Second World

Second World is another way of describing the countries that were part of the Socialist Bloc during the Cold War. This bloc was led by the Soviet Union and included countries across Europe and parts of Asia. These countries were run by communist governments, meaning their leaders controlled almost all aspects of life including the economy and how people were allowed to live their lives. People in Second World countries were not as wealthy or as free as people living in the countries of the First World, which usually included North America, Western Europe, Japan, and a few other countries.