Capitalism, Socialism, and the Third World Theme Analysis

While Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth is primarily focused on the fundamental confrontation of colonialism and anticolonialism, the book is also concerned with the confrontation of capitalism and socialism. When Fanon wrote his book in 1961, the Cold War was in full swing, and it further complicated the colonial situation and the struggle for independence in the colonized world. The Cold War was an extended period of political tension between the socialist Soviet Union and their allies—the Eastern Bloc—and the capitalist United States and their allies—the Western Bloc. The Cold War divided the world into either socialist or capitalist countries, and even the Third World—the developing countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, who did not align with any nation or side during either World War I or World War II—was pressured to pick a side. Through The Wretched of the Earth, Fanon at once argues that while socialism is more conducive to the needs of a developing nation, nation-building is an inherently capitalist venture, and he further argues that most of the wealth and capital of the West rightfully belongs to the Third World.

Fanon explains that the Third World was neutral during the Cold War, meaning they did not align with either the Eastern Bloc or the Western Bloc. By claiming neutrality, a Third World country was given protection under the law of war, although this protection was not nearly enough to account for years of oppression and economic exploitation. Neutrality, Fanon says, consists basically “of taking handouts left and right,” and it allows Third World countries to receive economic aid from countries on both sides of the conflict. However, Fanon maintains, neutrality does not ensure that either side aides the Third World in “the way they should.” The developed world owes much to the Third World after hundreds of years of colonialism, and the sparse aid given with neutrality is simply not enough. Despite not having any money or troops, Third World countries were “wooed” by both sides during the war. “To be frank,” Fanon says, “everyone wants a piece of them. And that is what we call neutrality.” Being neutral during the Cold War was simply another reason to entice an underdeveloped country to one of the conflicting sides and continue to exploit them through political and economic means. Third World countries remained neutral, since, Fanon asserts, “underdeveloped countries have no real interest in either prolonging or intensifying this cold war.” According to Fanon, for the amount of money spent on arms and nuclear research alone during the Cold War, the living conditions in the Third World could have been improved by 60 percent in just 15 years. The Cold War, it seems, was just another excuse to neglect the Third World.

While the Third World was tirelessly pursued by both the Eastern Bloc and the Western Bloc, Fanon argues that neither economical model entirely fits the needs the underdeveloped nation. “Capitalist exploitation,” Fanon says, including the cartels and monopolies, “are the enemies of the underdeveloped countries.” The people and natural resources of underdeveloped countries have been exploited by capitalist colonists, and the Third World is not prepared to join forces with a capitalist cause. Socialism, Fanon explains, more closely benefits the developing nation, as it is concerned with “human investment” and is based in the belief that people are a nation’s “most precious asset.” However, Fanon argues, nation building needs “something other than human investment.” Like capitalism, socialism is not entirely suited to the needs of the developing country. According to Fanon, socialism “cannot be sustained for long,” and the effort “will not produce the results expected” for a new and developing nation. It would take centuries, Fanon argues, to right the economical wrongs of colonialism and put the Third World back to a prosperous place.

Nation building, Fanon asserts “requires capital,” thus, it only makes sense for the Third World to follow a capitalist economic model. However, Fanon argues that this choice should come with a caveat. The Cold War and capitalism versus socialism, he says, is not “the fundamental issue of our time.” Instead, the fundamental issue of the time as Fanon sees it is colonialism, and the reparations due to the Third World for the systematic theft of their people, land, culture, and wealth. Europe, Fanon says, “was built on the backs of slaves,” and it is time that the Third World is paid back.