Country categorization
By AniruS
@AniruS (256)
United States
September 28, 2009 6:36pm CST
I was having a discussion with my friend about the countries of the world and we were constantly using the words first world countries and third world countries with actually knowing why these countries are known by that category.
Does anyone know why the countries of the world are categorized as "first world countries" and "third world countries"? Are there any "second world countries"? Who coined these words?
3 responses
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
29 Sep 09
I am not completely sure, but I think that "the first world countries" are the capitalist and industrial countries for instanse the U.S. and western Europe. "The second world countries" are the former communist/socialist countries for instanse Eastern Europe. "The third world countries" are the developing countries. My teacher mentioned those names when I went to school, but I don't know who invented the words. I have never heard anything about the history behind the words...
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
30 Sep 09
I think it is a little confusing, because I have heard more than one explanation, and the things that my teacher said are different from the things that my husband has learned 
We discussed the topic the other day and we tried to find some information on the internet and again there was more than one explanation.
We discussed the topic the other day and we tried to find some information on the internet and again there was more than one explanation.@AniruS (256)
• United States
1 Oct 09
The explanation from simon below very fits the origins, I think. The current usage may be little vague with everyone trying to add their own meaning to phrases and start using words casually. Everyone looks at a word or phrase (whose origins are not certain) from their perspective and hence different explanations are available. I think the current usage includes anything from under-developed country, developing country, communist, socialist, Countries other than US and USSR (not Russia), non aligned countries.
@Simon1223 (903)
• China
29 Sep 09
"Three worlds" theory was raised by Chairman Mao Ze Dong in the early 1970s. Chairman Mao was a powerful politicians of People's Republic of China and had international influence. According to this theory, only two superpowers belonged to the first world - USA and USSR. Second world countries are those developed countries except for USA, including Western Europe countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Certainly those developing countries belonged to the third world. Due to this criteria, China obviously belong to third world.
@raynejasper (2322)
• Philippines
29 Sep 09
..Hi.. I'm not really sure who first coined those terms.. But what I know is, they just use that term to categorize the level of improvement or development of economy in one country.. It is to classify them like first class or third class.. I don't know if there is a second world country because I never heard that.. In our country we also have the first class and third class municipality or city.. This means that people living in the first class city or municipality have higher economic status while the third class are classified as still on the edge and needs more development.. Happy mylotting..
