First World: Difference between revisions

After [[World War II]], the world split into two large geopolitical blocs, separating into spheres of [[communism]] and [[capitalism]]. This led to the [[Cold War]], during which the term ''First World'' was often used because of its political, social, and economic relevance. The term itself was first introduced in the late 1940s by the [[United Nations]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Macdonald|first1=Theodore|year=2005|title=Third World Health: Hostage to First World Health.|publisher=Radcliffe Publishing|page=4|ISBN=1-85775-769-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PCbVkCkmCoIC&printsec=frontcover&cad=0#v=onepage&q=fourth&f=false|accessdate=27 May 2017}}</ref> Today, the First World is slightly outdated and has no official definition, however, it is generally thought of as the capitalist, industrial, wealthy and developed countries. This definition includes [[Australia & New Zealand]], the developed countries of Asia ([[South Korea]], [[Taiwan]], [[Japan]], [[Singapore]]) and mostthe of thewealthy countries of [[North America]] and Europe, particularly [[Western Europe]].<ref name="nations">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/third_world_countries.htm |title=First, Second and Third World |publisher=Nations Online |accessdate=27 May 2017 |date=July 24, 2009}}</ref> In contemporary society, the First World is viewed as countries that have the most advanced economies, the greatest influence, the highest standards of living, and the greatest technology.<ref name= nations/> After the Cold War, these countries of the First World included member states of [[NATO]], U.S.-aligned states, neutral countries that were developed and industrialized, and the former [[British Empire|British Colonies]] that were considered developed. It can be defined succinctly as Europe, plus the richer countries of the former British Empire (USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand), Israel, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.