another term for the traditionally Marxist-Leninist states of the USSR and Eastern Europe, with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet model; the term is fading from use; see centrally planned economies
** socialist countries **
in general, countries in which the government owns and plans the use of the major factors of production;
note - the term is sometimes used incorrectly as a synonym for communist countries
** South **
a popular term for the poorer, less industrialized countries generally located south of the developed countries; the counterpart of the North; see less developed countries (LDCs)
** South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) **
established - 8 December 1985
aim - to promote economic, social, and cultural cooperation
members - (7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka