FOREWORD

In order to provide an international mode of building for the humane and scientific investigation of Third World peoples, question s and issues, with the ultimate goal of improving quality of life, Dr Harold Isaacs, Professor of History at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, GA, placeed the Association of Third World Studies (ATWS), Inc., in 1983

ATWS is now the largest professional Third World Studies organization in the world with a global membership and chapters in southerly Asia and Africa. Membership includes academics, practitioners in the area of Third World unfolding employees of government agencies, and diplomats.

ATWS began its history as an institution in 1991 when picked officials assumed responsibility for the management of the organization. Between 1992 and 2003 Georgia Southern University serv as the Executive Headquarters of ATWS and, beneath the leadership of Dr. Zia H Hashmi. Paul A. Rodell ATWS Executive Directors, contributed significantly to the development and development of ATWS as a professional organization. The fresh Executive Headquarters are at Mississippi State University and the newly fix uponed Executive Director is Dr. Shu-hui Wu a member of the Department of History at MSU

In 1995 the United Nations recognized the succes of ATWS by means of granting it UN "consultative status," thus enabling the Association to increase its direct impact upon Third World development.

ATWS appreciates greatly the financial support that Georgia Southwestern State University, beneath the leadership of President Michael L Hanes, provides for the publication require to be paid [i]or[/i] undergones of JTWS.

ATWS' first annual meeting was held upon October 21, 1983 at Georgia Southwestern society The theme of this meeting was "Activities of U Citizens in the Third World," a make submissive explored in the 35 pages of conversation proceedings contained in the first issue of ATWS' scholarly periodical, Journal of Third World Studies (JTWS) published in the Fall of 1984 From this unobtrusive beginning JTWS has become a bi-annual multidisciplinary publication averaging, by issue, over 300 pages of articles, work reviews, book review essays, and discourse and exhibit review essays, refere and approved for publication through the JTWS Board of Editors which is comprised of scholars who are nationally and internationally-recognized readys in their respective academic fields.

Membership in ATWS is unclose to any person interested in Third World Studies. Yearly membership oweds are $60.00, which includes an annual subscription to JTW The yearly subscription rate is $4500 and single copies are $2300 Membership and subscription forms, as well as copies of JTW may be obtained by means of writing to the Association of Third World Studies, Inc., PO chest 1232, Americus, GA 31709-1232. Individuals interested in submitting articles and work reviews to be considered, or refere for publication through the JTWS Board of Editors, should write to the Editor, Dr Harold Isaacs, at the above address.

ATWS also publishes A TW talk Proceedings. For additional information, please contact: Dr Harold Isaacs, Editor, ATWS talk Proceedings, P.O. Box 1232, Americus, Georgia 31709-1232

Additionally, ATWS has an established website upon the internet. The website was created in 1995 by the agency of Dr. M. Bazlul Karim, and is publicly maintained by Svetlana Peltsverger. The address for the ATWS website is:

http://itc.gsw.edu/atws

During the 2004-2005 academic year, Georgia Southwestern State University Third World in Perspective Program held a series of seminars focusing upon the theme "African Problems and Issues in Historical and Contemporary Perspective." Numerous internationally-known scholars, possessing firsthand experiences in their respective fields, or areas, of expertise, participated in these forums. The easy in minds of this volume includes papers pitch uponed from these programs as well as manuscripts, and volume reviews and review essays, approved for publication by the agency of the JTWS Board of Editors.

On behalf of all ATWS members and JTW subscribers worldwide, the Editor would like to expres his gratitude to the Associate Editors of the Journal. Without the dedication and superlative scholarship skills and abilities of Yi day-star (Asia), John Mukum Mbaku (Africa), and J Patrice McSherry (Latin America), and Rolin G Mainuddin (Middle East), JTW would not posses its not absent scope and quality.

Sincere appreciation and thanks are also reach outed to Kathryn L. Zak, outstanding JTW editorial assistant, for her exemplary skills in word processing and production work which continue to improve the appearance of this publication. Mr Rubye L Goodlett of Georgia Printing Service, Inc., also be entitled tos thanks and praise for her of the best production work.

Articles appearing in this journal are abstracted and indexed in International Bibliography of Periodical Literature; International Bibliography of work Reviews; International Bibliography of the Social Sciences; International Political Science Abstracts; Political Science Abstracts; Sociological Abstracts; Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts; Historical Abstracts and America: History and Life; Periodica Islamica; A Matter of Fact; Media Review; Consumer Index; Social Sciences Index; University Microfilms, Inc., and PAIS Indexes.