Free World
Encyclopedia
The Free World is a Cold War
-era term often used to describe states not under the rule of the Soviet Union
, its Eastern European allies, China
, Vietnam
, Cuba
, and other communist nations. The term often referred to states such as the United States
, Canada
, and Western European states such as the United Kingdom
, France
, and West Germany
(all members of NATO). In addition, it also sometimes included anti-communist states of the British Commonwealth
, Japan
, Israel
, India
, and undemocratic anti-communist states such as Spain
under Francisco Franco
, South Africa
under apartheid, Greece
under the military junta between 1967-1974, Chile under Pinochet
, Brazil
under military rule, and Taiwan
under Chiang Kai-Shek
(see also "Free China
"). It often refers to 1st World countries.
, originally used during the Cold War, to describe either the United States or the President of the United States. The term implies that the U.S. is the principal democratic superpower
of the time, and its president is, by extension, the leader of all of the world's democratic states, i.e. the "Free World". This notion began between 1947 and 1950 and became stronger from 1950. It was heavily used in U.S. foreign policy until the dissolution of the Soviet Union
in 1991.
During World War II
the United States viewed itself as the de facto leader of the Allies
. After the war the U.S. Cold War conception of the Free World implicitly viewed only capitalist, particularly anti-communist nations as free. People in nations with no formal alliance with the United States viewed the claim of leadership as grandiose and illegitimate.
Although it had a Cold War origin, the phrase is still sometimes used to describe the U.S. President today. The phrase is also used by those who do not approve of America's foreign policy, specifically as a critique of American imperialism .
The hippies of the 1960s and 1970s can also be considered to have lived in a 'Free World'.
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
-era term often used to describe states not under the rule of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, its Eastern European allies, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, and other communist nations. The term often referred to states such as the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and Western European states such as the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
(all members of NATO). In addition, it also sometimes included anti-communist states of the British Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and undemocratic anti-communist states such as Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
under Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
under apartheid, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
under the military junta between 1967-1974, Chile under Pinochet
Chile under Pinochet
Chile was ruled by a military dictatorship headed by Augusto Pinochet from 1973 when Salvador Allende was overthrown in a coup d'etat until 1990 when the Chilean transition to democracy began. The authoritarian military government was characterized by systematic suppression of political parties and...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
under military rule, and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
under Chiang Kai-Shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
(see also "Free China
Free Area of the Republic of China
The Free area of the Republic of China is a legal and political description referring to the territories under the control of the government of Republic of China , consisting of the island groups of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and some minor islands...
"). It often refers to 1st World countries.
"Leader of the Free World"
The Leader of the Free World is a colloquialismColloquialism
A colloquialism is a word or phrase that is common in everyday, unconstrained conversation rather than in formal speech, academic writing, or paralinguistics. Dictionaries often display colloquial words and phrases with the abbreviation colloq. as an identifier...
, originally used during the Cold War, to describe either the United States or the President of the United States. The term implies that the U.S. is the principal democratic superpower
Superpower
A superpower is a state with a dominant position in the international system which has the ability to influence events and its own interests and project power on a worldwide scale to protect those interests...
of the time, and its president is, by extension, the leader of all of the world's democratic states, i.e. the "Free World". This notion began between 1947 and 1950 and became stronger from 1950. It was heavily used in U.S. foreign policy until the dissolution of the Soviet Union
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the disintegration of the federal political structures and central government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , resulting in the independence of all fifteen republics of the Soviet Union between March 11, 1990 and December 25, 1991...
in 1991.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the United States viewed itself as the de facto leader of the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
. After the war the U.S. Cold War conception of the Free World implicitly viewed only capitalist, particularly anti-communist nations as free. People in nations with no formal alliance with the United States viewed the claim of leadership as grandiose and illegitimate.
Although it had a Cold War origin, the phrase is still sometimes used to describe the U.S. President today. The phrase is also used by those who do not approve of America's foreign policy, specifically as a critique of American imperialism .
Other Western Uses
"Free World" is often the name given to gangs involved in crime, across the United States of America, and The United Kingdom. This was started by a cult following of the rapper Eminem, and his film, 8 mile, which depicted a gang dubbed 'Free World' as the main antagonists. After the rapper known as Proof was shot, there was a small uproar of protester asking for an end of the usage of the "Free World" name in this way.The hippies of the 1960s and 1970s can also be considered to have lived in a 'Free World'.
Cultural influence
- Singer songwriter Neil YoungNeil YoungNeil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
referenced the term in his hit 1989 rock song and protest anthem "Rockin' in the Free WorldRockin' in the Free World"Rockin' in the Free World" is a song by Neil Young, released on his 1989 album Freedom. Two versions of the song were released, similar to the song "Hey Hey, My My " of Young's Rust Never Sleeps album, one of which is performed with a predominantly acoustic arrangement, and the other with a...
." In the song's verses, a litany of injustices found in industrialized nations, most notably the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, are contrasted with the flowery rhetoric of politicians such as then-U.S. President and "Leader of the Free World" George H. W. Bush. This is followed by the chorus, "keep on rockin' in the free world," which has been seen as both ironic and empowering. Young recorded two versions of the song- acoustic folk rock and electric hard rock- for his 1989 album FreedomFreedom (Neil Young album)Freedom has received mainly positive reviews. Allmusic's William Ruhlmann rated the album four-and-a-half out of five stars, explaining that it "was the album Neil Young fans knew he was capable of making, but feared he would never make again." He also stated that "there were tracks that harked...
, and in years since, other musicians have covered it widely.