2008 Woodie Awards
Third World
Nancy Aguirre
Issue date: 9/18/06 Section: Opinions
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For many of us, it seems outrageous that in this time and age, there can still be such deep poverty, famine, and malnutrition in the world. What we call the third world is made up of the poorest, least developed countries of the world, in which problems such as those listed above are a daily fact of life. The third world is a problem that first world countries often feel the need to address.
But to begin with, the term itself is problematic. It was first used during the Cold War to refer to countries that didn't line up with either Western democratic industrial spheres of thinking- First world-- or with Eastern, communist socialist states-- Second World. But by placing nations in these categories, a certain ranking is implied, as if the solution to the third world problem was simply to make it as much like the first world as possible. This may seem like a logical conclusion, in light of the third world's extreme poverty, and the first world's equally tremendous prosperity, but instead, these nations should be making every attempt to preserve their distinct, unique cultures.
Why is it that most of the countries labeled as third world countries are filled with minorities? When someone says third world countries, the first thing to come to mind is Latin America, Africa, and maybe even Asia. Is it also a coincidence that many of the countries in theses area have a dysfunctional government?
Take Cuba for instance, that has lived in a communist hell ever since Castro took over the government. If you pay close attention, you will notice that the government leaders of most of these countries are quite wealthy and definitely do not suffer like their people do. Castro was ranked one of the world's wealthiest people in a recent article in Forbes magazine.
Third world countries are underdeveloped. Their economies suffer because of the instability that exists, such as the instability of agricultural production, the exports of goods and services, and the concentration of exported merchandise. Another great factor that does not allow these countries to rise from their poverty is the over population that exists. Many of the countries in Africa and Latin America contain more people than their economy can provide for. Jobs and housing becomes very limited in this situation.
But to begin with, the term itself is problematic. It was first used during the Cold War to refer to countries that didn't line up with either Western democratic industrial spheres of thinking- First world-- or with Eastern, communist socialist states-- Second World. But by placing nations in these categories, a certain ranking is implied, as if the solution to the third world problem was simply to make it as much like the first world as possible. This may seem like a logical conclusion, in light of the third world's extreme poverty, and the first world's equally tremendous prosperity, but instead, these nations should be making every attempt to preserve their distinct, unique cultures.
Why is it that most of the countries labeled as third world countries are filled with minorities? When someone says third world countries, the first thing to come to mind is Latin America, Africa, and maybe even Asia. Is it also a coincidence that many of the countries in theses area have a dysfunctional government?
Take Cuba for instance, that has lived in a communist hell ever since Castro took over the government. If you pay close attention, you will notice that the government leaders of most of these countries are quite wealthy and definitely do not suffer like their people do. Castro was ranked one of the world's wealthiest people in a recent article in Forbes magazine.
Third world countries are underdeveloped. Their economies suffer because of the instability that exists, such as the instability of agricultural production, the exports of goods and services, and the concentration of exported merchandise. Another great factor that does not allow these countries to rise from their poverty is the over population that exists. Many of the countries in Africa and Latin America contain more people than their economy can provide for. Jobs and housing becomes very limited in this situation.
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