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Just being informative, but the during the Cold War (after WWII), the US and whomever were our allies were "first world," the USSR and her allies were the "seco
by Clubber 9y ago
Just being informative, but the during the Cold War (after WWII), the US and whomever were our allies were "first world," the USSR and her allies were the "second world," and anyone who wasn't allied with either was "third world."
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/third_world_countries.htm http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/third_world_countries....
The spheres of influence don't really apply anymore, but that's the source of the term.
- samfriedman 9y agoInteresting etymology, but the term has definitely shifted in meaning from the original cold-war context. "Third world" is pretty much a synonym for "underdeveloped" these days.
- Clubber 9y agoYes, it's like hearing a malapropism: "statues of limitations," or "all intended purposes." I just sigh in my head and move on.