ieves may very well be lacking in a number of developing states. Countries that have homogeneous populations to build upon and which are not composed of warring religious or ethnic factions may be more amenable to nation building.
Achieving the goal of sustainable economic development of all nations, and the related goal of eradicating the injustice of poverty, has proven to be a difficult challenge. At issue herein is an investigation of how well-known economic development models -- those of the Marshall Plan, the European Union and the East Asian Development Model -- have facilitated major advances in the economic development of countries and entire regions since World War II. It will be argued that replication of elements of these models can be used in Third World or developing nations to bring about highly desirable (even necessary) advances that will improve the quality of life for the world's most poor and needy citizens.
Central to these models are the concepts of free trade, favorable trade relationships, and an end to protectionism. Free trade supporters generally argue that reducing barriers to global competition, opening new markets, and allowing the free flow of goods and services across the globe will ultimately result in a better standard of living for the world's population. They also note that a free trade regime puts pressure on non-participants to eliminate domestic tariffs and other protective measures, reducing unfair competitive advantage ever further. "Competitive liberalization," as Legrain (21) calls it, offers free traders the opportunity to focus on those industries or service sectors that are most likely to be profitable. Such policies, like the Marshall Plan, encourage economic development and emphasize allowing countries to enjoy benefits related to their own capacity for production.
Further, Legrain (21) suggested that in the absence of free trade regimes, bilateral trade agreements betw...