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First World, Second World, Third World
INTRODUCTION
Alfred Sauvy, a demographer from France, invented the concepts of the world being divided into a "First World," "Second World," and "Third World" in 1952.
The First World was the world of individual freedom, democratic elections, private property, capitalism, and Christianity. It was therefore modern and prosperous.
The Second World was the world of socialism. It was marked by the complete subjugation of the individual to the state, collectivism, official atheism, genocide, and enormous human suffering.
The Third World was where the poorest of primitive peoples lived, with the daily features of hunger, malnutrition, disease, filth, and misery.
More recently, the concept of a Fourth World has arisen. This is a sub-population of aboriginal people mostly, though it can include nomads and hermits. It is of people socially disconnected from the global society, who neither produce nor consume and are largely bypassed by technology.
First World Countries
Originally, First World countries included all of those in Western Europe, as well as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. It is notable that these are the Christian nations of the world, especially the predominantly Protestant peoples.
By the 1960s, Argentina, Chile, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Israel, and Turkey were considered full-fledged members of the First World. Since the fall of the Iron Curtain; Poland, the Baltic States, the nations of the Balkans and other Eastern European countries have joined the First World—having escaped the Second World.
The First World is noted for having achieved the highest levels in human history of life expectancy, literacy, education, and standard of living. One measure of this is the Human Development Index. By looking at a world map of comparative HDI, one can compare it with world maps that show the various levels of Freedom, Democracy, Free Enterprise, Productivity, Wealth, Health, Charity, and Christianity in the world.
The Second World
The Second World was the world of Socialism. In it were the Soviet Union, Red China, North Korea, Cuba, the countries of Eastern Europe subjugated by the Soviets, and parts of Southeast Asia.
Approximately 100 million of its own people were killed by the Atheistic, Socialistic, and Totalitarian governments of the Second World. The utopian dream that a godless Socialist State would bring mankind to a better, brighter future turned into a nightmare of astounding proportions.
Some may forget why the Berlin Wall was built. 15,000 East Germans per day were fleeing the coming Socialist utopia to live in the Free West—the First World—and this was quite embarrassing to the Socialists. So, they built a wall to imprison them complete with troops ordered to "shoot to kill" any persons trying to leave Socialist East Germany.
The Second World is notable for its oppression of individual freedom; lack of private property and free enterprise; lack of productivity; tyranny; secret police surveillance; religious persecution; and its replacement of God with the State.
Third World Countries
Third World Countries included almost all of Africa, as well as South America, Central America, Mexico, India, most of the Middle East, and the majority of countries in Southern Asia. Originally, these were known as the non-aligned nations.
Third World Countries featured people who lived on less than $100 a year. A Third World Country is one with poor sanitation, a lack of clean drinking water, backward agriculture, minimal opportunities for education, without the Rule of Law or property rights, and usually low average intelligence.
It is a myth that the Third World was created by Colonialism. It was already the Third World before any colonizers showed up. If that myth were true, then the coastal areas where the Third World first came into contact with First World peoples would have been the most backward and uncivilized. By venturing up the Amazon, into the heart of the Dark Continent, or into the jungles of Papua New Guinea, one would have found Paris or London. But in fact, the farther inland one went one found even more primitive people who had not "evolved" in thousands of years.
Let us keep in mind that if Colonialism were the problem, how would one explain that the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand were all once colonies of England?
While we are at it, we can put to bed another myth: the wealth of the First World was built on the backs of common laborers. Labor is common all over the world. The Second World and the Third World both had far more laborers than did the First World. If that myth were true, the First World would be the Third World—the First World featured the fewest common laborers of the three worlds.
To understand why the First World became the First World, it would be helpful to check out comparative world maps.
First World, Second World, Third World

World Map of Indigenous Intelligence

World Map of Religions

World Map of Democracy

World Map of Human Lifespan

World Map of Corruption

World Map of Wealth Production

World Map of Individual Freedom

World Map of Happiness

Protestant Nations of the World (19th Century)

