The Hindu : Kerala News : Parameswaran's book on `Fourth World' released

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Parameswaran's book on `Fourth World' released

By Our Staff Reporter

THRISSUR, JUNE 8. The science activist M.P. Parameswaran has published a book enunciating his views on the `Fourth World', giving a firm indication of his resolve to stick to his stance despite the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expelling him from the party.

The book, titled `Nalam Lokam: Swapnavum Yadharthiavum' (The Fourth World: Dreams and Realities) and published by DC Books, gives a detailed account of his perceptions on the changes that have taken place in the world — in the social, political and economic spheres — during the last century.

According to Dr. Parameswaran, on the basis of the politico-economic system that has been prevailing so far, the world is divided into the First World comprising capitalist countries, the Second World of the former Socialist bloc and the Third World of underdeveloped countries. The proposed `Fourth World' will be an interim stage before the development of the country into a `new socialist state'.

Dr. Parameswaran told The Hindu today that the `new socialist system' would give utmost importance to democratic values and would seek to regulate the production of goods only to fulfil the `needs' of the people and not for their `greed'. Pointing out that the hitherto known models of economic development, including socialism and capitalism, sought to maximise production of goods and their consumption, Dr. Parameswaran said that there was a ceiling for the extent of consumption of physical goods. In the `Fourth World', the emphasis will be on `making small powerful'. There will be a shift from competition to cooperation. Concepts like participatory democracy and decentralised development will be accorded the highest priority.

Attacking the capitalist system for its anti-poor content, Dr. Parameswaran said it could survive only by constantly adopting an expansionist strategy for mobilising the raw materials for its unending craze for increasing production and finding markets for these goods. These objectives may be achieved through either a coercive consensus or a direct war. On the other side, Dr. Parameswaran gave a serious analysis of the shortcomings of the models of development and political order that existed in erstwhile Socialist bloc.

Reiterating the importance of democracy in the `new socialist world', he said socialism could not be achieved through dictatorship. He averred that the pattern of development that China followed would lead that country to capitalism and not socialism.

``When the party expelled me there was no ideological debate. When I was in the party structure I had the limitations of its disciplinary framework. Now that I am out of it, I am publishing the book to make the people know that I am ready for a debate,'' he said.

An English version of the book, though not in so many details, will be released soon.

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