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Third World
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Third World is a categorical label used to describe states that are considered to be underdeveloped in terms of their economy or level of industrialization, globalization, standard of living, health, education or other criteria for 'advancements'. The term "Third World" was coined by Jawaharlal Nehru to refer to those countries that maintained their independence, allying themselves neither with the West (the "First World"), nor with the Communist states within the Soviet Union's sphere of influence or those countries that had centrally-planned economies (the "Second World").
economist and demographer Alfred Sauvy, in an article published in the French magazine L'Observateur, August 14, 1952, coined the term Third World in referring to countries currently called either "developing" or "under-developed", especially in Hindu Asia,Latin America, Africa, and Oceania, that were unaligned with either the Communist Soviet bloc or the Capitalist NATO bloc during the Cold War (1945–1989)..
Third World was a reference to the Tiers État, the Third Estate, the commoners of France before and during the French Revolution, opposed to the priests and nobles who composed the First Estate and the Second Estate.
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Third World is a categorical label used to describe states that are considered to be underdeveloped in terms of their economy or level of industrialization, globalization, standard of living, health, education or other criteria for 'advancements'. The term "Third World" was coined by Jawaharlal Nehru to refer to those countries that maintained their independence, allying themselves neither with the West (the "First World"), nor with the Communist states within the Soviet Union's sphere of influence or those countries that had centrally-planned economies (the "Second World").
Etymology
The economist and demographer Alfred Sauvy, in an article published in the French magazine L'Observateur, August 14, 1952, coined the term Third World in referring to countries currently called either "developing" or "under-developed", especially in Hindu Asia,Latin America, Africa, and Oceania, that were unaligned with either the Communist Soviet bloc or the Capitalist NATO bloc during the Cold War (1945–1989)..
Third World was a reference to the Tiers État, the Third Estate, the commoners of France before and during the French Revolution, opposed to the priests and nobles who composed the First Estate and the Second Estate. Like the third estate, wrote Sauvy, the Third World has nothing, and "wants to be something", implying that the Third World is exploited (as was the third estate) and that its destiny is revolutionary. Moreover, it conveyed the second concept of political non-alignment with neither the industrialized Capitalist bloc nor the industrialized Communist bloc.
The worst possible living conditions for most people are a common phenomenon in this part of the world, with very little value placed on the average individual's life. The entire country-states like India are run by deeply-corrupt politicians who are routinely elected to power by an equally corrupt population+a deeply corrupt electoral process.
Gut-wrenching filth and almost animal-like existence of people are the first two things that a first time visitor to these parts notices and quickly learns to ignore.
Definition
In academic circles, the countries of the Third World are known as the "Third World", the "Global South", the "developing countries", and the "under-developed countries". Economic development workers refer to these nations as the "Two-thirds World" and "The South".
History
The term "third world" was first intended to refer to the way those countries were discovered and because most of them were born as colonies of more powerful nations before they became independent nations. The term later on became popular as a way to denominate countries that have not "developed" or are in the process of "developing". In the colonial era, western imperialists exploited these countries. Once imperialism ended, these countries were left to take care of themselves, something most colonial powers never allowed. These countries were left to face the challenges of nation and state-building on their own for the first time.
Further reading
- A. R. Kasdan, The Third World: A New Focus for Development. (1973)
- E. Hermassi, The Third World Reassessed. (1980)
- H. A. Reitsma and J. M. Kleinpenning, The Third World in Perspective. (1985)
- J. Cole, Development and Underdevelopment. (1987)
- Aijaz Ahmad, In Theory: Classes, Nations, Literatures. (1992)
- A. Escobar, Encountering Development. The Making and Unmaking of the Third World. (1995)
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