World Map of Gross National Income

World Map of Aid Recipients

World Map of Average Intelligence

World Map of the Human Development Index

CONCLUSION
Incredibly, while the Third World people yearn to move to the First World—and tens of millions have—there are people in the First World who think the old Second World of Socialism, or the Third World of "Noble Savages," are better worlds. There are Western intellectuals who teach at Western Universities who wish the First World would emulate the model of the Socialistic, Atheistic Second World; or even better, to create a New World Order where the entire planet is governed by a Global Atheistic, Socialist government.
The United States, a nation founded by Protestant Christians and based around Individual Freedom, Private Property, the Rule of Law, Free Enterprise, and Democratic Elections, has the highest average annual wages in the world at $53,000. The Gross National Income of the United States is almost triple that of the runner-up, now China, even though China has over four times as many people.
Americans are also by far the most generous people on earth—they give twice as much to charity each year as any other people. (Of all Americans, secularists give the least money to charity and volunteer the least of their time; Christians by far the most of both.) The point being that Americans strongly believe in Christian Charity and they are not greedy or uncaring about those less fortunate—as some Leftists claim.
In spite of all we learned here today about the world, perhaps 10 percent of Americans yearn to destroy their own country. They hate what it stands for, are disgusted by its history, think its flag a symbol of oppression, hate Free Enterprise, and are decidedly anti-Christ. They are obsessed with proving how oppressive America is to women and people of color despite the facts that women and people of color have never had it so good at any time in any place in world history as in America today.
One would think that upon reviewing the charts above, the public schools in America would teach children: If you take a people who are intelligent; imbued with the Protestant Work Ethic; have a Christian Worldview; believe in Free Enterprise Capitalism; and are fortunate enough to live in a country founded on individual freedom, private property, representative democracy, and the Rule of Law—the result will be a nation as wealthy and wonderful as America.
But that is the opposite of what is taught to American children in public schools and young Americans in college. A set of huge lies has been substituted for the Truth. If the anti-American Americans succeed, the light will go out of the world.
Comments
Hi James,
I read this when you first published it and returned today and ironically I am facilitating a university viewing about one of my favorite subjects - macroeconomics. Your coverage of this topic with the world maps was wonderful. Thank you!
Great Hub!
My at
I think most info here are not right..Alfred Sauvy only coined the word "Third World". The idea of 'first world' was introduced by the United Nations in the late 1940s. And the division was first about 'allies' and 'socialists' countries, not merely on "Christianity" issue. Please do more research before giving info. I think wikipedia is more informative than this!
We all are need word map for our personal uses, so here is a place from where you can get it http://www.mapsofworld.com/images-mow/world-map.jp...
I am living off the grid and actively pursuing the lifestyle of a hermit. (Without the filthy clothes and empty belly often associated with the image. I also break the true hermit stereotype because I love having my family around me.)
However when they release a map of the 4th world, I bet my house is on it!
Voted up and awesome. Great tool for home schoolers.
Great hub! So refreshing to read, especially as a college student.
Third world has become victim of super powers rivalry . First world and intellectuals are preaching democracy and welfare to the third
world nations.
It is a big hypocrisy. They sell arms to undemocratic nations across the globe and blood letting goes on.Mindset of the third world people and governments yet to change and not development oriented .
Financial aid and World bank funding does not bring desired results.
In Africa there is no civilian society and literacy will do but it will long time.
India promoted Non-Aligned-Movement to insulate from arms race and chose path of development and succeed.
In WTO ,first world dominates and existing global situation will not change anything there.
India is surrounded by failed nations and we spend more money on deference and that has eaten into our development .
We are singing tune of Globalization , Multi cultural world can not become one world .It is a dream !!
good article.
pramod gokhale
James - decided to visit and read another one of your Hubs and I chose a great one. I could tell you put a lot of work into it. I heard on the news radio a short while ago that in North Korea many of the people are starving so desperately that they have gone to Cannibalism - killing and eating children. This must put them in the Fourth World. We should worry about that World - the sickness in humanity has gone too deep plus testing of Nuclear weapons. Your maps were beautiful. Have a fantastic day.
