The Soviet Union, China, and the communist bloc.
With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the political "Second World" vanished, rendering the original 1-2-3 classification logically defunct. However, the label "Third World" persisted in popular culture, losing its political roots and becoming a purely economic descriptor for: and low income per capita. The Third World
The term "Third World" is a staple of 20th-century political and economic discourse, yet its meaning has shifted so dramatically that it is now often considered obsolete or even offensive. Originally a term of political neutrality, it has evolved into a shorthand for poverty, infrastructure failure, and global inequality. 1. Origins in the Cold War The Soviet Union, China, and the communist bloc