Martin Luther King coins the term "world house" as a metaphor to represent the reality that all communities of the world must work together for the good of people. During the twentieth century, the issue of poverty became the major focus worldwide. The fact that "two-thirds of the peoples of the world go to bed hungry at night" is disturbing (King, 290). The scientific and technological advancements of the twentieth century created means to accessing essential resources. Poverty existed mainly due to inadequate resources in relation to the population. However, with knowledge of attaining more resources, poverty's vast existence can no longer be hidden.  International interdependence increased domestic economic development, which provided necessary funds to improve impoverished countries, thus created opportunity.  

Martin Luther King believed a support plan carried out by passionate commitment was vital to standing the test of time in the world war against poverty. The vast gap between the rich and poor is to be of concern considering that all life is interrelated; "the agony of the poor impoverishes the rich; the betterment of the poor enriches the rich" (King, 292). President Johnson's conviction that "the basic conditions of life for the poor must, and can, be changed" is one to be spread (Johnson). "Wealthy nations must see it as a moral obligation to provide capital and technical assistance to the underdeveloped areas" (King, 290). As Martin Luther King said, "One of the best proofs that reality hinges on moral foundations is the fact that when men and governments work devotedly for the good of others, they achieve their own enrichment in the process" (King, 291). A shift of mentality based on morals, allowed unrelated countries to unify for the better of all parties involved. 

Interdependence amongst international economies was necessary for boosting individual domestic economies.  The positive correlation between political independence and increased economic development through international relations had not yet been fully comprehended by developed or developing countries (Sauvant). In the exchange of goods and services, international trade would create access to unreachable resources and improve global economic relations. As stated by the Joint Declaration of the Seventy-Seven during the 1964 North-South Conference, "unity is an indispensable instrument for securing the adoption of new attitudes and approaches, enlarging the area of co-operative endeavor, and securing mutually beneficent relationships, in the international economic field" (Sauvant). Unification of an inferior group with similar difficulties carries an influential power.  This alliance of developing countries provides strength against the superior developed nations. This marks the beginning of a shift of basic outlooks as it strides away from previously practiced concepts of neo-colonialism and paternalism. This shift of outlook allows major causal factors of underdeveloped areas around the world to be addressed. The primary reason was the inability to provide adequate resources to the oversized populations. Analysis of factors related to poverty across the globe contributed to the connection of international relations, domestic economies, and political independence. Foreign Aid Programs could provide funds to underdeveloped countries until the minimal necessary resources became available. From there, international trade would create access to unreachable resources and improve economic security. The growth of domestic markets through international relations would bring a surplus of finances. Excess capital would provide the means to fund further advancement of countries.

With sufficient funding, development and improvement of housing, transportation, and services is vital to changing life for the impoverished. Understanding poverty on the national level in the nineteen sixties forms perspective by comparison for the much larger global poverty at stake. Through past trial and error, President Lyndon B. Johnson believes "a successful strategy requiring a breakthrough on many fronts" is necessary in the national war on poverty and states, "the basic conditions of life for the poor must, and can, be changed" (Johnson). Valid for all countries, whether underdeveloped or in the developing process, breakthrough begins with the mindsets of individuals co-habitating in societies followed by a strategic approach. Johnson's strategy would respond to human needs through health and legal services, and improve poor environments through development and public investment. Details of the president's strategy create a realization of the immense poverty issue state side that is preventable, which further clarifies Martin Luther King's idea that "there is no deficit in human resources; the deficit is in human will" (King, 290). The extremity of poverty in a wealthy nation, such as that of the United States of America, creates a haunting idea of the extremity of poverty in deprived countries. Every country has a different starting point for advancement, whether it be at the bottom finding a source of clean water and irrigation of land or higher up improving houses and transportation. The latest innovative knowledge in science and technology allows for better assistance, along with the emergence of international relations in providing adequate funds. Advancement of societies around the world creates a safe environment filled with vast opportunity. 

Opportunity thrives shortly following development. With the growing global economy in the twentieth century, a concentrated worldwide war on poverty began. Martin Luther King greatly supported the battle with the idea that the wealthy distribute resources to develop the impoverished. Scaling the issue to a national level in President Johnson's message to Congress, which details a wealthy nation's course of action, creates perspective by comparison. Knowing the living conditions of the impoverished in America, Martin Luther King's concern presented in "The World House" is better understood. In analyzing the correlation of words and actions, Lee allows for comprehension of King's genuine distress for social injustices. The background information of the 1960s and analysis of Martin Luther King provided by Johnson and Lee was relative in understanding "The World House" context.

