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In the 21st century, the U.S. isn't a First World country. That's not a dig. It's just the new reality. 20th century defintions: First World: liberal, cap
by michaelochurch 13y ago
In the 21st century, the U.S. isn't a First World country. That's not a dig. It's just the new reality.
20th century defintions:
First World: liberal, capitalistic democracies
Second World: totalitarian leftism (Soviet bloc)
Third World: poorer countries "in play" (Afghanistan, Korea, Vietnam).
This isn't very useful anymore. S. Korea is not "third world" and totalitarian leftism died.
21st century definitions:
First World: Nations with established social democracies (welfare states).
Second World: Nations sacrificing well-being for other motives.
Third World: Poor countries that don't get to choose.
Most people would think of the BRIC countries as "Second World", then. These countries are sacrificing equity and, in many cases, democracy in order to have rapid economic growth. The Arab petrostates are also Second World: rich, but through social and political sacrifice. But the U.S. is doing the same thing; it's just that the U.S. isn't seeking rapid growth (difficult when already in the lead) but the maintenance of military supremacy (hence the gigantic war budget).
It's not all bad news. Second World countries tend to make it a lot easier to get individually rich.
- splintercell 13y agoCould you go any more left-liberal in your new definitions of countries?
- sultezdukes 13y agoYou don't get to make up the definitions.
- michaelochurch 13y agoI didn't; that's how they seem to be used in the 21st-century world. To be honest, though, the "Nth World" classification is of questionable utility.
- mitchty 13y agoEspecially since your 20th century definitions aren't correct, it brings into question that your definitions of the 21st are near correct or widely accepted. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_World https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_World
- genwin 13y agoHe does, if enough people agree.
- nraynaud 13y agoThat's incredible how the "third world" concept has gone a long way. It was a word play on the Third State of the French Revolution (long story short, the Third State lost a vote by order against Nobility and Clergy, took the Bastille, and it went downhill from there). In the sense that those countries were the majority in number but their voices were ignored. Then they created a "First World" to designate the rulers of the world (Nobility I guess?) and now I discover some "Second World".