Where it lapsed, in southern slaveholding colonies, a long period of economic backwardness resulted.

ECONOMIST: Creating economic wealth

The war in the south-east is due simply to Kurdish terror and economic backwardness.

ECONOMIST: Bulent Ecevit, Turkey��s survivor

As it is, his probable victory risks setting his country on a path of chaotic conflict, government paralysis and continuing economic backwardness.

ECONOMIST: Bolivia's new constitution

If the will of the people called for high double-digit unemployment and economic backwardness, Europe's democratic governments could carry on supplying both quite happily, global market or no.

ECONOMIST: What is Europe?

From Egypt to Saudi Arabia to Pakistan and Indonesia, the Arab and Muslim world has preferred poverty and economic backwardness to the prosperity that would come from engaging Israel.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: America's exceptional ally

Mr Han's colleagues in the movement who harbour grander ambitions might remember that Sun Yat-sen opposed a regime that had been teetering for years, undermined by foreign invasion, economic backwardness and widespread rebellion.

ECONOMIST: China

Accompanied by a posse of cabinet ministers, congressmen and corporate executives, the president touched down in Appalachia, the Mississippi Delta, the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in South Dakota and other black spots of economic backwardness.

ECONOMIST: America��s emerging markets