book "Systema natura" (1735) Carl von Linnè defines the differences between people and tries to classify. He mentions four different kinds of people: The American, the European, the Asiatic and the African.
We read the introduction to Escabor's 'Encountering Development' and discussed it.
Truman says, that not developed countries should do it the way we do and that is the way to peace and progress. These countries would need our store of knowledge.
In 1951 the UN says, that underdeveloped countries must be completely restructured. That would be impossible without painful adjustments. They must follow us, even it is impossible.
In "The making and unmaking of the Third World" it is written, that the "Third World" has been produced by the discourses and practices of development.
We think, that countries are developing, if they develop in the direction of our standarts. Everyone believes that in Europe, they do right.
When a teacher is working in a developing country, following points are important:
- to acknowledge local culture
- be critical about the own values, knowledge and skills that I present
- be modest
I represent the Western countries, but not all approaches can be taken to another country.
Literary:
Escobar, Arturo (1995): Encountering Development. The making and the unmaking of the third world. New Jersey. Princeton University Press – excerpts p. 3-5.
Balslev, Marcus & Johnny Baltzersen (2011): Case stories on meeting the development discourse in education.
Web-sites:
On ‘developing countries’: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developing_country
On ’third world’: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_World
