We remember the cold war as the time when the caps and the commies were constantly at each other's throats.
1947-1991, people lived in fear of nuclear war. There were times like the Cuban missile crisis when the end was near but we lived, thanks to this scary view
In the cold war, the world was divided into three blocks. Here's my take about the subject. Clear some doubts.
1.The First World
The countries allied with the US and NATO to against the Soviet Union and communist countries.
Communism was a threat and the Soviets were always ready to split Europe like a cake. And so NATO was formed.
Most of the first world countries were developed and so the term 'first world' changed its meaning to developed western countries.
The funny thing is, that countries like Pakistan are actually first world considering their die hard alliance with America, but is called third world because it's not very rich or developed. And while countries like Singapore and UAE are rich and developed, they were third world. Strangely, Iran is counted as first world due to it's alliance with the west even though it hates the US nowadays.
2. The second world
The Red mama bear and her bloodthirsty cubs.
The second world consisted of USSR and Pro-Soviet countries. Some of these countries were developed but many were underdeveloped and none of them were as rich as the first world.
Though PR China is called second world, it was not very cozy with the USSR nor did it like the west very much.
3.The Third world
Indigo=Member, Blue=Observer
The actual third world countries were the ones who signed the non alignment pact of '61. Most were underdeveloped and not very rich but have gotten better and are developing very fast today.
These countries would condemned war as a solution to dispute and would follow this
But you can't really stay neutral. Can you be a saint in wars like these?
Ironically the founding members of the NAM were actually second world.
The most notable example being India and Cuba.
After independence from colonial rule of UK in 1947, the country was in ruins. Add to it the infamous Kashmir conflict and Pakistan being first world. The country saw USSR as a more reliable ally than the US because Kennedy was good but Nixon was a bitch.
And so the Bear took the new Tiger cub on her side.
Cuba was a really interesting one. Even though Cuba was a non aligned country, it was a die hard commie ready to fight anytime. In a speech given during the Havana Declaration of 1979, Fidel Castro said the purpose of the organization is to ensure "the national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of non-aligned countries" in their "struggle against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, and all forms of foreign aggression, occupation, domination, interference or hegemony as well as against great power and bloc politics" What do you make of this speech?
Read the wiki about '62 missile crisis.
But things were not very good for countries like Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Poland.
If you have read all the way down, you have my gratitude.
What Girls & Guys Said
Opinion
1Opinion
More people should read this - well explained and good use of maps to illustrate the various points.
I don't see Belarus, Serbia, Bosnia etc as third world, though - more second world.
Nice take there, guy.
Thanks! Too bad not many people here saw it.
They saw it, but maybe weren't interested in these kind of things. So just scrolled.
i felt like in history class, well written
Really? Thanks!
yeah :)