Liberal view of the relationship between the industrialized and the developing countries The way forward VII The Liberal View on the Relationship between the Industrialized and Developing Countries 48. Liberalism cannot accept that the North-South dialogue should merely be an exchange of material values, trade, economic cooperation and aid. Apart from cultural values, political ideas have to play an important role. Liberals see human rights not only under the aspect of political rights and pluralism but also under the aspect of specific social rights. We cannot accept that human rights, political dignity, both personal and national, should be estimated by the size of the gross national product or by the readiness to act as mercenaries for the East or as bases for the West.
Liberalism can become the basis of free regimes in the developing countries.
The future of liberalism in the industrialized parts of the world also depends on the possibility of extending its values to the developing countries in all their variety. Liberalism in the developing countries offers a third way which rejects both authoritarian regimes of dictatorship or theocratic reaction and communist totalitarianism. Liberalism favors and promotes a simultaneous development in economics, culture and politics. Marxism instead subordinates political freedom to economic progress which ultimately cannot be achieved even on its own premises. Equally the dogmatic partisans of a totally capitalist system are ready to subordinate to this unrealistic goal, the achievement of economic and social progress.