Never mind James, it was this one. I found it already linked at another hub of mine. How embarrassing is this? It is times like this I'm really, really, really, really glad I go by a pseudonym rather than my real name, Greg . . . oops.
James, I spent 2 hours trying to find the hub you wrote comparing Christian giving to secular and USA giving to other countries, but no luck.
Where is it? I want to link to it in the hub I'm working on.
When did hubpages get rid of those search engines at each site? I remember when a hubber had a bunch of articles you could find what you wanted at his site with its own search engine.
It is possible I read it at another site, but I'm quite sure it was your's.
Sweden is one of the countries with the highest percentage of atheists and agnostics yet we scored higher than the US in most of those charts and we donate much more per capita than the US. I would actually say that I have far better morals than the madman described in the bible, even though I'm an agnostic.
Hi again James, this was extremely interesting. It's simply impossible to imagine that there are people around who are not touched by technology advancements.
Not having had a glimpse of the outside world and naturally no opportunities to be literate also is the cause. However much technology seeps in, not being literate is like a shield that would prevent involvement, right?
Reminds me of an advertisement I saw in my childhood days. This ad appeared in almost every issue of the Readers' Digest to which my father used to subscribe.
As the ad goes, a deer and it's young are in conversation. The young deer (I guess it's called a fawn) tells its mum, "mum I wanna go somewhere where no one has ever been before!" To which the deer replies, "that's not possible dear, wherever you go, you'll find HOOVER there before you!"
Well, Hoover polishers and appliances! Great ad it was. Remember?
(:------wide smile------:)
Unbelievable!!! James, you did an outstanding job on this hub.
Incidentally, I'm still keeping up with your sagacious replies on your Iron Lady hub--both you and Will.
James, you say "The First World was the world of individual freedom, democratic elections, private property, capitalism, and Christianity. "
But your first map shows many countries in the first world which you would consider to be socialist, like Sweden, Norway and France!
How do you reconcile this discrepancy?
Lovin it James! What an awesome hub. Keep up the great information you always provide. Always a fan :)
Hello James -
An excellent Hub. I cover some of this in my classes, but not in such great detail and with such terrific and explanatory maps. Very informative. Sometimes pictures, and maps!, really are worth a thousand words. :)
However, I did find the maps of Intelligence disturbing. Responding to another comment you wrote,
"Extensive intelligence tests have been run worldwide for decades on all sorts of people. The results have been hush-hushed because they do not match up with the politically correct, multiculturalist worldview."
I have no doubt that information which is PC or unacceptable to a particular regime is hushed up or disappears. We know that happens, but your explanation leaves me concerned and unconvinced.
Because these phrases "extensive tests" "worldwide" "over decades" "all sorts of people" indicate testing done on such scale and in so many locations and over so great a time span that it seems virtually impossible that the "results" have been hushed up.
This would be a conspiracy on an absolutely incredible scale - crossing testers, nations, people groups and decades. Who has such power that they can repress research data gathered across time and space and nations?
I am no great fan of multiculturalism, but the proponents of MC are think tank sorts, talking heads, a few educators, and a few politicians...they do not all belong to any super party or government entity whose goal is to destroy all intelligence testing results.
Intelligence testing is a difficult discipline. Finding the correct balance between nature and nurture, innate intelligence and environmental factors (social, economic, cultural, familial, religious, political) which can impact the development of intelligence is a very difficult thing.
Also requiring close evaluation are the type and accuracy of intelligence tests, when tests are administered - at what age, who administers the tests, whose interests are served by the results whatever they may be, and so forth.
I did some reading in this area a few years ago, but I would like to do some more. Can you point me in the right direction, authors, titles, studies to substantiate the "intelligence " claims. I would appreciate it.
All in all, a very substantial Hub that all students everywhere ought to have to read and then pass a test on. :) Theresa
You've educated me once again......... I am fortunate to have such a wonderful teacher~ K
Hi,
In fact, I can't say any word except, you are great, even I don't agree with you in some points.
You have analysed my comment very thoroughly. And, this is a great hard work.
I know and confess that all you have said is true. But, in fact, this is only numbers and the realness is different. The majority of the funds and money you talked about didn't go for the Egyptians, our people. In fact, they go to those in authority or near the authority. And, I don't think that the donors have no idea.
