Free world
: For other uses of the word, see
Free world (disambiguation)The
Free World is a
Cold War-era term used by non-communist nations to describe themselves. The term was used to contrast the greater personal freedom enjoyed by citizens of non-communist countries that called themselves
democratic, such as the
United States and Western Europe, with the
Soviet Union and its East European allies. The usage of this term, however, generally does not take into account the many other non-communist states allied with the "Free World" during the Cold War, most notably in South America, Asia and Africa, many of which have been criticised as repressive and dictatorial.
The term "free world" is still used today to describe nations that advocate
Digital Rights Management and
Trusted Computing.
Because of America's prominent role in the Cold War, the
President of the United States was often dubbed the "leader of the Free World", particularly in the United States itself.
Free World is also the title of a 2004 book by British political commentator
Timothy Garton Ash.
