thirdworld

Third World is a historical term that originated during the Cold War to categorize nations according to their political alignments and economic development. It was coined by French demographer Alfred Sauvy in 1952 who likened the non-aligned or economically underdeveloped countries to "the third estate" of peasants beyond the two blocs of NATO and the Soviet Union. In its original usage, the Third World included many countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East that shared limited industrialization and growth, though also diverse in culture and politics. The term came to be associated with poverty, underdevelopment, and dependence on external capital and aid.

Over time, scholars and policy makers criticized the term for implying a homogeneous group and for valorizing a simplistic, linear view of development. It obscured inequality within countries and presented a divisive world order. In development discourse, the term largely fell out of favor and was supplanted by more precise categories such as the Global South, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), or developing countries. International organizations may still use "developing countries" or "LMICs" in data reporting, while "Global South" emphasizes geographic and political dimensions rather than a single developmental prescription.

Today, "Third World" is largely considered outdated or pejorative in many contexts, though it may appear in historical writing or in discussions about postcolonial development. When used, it is important to acknowledge its historical origins and the diversity of countries involved, avoiding homogenization or implying a fixed ladder of progress.