I know that we shouldn't be very dependent; however, we need more help, such as the help given to Germany after the second world war.
Thank you.
Anyone would have to be blind or have some problem to not see what you say is true. There has never been a place like American and it is not what it was, no not since we allowed our government to start pushing God out. I always wonder myself why people care for people being "real" Christians, who are so generous and non-violent. Anyone can call themselves Christian but if you walk the walk and talk the talk then if God is for you who can be against you? Great stand to take James and I love you for it.
God is not mocked. Thank you James, for proving it. I have seen a great evil where I work. Proponents of threesomes, drugs, alcohol, everything is an end to their appalling desires and gluttony, it is a farce, but worse, I consider that these people are a reflection on America as a whole, and, and I feel God's clouds gathering. I am drowning in this sea of Chaos, and it's fingers of ignorance are everywhere. How can a nation such as this, stand? Much love, lily
I confirm your views that the wealthy western nations are not the primary cause of the poverty in 3rd world nations. Curruption caused by many immoral societal norms are at the root of the problem. Those in control of these countries on a whole don't practice Christian principles as the governing practice.
Bribery and corrupting are societal norms and the primary reason you can't solve the problem by throwing money at it, it will only end up in the wrong hands.
Great read as usual!
And every two to five years, there is a study that contradicts the former
Great job James...enjoyed the read:)
I must agree that you have done some serious research for writing this hub.You've raised some interesting questions to compare the economical status of the first and the third world.I think the map shown for individual freedom in India is not correct.I've lived there for almost 5 years and I've found that as a foreigner I had more individual freedom than the local Indians with very good educational background.I would like to share with you the list of countries with the highest public debt:
http://www.economist.com/content/global_debt_clock
I've twitted this hub to my friends.Thank you so much.
This is such an interesting read I must share it. Very insightful and I was surprised at some of the maps. Thanks for this excellent Hub.
Voted up and all across but funny. Awesome article James. This was very interesting with all the percentages and maps. It was fun to learn all these stats. A very well researched article. I commend the hard work pal.
James, Your articles are always educational and informative. I think we should have better buttons for appreciating this type of hub. Thanks for the pictoral representation which brought your words into a visual frame of reference for me.
"Let us keep in mind that if Colonialism were the problem, how would one explain that the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand were all once colonies of England?" - James A. Watkins
Well, I so agree with that statement.
For once, let's stop subdividing our world in to 4 worlds. Let's just help each other. :D
Thank you for sharing such insightful hub. :D
James the homeless I refer to are in Sacramento where I spend a lot of time with my Son. They would not survive at Lake Tahoe!
Excellent work, James!
I've often wondered why certain countries and peoples are so stubbornly impoverished despite international aid, and you may have hit upon the answer.
James,
What a wonderful hub with a call to action at the end. Wow! You outdid yourself.
I have heard these terms, knew them somewhat but not really. Now I really know.
Instruction and thirst for knowledge must begin at home. The light of the world is knowledge only overshadowed by kindness.
Knowledge puffs up and love lifts up. If we are intelligent enough to support the education and training of others, if we value knowledge for the sake of wisdom not material gain, if we continue to give freely, we will grow and make humanity better and keep the light inside each of us burning.
I am sorry. I would like you to answer these questions please:
#1: Could the first world help us to be developed?
#2: If yes, Doesn't that mean that we would utilize all of our resources and there won't be no resources left for us to sell to the first world?
#3: And, if there won't be any problem with that, Why do the west do that?
I'm sorry, James, but I cannot find the origin of the maps and the information that they reflect. What are the sources, please? Thanks.
Hi,
I am one of a civilian of one of the third world countries, Egypt. As you know my country have one of the ancient civilizations in the whole world that may date up to more than 7 thousands years. You have said that the first world and Colonialism aren't the reason for the backward of the third countries. I agree only if you see they aren't the only reason.
But, I am sure that they are great and effective reasons for that backward. At first, they continue endless to steal our natural resources, even if they buy them. You know that we don't have enough weapons and arm. And, if we have they come from, for sorrow, the first world. So, we can't say no. In addition, the first world supports our dictators, and never calls for democracy except if they want something bad for our countries from these dictators. It is a type of blackmail.
