Third World First Society, KCL

The Third World First Society was established in 1978 to educate students on the injustices occurring in the developing world, often referred to as the ‘Third World’ in this period. This society focused on the economic exploitation and political challenges faced by countries that were formerly colonised. It highlighted the severe disparities in labour conditions, such as those in Brazil, where workers received only a small fraction of the value of the goods they produced. The society’s weekly meetings addressed a broad range of issues, including human rights, the arms trade, and the economic inequalities that perpetuate dependency on former colonial powers. The society played a pivotal role in fostering awareness of how colonial legacies continued to shape global economic and political dynamics. The society became less active and eventually disbanded in 1989.