Third world countries - THE REALITY

Do you know where the term third world and first world come from? Did you know that these terms are now considered outdated and even offensive? Do you often refer to countries as being first world countries or third world countries?

Maybe after watching this video, you will think twice about using calling a country first world or third world. Nowadays these terms are not considered very useful and generally other terms like developed or developing countries are used instead.

As I am Mexican and I am now living in Colombia, I head a lot of people refer to these countries as Third World countries. It isn't just foreigners that use these terms. Latino people often refer to themselves as "tercermundista" when they complain about the situation in their country

In this video, I talk about why this can be problematic and I am very curious to hear what you think about this topic.

#thirdworld #firstworld

[davefarnsworth]

It's funny, I was just talking about this with a friend yesterday. I personally find it rather ignorant for people in so called "developed countries" to look down on people who grow much of the food that they eat.

[annastayziaa]

ah, thank you so much for this information. Always open to unlearning and learning 🙏🏻😊

[AlphaMom]

Those phrases originated during war. They were used to differentiate between the political and wartime alignments of various countries but today, people use them as adjectives to describe the level of economic and technological advances of countries. It’s ridiculous. Bendiciones, hermana. 🙏🏽💙🇬🇹

[zerubabel]

Hola, Karen. Pame y los gatitos here. Thank you for this brief but informative video on this terminology--terminology I find troubling. While these terms aren't as prevalent as they once were, I still hear them. Even when people don't use them, they invoke their spirit to separate regions of the world. Again, thank you, Karen. 😺

[EatBailaTravel]

great topic! our family in Mexico makes lots of jokes about "el primer mundo vs el tercer mundo"

[hakuna.matangi]

This is such a great topic, thanks for bringing this up, Karen!!

[OldEarthWisdom]

The geopolitics of the world are going to be changing very quickly in the next 10 years. Mexico is going to be one of the richest countries on the planet as the midlevel manufacturing is moved to Mexico and some to Columbia too.

[davidj.leavitt]

Excellent video, thank you. I have always thought that the terms, 1st, 2nd, & 3rd world countries was a geopolitical term for civilization origins. 1st world = Old World, 2nd world = New World, and 3rd World = Everyone else. Thank you for teaching me the correct meanings of these phrases.

[kenswindle]

Hey Karen, Great video! I am proud to be married to a wonderful Colombian woman and I try to install pride of Colombia in our children. I am not Latino, but I do consider myself "Colombian-in-law" and consider Colombia to be my adopted country. When people ask me about Colombia, I simply say, "Yes, there are some problems there and, overall, it is a relatively poor country, but the people are wonderful and they get a lot of things right that the United States does not. Would you like to hear about some of those things?"

[henryhansen]

Developed sounds like they are done developing. Everyone has a lot more developing to do in many different ways. Third world? We all live in the same world. You are so right Karencita.

[pamelalueschen]

Thank you Karencita for this video. I always learn from you and this video also taught me something.

[cindyk]

I agree that those labels are derogatory and outdated, I don't use them, and hadn't heard of a "second world" country. I agree that a description of the country is much better. It's good to weed things out of our collective vocabulary when they become useless. Thanks!

[brandon_wallace]

Nunca entendí "third world country". No uso esas palabras. Tienes mucho razón lo que dices Karen. Hiciste un video excelente como siempre.

[ericeichstaedt]

Wow that was such a great and helpful video! You talked about something nobody seems to ever address. I appreciate you didn't "judge" those that use these terms, that's very thoughtful and evolved of you, though certainly these people (and I include myself unfortunately!, though I'm definitely on the enlightened end if the total society spectrum), need to do a self check as its a negative and harmful terminology. I happen to be an architect, and I've always thought vernacular architecture built in "third world" countries is actually much better that "first world" countries, even if sometimes less high tech or modern. It uses natural materials of its local region, is not trying to Wow you, and can be built by the local builders, and is more in harmony with the local community and weather. I've always considered the US to be absolutely backward, polluting the environment and being a throw away society, the inventor of junk food, suburban sprawl and freeways, and countless other destructive ways. I realize there's a lot of good and bad in all countries and it's complex, but I really feel on balance Mexican, for example, is on balance just as "good" as the US. Also, very well edited and choreographed video. I really enjoy your videos!

[latamante]

This is definitely an interesting point of view on the whole idea of third world countries - thanks for the video

[RyanHilario]

Hi! I really like your videos. I see 11:11 everywhere was it intentional?

[laika]

These terms have largely been replaced by 'developed' and 'developing' countries or economies. Your explanation of the political or ideological origins of the terms and the connotations they picked up over time is correct. I don't feel comfortable using 'third-world' for another country, but I do spontaneously use 'it's like a third-world country' for my own country when there is poor infrastructure or corrupt behavior. In that context, saying 'it's like a developing country' would feel insulting to developing countries. When Mexicans say 'tercermundista' about Mexico they are trying to point out a specific deficiency or corruption. Mexico is somewhere between a developing and a developed country, depending on the region, but in terms of the flagrant corruption committed by some politicians and links between organized crime and government institutions, the word 'tercermundista' feels about right, as it would when applied to the same situation anywhere in the world.

[davidj.leavitt]

Another term that is widely misused is “American”. It is a term popularly used incorrectly to mean The USA. The true meaning is that any country and population in The Americas, is American. If you’re Mexican, Guatemalan, Columbian, Brazilian, or from any other country in the Americas, you’re American.

[eaglenoimoto]

I was taught in middle school in the late 90s that "third world" is an outdated, not politically correct term. However, some people's education stopped whenever they left school/college... AND the education in English-speaking countries is not as "first world" as many of its natives like to believe 😯 I had so many British people tell me "We haven't had colonies in centuries" and Americans tell me that "they were the first country in the world that had a democracy"...

[mmfong]

The true difference between developed/developing countries is really the "number of middle class" in the country measured by per capital income. Somehow gringos like to think 3rd world is a hole in the wall, less modernize (like rice paddy field or dirt roads) or with sub-par quality of living. What many don't realize is that their quality of living could actually increase as the cost of living decrease