1980's Breakdown of the World Orders

[semiotic_pirate]

1st, 2nd, and 3rd world country labels are relics from the Cold War.

The first world were democratic capitalist countries that were industrialized. NATO was the biggest collection of these countries

The second world were Communist, industrialized countries. The Warsaw pact is the biggest collection of these countries

The Third world were non-aligned countries that were not industrialized. Basically the third world was the battleground for the Soviet Union and the US fighting for converts to their ideology. The Cold War was fought for control of these countries either by military conquest, or political influence.

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Having a difference of opinion in a previous post as to the disposition of China. In referring to it in Cold-War Era terms, it is a 2nd World nation. Because it was (oh, still is!) an industrialized nation. Industrialized nations can build things such as factories and power plants without too much trouble, when compared directly to non-industrialized nations.

China just experienced a massive earthquake. One of the ways we get updates about this is all the people in China that are blogging, Twittering, and Flickering about what's going on in their neck of the woods.

And, isn't China like one of the biggest industrial espionage nations out there? Can't use that stolen technology information if you don't have the industrial capacity to make home-grown versions.

Am I losing my mind? Should I accept China being called 3rd world just because they aren't democratic or as up to date on having a clean, environmentally responsible to the planet political stance? It's not like I am comparing them to Switzerland or something... I just think that they could build a cellulose-to-ethanol plant if they really wanted to.

Opinions wanted on this topic. What do you think?

Comments

[astroprisoner.livejournal.com]

This is just off the top of my head, and others will disagree, but...

With the 1980s ranking long since obsolete, the terms probably should go out the window as well. However, if we're going to stick by them, I'd rank China and India as 1st World countries now.

Ya know why gas prices are so high? Because those two countries along with the US are competing for so much oil to run all their cars. That many cars is a sign of prosperity, and prosperity was always an implied part of the "world" ranking.

[semiotic-pirate.livejournal.com]

See, this is where I was trying to guide the conversation. Cold-War rankings are definitely obsolete. They (both China and India) are considered direct competitors to us for jobs and oil supply...

Just because our society/government/infrastructure has "evolved" doesn't mean that people who are where we were THEN can't be considered as economic equals.

It is entirely a western bias to consider them otherwise, even acknowledging their rural/city dichotomies. Hell, look at our poverty/rich dichotomy and you will see a LOT of the same inequalities.

[stardragonca.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I tend to think in terms of 'What would the local Geek populations primary objectives be,were they to take power there.'
(How can we make this more Star Treky?)