Second World countries

A comprehensive essay exploring the history and attributes of second (2nd) world countries as opposed to first (1st) and third (3rd) world countries. We do not often hear about countries that are considered 2nd world. Who coined the term "second world"? What countries are, or were, considered part of the second (2nd) world? Is the second world still relevant today? Why or why not?

Understanding "Second World" countries: History, definition, and modern relevance

The classification of countries into "First World," "Second World," and "Third World" was born out of Cold War politics, not economics. These terms have become outdated in academic and policy circles, yet they continue to shape popular understanding of global divisions. While "First World" and "Third World" are still commonly referenced - albeit often misused - the concept of the "Second World" is rarely discussed. This essay explores the origins, meaning, and current relevance of the term "Second World," clarifying what it meant historically and why it has faded from use.

The origin of the "Worlds" system

The "three worlds" terminology was first popularized by French demographer Alfred Sauvy in a 1952 article for the French magazine L'Observateur. Sauvy used the term “Third World” (tiers monde) to refer to countries that were neither aligned with NATO nor the Communist Bloc - mirroring the concept of the “Third Estate” in pre-revolutionary France, which represented the common people outside the aristocracy and clergy.

While Sauvy coined the term "Third World," the entire three-part classification became a geopolitical shorthand during the Cold War:

• First World: The capitalist, industrialized countries aligned with the United States and NATO. These included Western Europe, the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and other allies.
• Second World: The socialist states under the influence of the Soviet Union, including the USSR itself, Eastern Europe, and other communist regimes.
• Third World: Countries that remained non-aligned or neutral, many of which were recently decolonized nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Who and what comprised the Second World?

The "Second World" consisted primarily of the Soviet Union and its satellite states in Eastern Europe, such as:

• Poland
• East Germany (GDR)
• Czechoslovakia
• Hungary
• Bulgaria
• Romania
• Albania (until it broke with the USSR)

It also extended to communist countries outside Europe aligned politically or ideologically with the Soviet Union or China, such as:

• China (though it split from the Soviet sphere in the 1960s)
• North Korea
• Vietnam
• Cuba
• Mongolia
• Laos

These countries shared a centralized, state-run economy, one-party rule, and political alignment - if not strict obedience - to Moscow or Beijing. While they varied in development levels, what bound them together was their Marxist-Leninist governance model, not their wealth or industrial capacity.

Attributes of Second World countries

Second World countries, during the Cold War, had several defining characteristics:

• Planned economies: Most had five-year plans, state ownership of production, and strict price controls.
• Military and ideological alliance: They were either members of the Warsaw Pact or had close military and political ties with the USSR.
• Rapid industrialization: Many Second World states invested heavily in heavy industry and infrastructure to compete with the capitalist West.
• Limited civil liberties: These states typically had restricted press freedom, surveillance states, and limited political pluralism.
• Education and health infrastructure: Despite their authoritarian regimes, many invested heavily in education, public health, and science, often achieving high literacy rates and medical standards.

In terms of GDP and technology, Second World countries were more developed than most Third World countries but lagged behind First World economies. They occupied a middle ground, not just economically but ideologically.

The decline of the Second World

With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Second World effectively ceased to exist. Eastern Bloc countries either joined NATO and the European Union or transitioned to market economies and multiparty systems. The binary Cold War division gave way to a more complex global order.

Some former Second World countries became part of the developed world (e.g., Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia), while others struggled with corruption, authoritarianism, or economic stagnation (e.g., Belarus, Ukraine for much of the post-Soviet era, Russia). Meanwhile, countries like Vietnam and China maintained one-party rule but integrated elements of capitalism into their economies.

Today, the term "Second World" is largely obsolete. Political scientists prefer more precise terms like:

• Global North vs. Global South
• Developed vs. developing countries
• Emerging markets
• Post-socialist states

Is the Second World still relevant?

In name and structure, no - the Second World does not exist in the way it did during the Cold War. The ideological battle between capitalism and communism that gave rise to the three-world model is over. However, some of its legacy remains relevant.

• Geopolitical echoes: Many of the power dynamics from the Cold War still influence today’s global tensions - such as NATO expansion, Russia's antagonism toward the West, and China’s ideological rivalry with the U.S.
• Economic middle ground: Several former Second World countries now occupy an ambiguous space - not quite developed, but not poor either. They are often classified as middle-income or emerging economies.
• Hybrid political models: Nations like Vietnam and China continue with communist parties but practice market economics, blurring lines between old Second World attributes and modern classifications.

Conclusion

The concept of the "Second World" was a product of Cold War geopolitics - an era that divided the globe not just by economics but by ideology and military alliance. Coined in opposition to the capitalist "First World" and the non-aligned "Third World," the Second World captured a unique set of nations striving for an alternative global model under Soviet leadership. While the term has faded from use, understanding it is still valuable for grasping how today’s international system evolved. The world may have moved past the strict divisions of the Cold War, but its legacy still shapes our political and economic landscape in subtle and significant ways.