Building Socialism in the Third World

The Global South has served as a historical laboratory for socialism, both in the postwar era and in the aftermath of the Cold War. In the decades following World War II, many Asian, African, and Latin American countries embraced a socialist development model, seeking to carve out unique paths to socialism without aligning themselves formally with the Soviet bloc. Instead of simply following the programs promoted by outsiders like the Soviets, East Germans, Cubans, and Chinese, these countries, including Indonesia, Chile, Tanzania, Angola, and Iran, embarked on their own experiments in socialist development.

Jeremy Friedman’s examination of these five countries over a forty-year period reveals the flexibility and adaptability of socialism as they navigated the challenges of the Cold War and regional conflicts. For example, the collapse of democracy in Indonesia informed policies in Chile, while the rise of political Islam in Indonesia influenced the left in Iran. Tanzania’s approach to socialism, shaped by efforts to build agrarian economies in West Africa, in turn influenced the trajectory of socialism in Angola.

Ripe for Revolution challenges the notion that socialism is rigid and dogmatic, demonstrating its ability to evolve and adapt to different circumstances. By looking beyond traditional narratives of socialist ideology, we can better understand its impact – both positive and negative – on societies around the world. To truly comprehend the successes and failures of socialism, as well as its potential for the future, it is essential to delve into the historical context rather than relying solely on ideological manifestos. Only by examining the complex history of socialist experiments in the Global South can we appreciate the full scope of socialism’s influence and legacy.

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