What Does the First World Owe to the Third?

Note to Attendees: Please consider making a gold coin donation to contribute to the running costs of this Meetup.

The 20th-century theorist Immanuel Wallerstein described the global system as divided into a "core" and a "periphery," shaped by colonisation and economic power. Today, the question remains: do wealthy nations have a moral obligation to assist poorer countries, or is this view too simplistic, ignoring governance, culture, and internal dynamics? This is the topic we will discuss at our next Gold Coast meetup.

The questions we will address at this meetup are as follows:

1. Does the First World have a moral or practical obligation to help the Third World?
2. How much weight should be given to historical injustices versus present-day realities when considering global responsibility?
3. Can genuine support be given without creating dependency or perpetuating new forms of colonialism?

For those who want to keep chatting after the meetup, we will head to lunch at a local venue in Southport.

PLEASE NOTE:
– This is intended to be a good-natured but robust discussion. Please be respectful and prepared to have your ideas challenged. If you are easily offended, this event may not be for you.