Third World is a term first coined in 1952 by French demographer Alfred Sauvy to distinguish nations that aligned themselves with neither the West nor with the Soviet Bloc during the Cold War. Today, however, the term is frequently used to denote nations with a low UN Human Development Index (HDI), independent of their political status (meaning that the PRC, Russia and Brazil, all of which were very strongly aligned during the Cold War, are often termed third world). However, there is no objective definition of Third World or "Third World country" and the use of the term remains common. Some in academia see it as being out of date, colonialist, othering and inaccurate; its use has continued, however ^* In general, Third World countries are not as industrialized or technologically advanced as OECD countries, and therefore in academia, the more politically correct term to use is "developing nation".

Terms such as Global South, less wealthy nations, developing countries, least developed countries and the Majority World have become more popular in circles where the term "third world" is regarded to have derogatory or out-of-date connotations. Development workers also call them the two-thirds world (because two-thirds of the world is underdeveloped) and The South. The term Third World is also disliked as it may imply the false notion that those countries are not a part of the global economic system. Some claim that the underdevelopment of Africa, Asia and South America during the Cold War was influenced, or even caused by the Cold War economic, political, and military maneuverings of the most powerful nations of the time. (See Emerging markets)

The term Fourth World (as least developed countries) is used by some writers to describe the poorest Third World countries, those which lack industrial infrastructure and the means to build it. More commonly, however, the term is used to describe indigenous peoples or other oppressed minority groups within First World countries.

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RT @CandiB19: The hardest thing is getting my mini-me to bed-- In 3rd world countries moms play wit they sons wang to get em to bed..lol!
Lanre3000 (Lanre Ashiru) Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:23:01 -0000
RT @CandiB19: The hardest thing is getting my mini-me to bed-- In 3rd world countries moms play wit they sons wang to get em to bed..lol!
Black Colin Powell, Latino Alberto Gonzales, Vietnamese John Yoo: 3 major helpers in Bush's subtle war on Muslims. 3 of 3rd World rootes !!!
MellowMuslim (Mohammad Ali Salih) Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:22:51 -0000
Black Colin Powell, Latino Alberto Gonzales, Vietnamese John Yoo: 3 major helpers in Bush's subtle war on Muslims. 3 of 3rd World rootes !!!
+@GreeGreece Health care, for instance, is available to many in one form or another - we're not living in the 3rd world.We're hoping to make
lwdgrfx (Lucian Dixon) Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:12:33 -0000
+@GreeGreece Health care, for instance, is available to many in one form or another - we're not living in the 3rd world.We're hoping to make
While this country is quickly becoming a 3rd world country, our legislators are busy arguing about another entitlement. #THRO #CD
RainyDayPatri0t (Zan Green) Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:11:03 -0000
While this country is quickly becoming a 3rd world country, our legislators are busy arguing about another entitlement. #THRO #CD
@TT04 and the island ain't that beautiful. It's a 3rd world country. Your resort might be nice. Take some off.
RealMrCummings (James Cummings) Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:57:58 -0000
@TT04 and the island ain't that beautiful. It's a 3rd world country. Your resort might be nice. Take some off.
My little cousin just sang to me the barney version of joy to the world. wow 3rd grade seems forever ago. http://myloc.me/1ZB1l
katelynharrod (katelyn harrod) Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:55:48 -0000
My little cousin just sang to me the barney version of joy to the world. wow 3rd grade seems forever ago. http://myloc.me/1ZB1l

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