question_answer

Explain what is referred to as the G-77 countries. In what ways can G-77 be seen as a reaction to the activities of the Bretton Woods twins?

Answer:

Most of the developing countries did not benefit from the fast economic growth of western countries.

In order to catch up with the development in advanced industrial countries, the developing nations organised themselves as a group - the Group of 77 or G-77 - to demand a New International Economic Order (NIEO). By this they aimed to have a system that would give them control over their natural resources, more development assistance, fair prices for raw material and better access for their manufactured goods in the developed countries' market. They also stressed on equitable distribution of wealth between developed and developing nations.

The IMF and World Bank, often referred to as the Bretton Woods twins, were t designed to meet the financial needs of industrial countries. These were not equipped to face the challenge of poverty and lack of development in the former colonies.

On the other hand, the developing countries too needed the help of agencies like IMF and World Bank. So they too reacted to the need of the colonies. They formed the G-77.

However after 1950 the situation began to change. Europe and Japan rebuilt their economies fast. So Bretton Woods institutions turned their attention to developing countries.