You may have heard that there was a revolution in Egypt in 25 Jan. 2011. I can swear that no country of the first world has helped us since then. There are only promises.
After all, thank you for this informative hub. And, I know that you have worked hard to write it. All I aimed to do is to explain and show how the third world civilians look at the first world. We deserve more!
This is not a hub, it is a thesis! Very rich information. The maps are an incredible, credible resource. The best thing we can do for the third world, is to be maintain our strong economy. We should not be reinforcing the second world by freely doing business with them. The market will not straighten out their situation as the heads of the Fed suppose.
A history lesson we can all use. Great hub! If we would all go back to our Christian values and help each other here in this country perhaps we could go back to the great country we once were. No man is an island as is no country. We need to help others to survive. This hub has made many great points. Voted up. Thanks for SHARING.
Very thought provoking article! I shared your article with my son who is away at college- my texting skills couldn't keep up with the heated dialogue that ensued! You would be encouraged to know that he, along with many of his generation do, in fact, have strong -
Quote: Protestant Work Ethic; have a Christian Worldview; believe in Free Enterprise Capitalism; and are fortunate enough to live in a country founded on individual freedom, private property, representative democracy, and the Rule of Law—the result will be a nation as wealthy and wonderful as America.
This leaves me with great optimism that America's light will never be extinguished! God Bless and thank you for the excellent article!
Hi James,
Very informative and probably too logical to attract more than token resentment by those who have bought the NWO line.
I admire your devotion to detail and patience for sourcing those maps.
I also confess a marginal envy at you having six times more followers than me, and 20 times more readers! :)
But then I do not have your devotion to writing, so the answer is plain to see, and you deserve your success.
Always good to read you...
John
Terrific food for thought. I can't help but feel terrified by what the future for America holds if these ani-American Americans rule. Thanks for this helpful information and links.
The maps really drove home the overall picture. It's chilling when I consider numbers and how small a group we Christians with freedom really are.
What you say about public schools is the unadulterated truth. We are not teaching what we should. We are teaching "tolerance." Tolerance may have started out as a good idea but it has grown into a beast that tolerates way too much, too many things that are evil and dangerous.
James, you are a gem. You don't candy coat the truth and put it forth in a well presented way that is easily comprehended by all. God bless you!
The maps were useful in drawing your conclusion as it was the same conclusion I came to after looking at them. With all the complaining about our country we ought to be grateful because we are still the healthiest, wealthiest, and happiest comparatively speaking.
I think some like the idea of socialism and governmental blame because it relieves individuals from personal responsibility.
And excellent eye opening article and an educational one as well. I didn't know the history of first, second, and third world and how they were classified.
Hi :)
Quote:
"Third World Countries featured people ..... usually low average intelligence."
Lack of education and opportunity are not the same as lack of intelligence.
Quote:
"It is a myth that the Third World was created by Colonialism. It was already the Third World before any colonizers showed up .... the farther inland one went one found even more primitive people who had not "evolved" in thousands of years."
But they were living a perfectly reasonable life. Maybe they think that it is better than our more 'civilised' lifestyles.
Quote:
"Incredibly, while the Third World people yearn to move to the First World ... there are people in the First World who think .... the Third World of "Noble Savages," are better worlds. "
Certainly many of them seem to live more harmoniously with the planet. It's interesting that we, running our rat-race in our concrete jungles, often yearn for holidays, where we can emulate a little of that more simple, less 'civilised' life-style.
Quote:
"One would think that ... the public schools in America would teach children: If you take a people who are intelligent; imbued with the Protestant Work Ethic; have a Christian Worldview ... the result will be a nation as wealthy and wonderful as America."
I am sure that there is much that is good about 'America' but there are certainly criticisms to be made. And there are certainly criticisms to be made of Christianity, which has caused no end of hatred in the world.
It is interesting that Europe ~ also 'first world' ~ is becoming ever more secular.
By the way, I am sure that I have heard that the label 'third world' is actually seen as insulting.
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