THE theory of worlds it is an economic perspective that aims to classify countries based on three levels of development. This theory was better suited to explaining the international economic correlation between the years 1945 and 1990. Nowadays, it is considered obsolete.
The three “worlds” of the global economy, according to this perspective, would separate the group of developed capitalist countries (first world), the self-declared socialist or planned economy countries (second world) and underdeveloped capitalist countries considered "non-aligned" during the Cold War (third World).
O first World it encompassed, therefore, countries like the United States, England, France and a few others, considered as international economic powers and, some of them, also military powers. These countries were the protagonists of the Cold War capitalist bloc. In this context, Europeans came together in what later became the European Union.
O second world, in turn, involved the extinct Soviet Union and countries aligned to it, such as Cuba, Yugoslavia, China (which later broke its alliance with the Soviets), North Korea and others. With the end of the Cold War, this “world” practically ceased to exist, as most countries with a planned economy had to open up to the market economy.
O third World, thus, brought together the other countries, which declared themselves as “non-aligned”. It was basically formed by peripheral or developing economies, such as Brazil, Argentina, many countries on the African continent, India and many others.
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As we have already said, this division is not considered current, but it is important to understand in order to understand the differences between the Cold War world order and the global geopolitical context. Currently, with the decline of the second world, the world is divided into two main oppositions, the north and the south.
You countries ofnorth they are those considered developed or politically influential, like Russia. Despite the terms, not all countries that are part of this classification are, in fact, in the geographic north of the planet, like Australia and New Zealand.
You southern countries, consequently, refer to the undeveloped, so they are found, almost all, in the southern portion of the planet. As it is very comprehensive, this front is usually divided into emerging countries and underdeveloped countries. The first are those countries whose economies have shown relative improvements in recent years, with advanced industrialization and High Gross Domestic Product (GDP), such as the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), Mexico, Turkey, Indonesia and others. The second ones are those countries of recent development, with great social problems and accentuated economic dependence. This is the case for a large group of countries in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.
By Me. Rodolfo Alves Pena
