The three worlds as they were separated during the
Cold War era, each with its respective allies as of the period between 30 April 1975 (the
fall of Saigon) and 23 August 1975 (the communist takeover in
Laos). Colors do not represent current economic development.
Second World: the Soviet Union, China, and their allies.
The term "Second World" is a phrase used to describe the communist states within the Soviet Union's sphere of influence or those countries that had centrally-planned economies.[1] Along with "First World" and "Third World", the term was used to divide the nations of Earth into three broad categories. In other words, the concept of "Second World" was a construct of the Cold War and the term has largely fallen out of use since the revolutions of 1989, though it is still occasionally used to describe countries that are in between poverty and prosperity, many of which are communist and former communist countries today. Subsequently, the actual meaning of the terms "First World" and "Third World" changed from being based on political ideology to an economic definition (see the terms developed country and developing country).[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
