The term “Third World country” is often thrown around to refer to places that people see as underdeveloped, developing or impoverished. The term is widespread; it is normalized. It can usually be thrown around casually without anyone so much as batting an eye. The acceptance of this term is disturbing and the time is long overdue for us all to see it for what it really is and eliminate it from our vocabulary completely.

Firstly, the term “Third World” was created during the Cold War to denote what was seen as the many worlds within earth itself. The “First World” was limited to those countries that allied with the United States’ capitalist vision (Western Europe, Japan and Australia). The “Second World” was reserved for the Soviet Union and its communist allies (Eastern Europe). “Third World” was for the leftovers, the places that were not deemed powerful or developed enough to fall into the other two rankings because they were not involved with the politics of the Cold War. The “Third World” encompassed nearly all of Africa, Latin America and Asia. With time, the concept of the second world faded, but the concept of First and Third worlds remained. It is no longer used to denote allegiances, but rather state of development.

It is a term coined by colonizers and it only encourages more colonization. In fact, most of the countries that were lumped into the “Third World” were once European colonies. Breaking the world up into rankings in this manner implies an innate belief that the members of the First World are automatically “better”. They are first, after all. It breeds nationalism. It gives an excuse for foreign intervention by implying that other countries have less worth. The term “Third World” is used to breed pity and provide an excuse for tampering with other nations. It makes it easy to hide the darker intentions that are present when beginning military campaigns. Fewer people will question your actions if you operate under the guise of “helping the Third World.”

It enforces a Westernized measure of worth. If people and places are not like us, then they are simply not as good. We are first, they are third. The term gives an immediate and largely inaccurate image of starving children and sweltering heat. It designates whole parts of society as needy and lesser, as places you only go to on mission trips. It assigns the “otherness” that has caused centuries of injustice.

Overall, the implication of the term is just disgusting. It is used to pass judgement, originally to sort countries by politics and now by worth. When you use it, you are implying that you are better than an entire nation of people. An entire way of life. Setting Western culture as the only viable and livable way of life is narrow-minded and offensive. This is ironic considering how often it is used when feigning concern for others.

Terms that are as integrated into society as “First” and “Third” World often pass by without a critical eye. If everyone uses it, often the guilt that comes with the term goes unexplored. Letting these terms live on without criticism, without question, perpetuates the hatred that has plagued the world.