Thailand is a great country with a growing economy, developing political scenes, and interesting people. When talking about the economy and politics of Thailand, many individuals often want to know whether the country is a third-world country or not. Unfortunately, there are tons of controversies over the definition of what a third-world country is; hence, it can be quite difficult to decide the category of Thailand.
If you check the responses on Quora, you will notice that there is no straightforward answer to the question. Nevertheless, after checking various facts concerning the definition of the term, it can be concluded that Thailand is a third-world country. The country has all the indices for determining what a third world country is.
What is a third world country?
Basically, there are colloquial and modern definitions of a third world country. Let’s first talk about the colloquial definition.
During the Cold War, different countries on the planet were categorized into three classes – first world, second world, and third world countries. Notably, the definitions were based on the nations’ political affiliations.
- First world countries
These are countries such as Western Europe, the United States, and their allies including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
- Second world countries
Second world countries are the communist countries such as China, the USSR, other countries in the Soviet Bloc, and some other nations.
- Third world countries
This term is used for countries that don’t belong to the first two classes. In general, these are countries from South and Central America, Africa, and some parts of Asia.
Based on the colloquial definition, it is difficult to say where Thailand belongs. This is because Thailand aligned with the majority of Western countries during the Cold War era. However, the country was so different from the Western countries because it had several coups, poor constitutional democracy, and lots more. Therefore, it is difficult to decide whether Thailand is a first-world or third world country by colloquial definition.
As stated earlier, the term “third world country” can be explained in another way. According to Dictionary.com, a third world country refers to a non-industrialized, underdeveloped, and economically poor nation. As noted by Investopedia, a third world country will have some sort of environmental, social, economic, and political challenges. Hence, the country will lack basic human resources, have high poverty rates, and face economic instabilities and inconsistencies.
In this regard, it is also tricky to classify Thailand as a country that is relatively developed, especially if you look at Bangkok and some other top Thai cities. Nonetheless, the country is still dealing with some issues associated with third world countries.
The term “developing country” as a substitute for “third world country”
Although the term “third world country” is still used a lot today, many consider it to be derogatory. As such, the terms “developing country” and “least developed country” are usually used instead.
As claimed by Worlddata.info, Thailand is a developing country. This is because the country’s industrial and economic development, the standard of living, and income are below average.
Why Thailand is classified as a third world country
Some markers are usually used for identifying a third world country. Unfortunately, Thailand has many of these markers such as:
- Political instability
Constitutionally, Thailand is ruled by both monarchs and democratically elected leaders. As the Queen of Great Britain, the king of Thailand serves as the head of state. However, his power is greatly limited.
Unfortunately, Thailand deals with political instability and inconsistency. This is largely due to the significant influence of the Thai military on the political happenings in the country. Coups had been staged so many times in this Southeast Asian country.
In 2019, Bangkok Post even noted that Thailand would continue to be regarded as a third world country due to the challenges facing its political scenes. Given this, Thailand is undoubtedly a third world country.
- Infrastructure
When Thailand is compared to other third-world nations in Southeast Asia, Africa, and other parts of the world, the country is doing great. The Land of Smiles boasts of having stable electricity, clean tap water, well-maintained roads, several public buildings, and lots more.
However, if you compare the infrastructure in Thailand to the US, the UK, and other first-world countries, Thailand fails woefully. The country lacks many things that make a country to be technologically advanced and developed.
For example, only Bangkok and a few other places are connected by a reliable railway network in the whole country. Even in Bangkok, several carriages and locomotives are too old; hence, they might be unsafe in some cases. This is a typical characteristic of a third world country that focuses on only the infrastructural development of the capital city.
- GDP
With a GDP of about 450 billion USD, Thailand is performing well. This GDP makes Thailand the 25th largest economy in the world and ensures that the country has a GDP per capita of about $17,900 for each individual. By global standards, Thailand has an average GDP.
- Corruption
When a country is hugely corrupted, it will be difficult for it to experience significant growth. Unfortunately, corruption is a menace plaguing Thailand for several decades. There are dubious government subsidies, bribe-seeking policemen, corrupt contractors and government officials, etc. in the country. The large scale of corruption has continued to impede its growth.
- The huge disparity between the cities and the countryside
If you stick to only Bangkok, Phuket, and other topmost cities in Thailand, you are bound to believe that the country is a third world nation. However, you need to go to the towns in the countryside before concluding.
Many of these countryside towns have hugely improvised people. It is also difficult to get a well-paying job in numerous small cities and towns in Thailand. Consequently, several young people usually flock to Bangkok to make a living.
Conclusion
From the explanation, you will agree that Thailand is a third world country. It has most of the markers of a country that is still struggling with development. To sound less derogatory, you can refer to Thailand as a developing country.
