Here’s a common misconception: third world countries are poor countries. This may be true in today’s world. Or should I say, this may be a popular misconception today. But let me tell you a thing or two about third world countries. First world countries are those that aligned themselves with the United States. Aside from the US, some were with NATO during the Cold War. These countries are Japan, the Western European countries, and some North American Countries. Another country in this category is Australia. By definition, second world countries are those that have socialist societies. These countries were allies of the Soviet Union years ago during the Cold War. These countries are Russia, Poland, and China. Other countries that belong to this classification are some Turk states. And last but not the least, we have third world countries. By definition, these are the countries that did not pick sides. Countries that are in this category are most of Asia and Africa. Then there are also a lot of countries in Latin America that belong to this classification. You should note that the definition also includes countries that have stable economies. This definition, then, does not align with the common idea of a third world country. In recent years, when we talk of a third world country, what comes to mind is a country with high mortality rates. We also think of countries with economies that are unstable. These are countries that are sinking into poverty. I don’t know what happened to the term’s original definition. But over the years, the term has gone through a complete evolution when it comes to its definition. It was a political classification during the Cold War. Whatever happened to that definition, I cannot say. It could be because most of those that have been allies of the US and NATO countries fared well. And also, the third world group did not do well in the past decades. Whatever the case may be, it is unfair to most in the third world group. Because if you come to think of it, there are healthy and stable economies that belong to this group. So, next time you hear the term “third world,” think again. These countries are those that were neutral and did not take sides during the Cold War. It has always been political. It was never about a country’s economic status. Now, you know.