Why is it that countries that once thrived as ancient civilizations are deemed to be the current 3rd World's?
98437
Civilizations have life cycles just like anything else.  Right now the U.S. is dominant, but who's to say how long that will last?
1139866
A third world country these days usually refers to a developing country. IOW third world means a poor country with a low standard of living, limited healthcare, limited education and so forth.\n\nThere used to be second world countries, but not any more.\n\nAfter the second world war the world was described as being divided in two. The first world consisted of the westernised capitalist nations headed by the US and England but including Japan, Australia, Canada and so forth. The second world was the communist bloc headed by the USSR and China but including Poland, Cuba, Vietnam, Poland and so forth.\n\nThe term "Third World" was coined to describe all those nations that were not strongly aligned with either camp. Initially this referred to nations such as India and Egypt or Chile that were quite happy to do business with Russia or America based entirely on who gave them the most aid. Eventually the term expanded to refer to all the poor nations.\n\nSo basically "First World" = westernised capitalist nations, "Second World" = communist nations, "Third World" = poor nations not aligned with either first or second world powers.\n\nThese days there aren't really any second world nations. China is the only communist power left, and it is becoming so capitalistic so fast that it hardly deserves the title communist. The remaining handful of communist nations such as Cuba and North Korea are so weak that they don't warrant the term 'second world'. Today we really only refer to first and third world, with Cuba for example considered to be squarely third world.\n\n\nMore commonly we simply refer to developed and developing world.
865508
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_world\n\nThe terms First World, Second World, and Third World, can be used to divide the nations of Earth into three broad categories. Third World is a term first coined in 1952 by French demographer Alfred Sauvy on the model of Sieyès's declaration concerning the Third Estate during the French Revolution: "...because at the end this ignored, exploited, scorned Third World like the Third Estate, wants to become something too." The Third World later became a synonym of these nations that aligned themselves with neither the West nor with the Soviet Bloc during the Cold War. Thus, the Non-Aligned Movement was created after the 1955 Bandung Conference.\n\nToday, 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 Cuba, all of which were very strongly aligned during the Cold War, are often termed third world).
706224
It is exactly because they don't believe in the here and now. They await for their "King" to descend from sky and burn the whole earth and make a new one for them.\n\nDo not be surprised if Third World War is about to break, they would be the ones who wholeheartedly welcome it as well be behind it.
805721
The term "third world" was coined by economist Alfred Sauvy in an article in the French magazine L'Observateur of August 14, 1952. It was a deliberate reference to the "Third Estate" of the French Revolution. Tiers monde means third world in French.\n\nLike the third estate, wrote Sauvy, the third world is nothing, and it "wants to be something." The term therefore implies that the third world is exploited, much as the third estate was exploited, and that, like the third estate its destiny is a revolutionary one.\n \nThe term gained widespread popularity during the Cold War when many poorer nations adopted the category to describe themselves as neither being aligned with NATO or the USSR, but instead composing a non-aligned "third world" (in this context, the term "First World" was generally understood to mean the United States and its allies in the Cold War, which would have made the East bloc the "Second World" by default; however, the latter term was seldom actually used).So,Third World is a term originally used to distinguish those nations that neither aligned with the West nor with the East during the Cold War.
1054517
"danieldouglas01" is quite right, although initially the First and the Second world were not numbered, they were simply referred to as Western and Eastern Block. The Third World was coined in 1952 by a French Alfred Sauvy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_World)\n\nLater the Third World even created its own form of organization, when India (lead by Nerhu) and later Yugoslavia (and its leader Tito) started a non-aligned movement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movement_of_Nonaligned_Nations)
703487
You should look at the African problems and the answers just pop out instantly...Slavery,racism,environment problems,deforestation,over population,ignorance of environment issues,sexual education,political issues(New independent African countries governed by newly uneducated ,inexperienced leaders)Through lack of education countries are left be called 3rd world countries and are most often taken advantage of,historically and its natural resources,like timber,precious minerals and so on.
328397
It's very largely a function of geography, and of climate, at least when it comes to which countries are third world countries.  It is also partially how aid is doled out to third world countries, we see first world countries giving aid to corrupt regimes that somehow fail to see to it that the aid gets to where it is truly needed. (There's a big shock)
531657
Africa isn't a country.\n\n\nThe world is divided into three economic levels, first, second and third world, or it was at one point.  The gap between wealthy and poor has increased, and there are remarkably few second world countries in the world. Actually, I can't think of any.  \n\nFirst world is the wealthiest, like the United States for example, second world is developing... like say... post WWII Germany?  Maybe not.  Third world is bottom of the totem pole.  Right now most of Africa is in that pile, as is a large chunk of South and Central America, as well as some Asian and Eastern Eurpoean countries.
739497
Never, that is what I see.  It is not only the lack of education or the fact that African resources are being stolen.  If you gave Africa and it's resources back to the Africans, they would really not advance much, they would never become a superpower, I think they will always be a 3rd World Continent.
694778
The paradigm has changed. In those days a city like Rome stood above others because most people, even within the Roman Empire, lived in primitive and uncivilised circumstances. Today civilisation is present most anywhere you look in the Western world, and elsewhere as well. \nEven among great cities, there is no longer one that stands out so clearly. How can one see New York, London, Paris or any other city as being singular? They and many others are all great centers of culture, commerce and temporal power.\nThe days when one city could be "the center of the world" are gone.
491536
It's cultural. These countries didn't exist before colonialism, just a series of tribal areas constantly shifting. Colonialism brought many benefits but the tribes still existed within the new boundaries, as soon as we left greed and rivalry ensured a breakdown of all the structures. Our own borders took many hundreds of years to establish. It takes a long time to form a stable Nation. You can lead a horse to water .....
281653
I agree with you.  I think if their economies were more global, with more wealth for more people (as opposed to oil wealth spread amongst a few) and more participative government, then, yes, there would be less violence and strife and unhappiness in that part of the world.
1048276
3 world countries are countries that are not well off financially, economically etc. I would say that lots of African countries are 3 world.\nIf you adopt a child from one of those countries you woud help them into a better life. Give them another chance. Besides, there are so many 3 world children for adoption because people can't take care of them. Usually you adopt a 3 world child for a good cause. \nGo to http://www.wikipedia.com/ for more info about 3rd world countries. I think it is best if you look things about those kinds of countries that way you can visuallize why it is som much better to adopt there than a modernized country such as in Europe or North America.\nhope this will help and I hope I've sent this in on time\nI hope this will help your project.
352706
All of this is typical of a World superpower that has gotten out of control. Simply look at the histories of Greece, Rome/Byzantium, Egypt, Ancient China, etc. What it means is that things are about to come crashing down, and hard.
495694
Greece cannot be a third world country their people are honest very hardworking and have a long history of contributions to society.  They may not have made tech contributions in modern times but have made great contributions to literature etc.  A third world country is always the result of the resources being tied up by corrupt governments.
334797
3rd world countries are countries whose economic standing is in the lower 12%. Any country who relies on foreign aid and excusable debt to sustain itself is third world. suprisingly, most countries are.\n\n2nd world is countries who rank in the middle 40%, these are mostly agricultural countries with light to heavy industrial exports. Tourism also falls into this category.\n\n1st world are the Top 10 world superpowers at anyone time. the top 5 are,\n\nUnited States\nUnited Kingdom\nJapan\nFrance\nCanada (odd isnt it.)\n\nthe current world superpower in all matters of foreign affairs is the united states, making us the most powerful country in the world. \n\nthe highest per capita income, relative to its size for any country, is Vatican City in rome. It is a sovereign nation and has its own economy. it is the most economically stable country on earth.