If you’re reading this, you probably live in the First World.
During the Cold War, which of the following countries was in the Third World? Was it China, South Korea, Sweden, Turkey, or Vietnam.
The first new player to comment on the website with the correct answer wins a free drink at their next iQ Trivia show.
Vietnam
Nope. Vietnam was NOT a Third World country during the Cold War. Vietnam was a Second World country (at least after 1975.)
It’s original Cold War meaning was not necessarily the meaning currently attached to it.
South Korea
It may have been classed as one the way some people define Third World, but that’s not the original definition.
It’s counterintuitive, but under the Cold War definition, Sweden was a Third World country.
The First World was the US, the UK, and their allies. The Second World was the communist states and their allies. The Third World was the unaligned countries.
So Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Austria, and many other advanced countries were all in the Third World.
Of course, following the Cold War the term has taken on a different meaning.