The issue of Third World development in general, and that of African countries in particular, has been the subject of much debate in recent times. Many controversial issues remain unsolved as the quest for appropriate development paths continue. This paper reviews the early dominant paradigm vis-a-vis the new conceptualisation for achieving appropriate national development in the Third World in general, and African nations-states in particular. On the basis of the identified shortcomings in the early conceptualisations of Third World development the contemporary paradigm for the achievement of a people-centred and/or need-oriented, as well as an ecologically sustainable, development have been delineated and analysed.
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