what is a second world country?

Answer 1

These terms came into use in the 1960's during the cold war. I believe they stem from an editorial written in a major Newspaper like the Washington Post, London Times, or New York Times, and then became used all over. The first world was the modern, prosperous educated capitalist countries (on any continent), the second world was the Communist countries, and the third world was the poor ignorant illiterate countries. With the fall of Communism, this term of "second world" is essentially no longer in parlance, although if you want to get down to the nitty gritty, the only truely remaining Communist countries in today's world are Cuba and North Korea. Even Viet Nam has given up Communism. The "third world" is still used frequently to describe the poor illiterate backward countries, but I have heard that there is too much stigma associated with the term, so various euphemisms have been invented to try to change this image, such as "the non-alligned nations", "the developing world" (as opposed to the developed world), and "the majority world". But the "second world" is essentially defunct now, as an entity and as a term. However, on the other hand, it is still hard to classify countries like Russia and China and the Czech Republic and Poland, since they are not really third world countries but they are not really prosperous first world countries either. What do you think?

Answer 2

What are you people talking about with the communists and the capitalists and the in-between?! A first world country is an economic powerhouse with a full INDUSTRY. A second world counrty is one that is beginning to develop an industry and an economy to the point where it can/or almost can sustain itself (its population). A third world country is one that doesn't have an industry and a super weak economy to the point where it has to call for help from other countries (Note: not all countries call for help, but first world countries normally go out and 'help' the third world countries when really they are just making things worse by increasing the third world countries dependence on others. "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.")

Answer 3

None of the above! The first world is a term for capitalist countries, the second world refers to communist countries, with the third world being developing countries, because before the economy is really working, it's can't really be called either capitalist or communist. Now the cold war is over and the USSR has broken up, the terms are pretty much defunct, at least 'second world' is pretty disused now...

Answer 4

the countries after first world war

Answer 5

The term "Second World" refers to the former communist-socialist, industrial states, the territory and sphere of influence of the Union of Soviet Socialists Republic.

Sooo basically the majority of Eastern Europe is second world...

Answer 6

Buzzard....is absolutely correct with the reply.....

Actually the 1st, 2nd and 3rd worlds was a cold war term. When the world was divided among the NATO, East Block and the Non-Alligned Countrues.

Answer 7

The phrase came about in the 1960's or thereabout.
It originally meant immigrant labour in the French economy. The First World was America and Russia. The rest of Europe and various white countrys (New Zealand canada etc) were the Second World.
The uncounted and invisible immigrant labour in Paris etc was what the author (whose name escapes me) meant when he labelled them the Third World.
The meaning has changed since then of course.

Answer 8

Best example is CHINA! They are still not fully developed yet like The US (first world) but are much further ahead of any undeveloped country like Sudan (third world).

Answer 9

first Europe,second America.

Answer 10

Countries who are about to be developed Capitalists