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During the [[Cold War]] period '''Third World''' referred to countries which didn't align themselves to either of the power blocks the [[US]] and its allies and the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics|Soviet Union]] and its allies. These nations formed the non-aligned movement.  It was usually applied to the mostly developing nations of Africa, Latin America, and Asian countries.<ref>The New American Desk Encyclopedia, Penguin Group, 1989</ref>

During the [[Cold War]] period '''Third World''' referred to countries which didn't align themselves to either of the power blocks the [[US]] and its allies and the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics|Soviet Union]] and its allies. These nations formed the non-aligned movement.  It was usually applied to the mostly developing nations of Africa, Latin America, and Asian countries.<ref>The New American Desk Encyclopedia, Penguin Group, 1989</ref>

   

   

Since that time, third world refers to developing and undeveloped countries which have large scale poverty and low levels of economic development. Third world countries often have dictatorships as the form of central government, and in many third world countries government corruption is rampant.<ref>http://media.transparency.org/imaps/cpi2009/</ref>

Since that time, third world refers to developing and undeveloped countries which have large scale poverty and low levels of economic development. Many Third world countries are dictatorships, however many are also democracies.Regardless in many third world countries government corruption is rampant.<ref>http://media.transparency.org/imaps/cpi2009/</ref> Some countries are disputed as to whether or not they are Third World. Countries such as India, China, and Brazil often straddle the line. These countries have a high economic growth and are quite wealthy, yet poverty is still widespread.

== References ==

== References ==