> The USSR rapidly went from a relatively backwards nation that had been devastated by WW2 to a highly industrialized world superpower. Imperial Russia was one

> The USSR rapidly went from a relatively backwards nation that had been devastated by WW2 to a highly industrialized world superpower. Imperial Russia was one of the most powerful countries in the world prior to WW1 and industrialising very rapidly. One of the reasons the Germans went for it when they did was because they knew that any later they could not beat the Russian Empire. To manage to become a “highly industrialised world superpower” starting with the Russian Empire of 1913 is not an achievement. > Cuba has been hamstrung by US embargoes. No other countries embargo the US and oceanic transport is so cheap they transport onions to Ireland from Australia at a profit. Cuba is a dump because of its government, not because of the US. > Unfortunately I’m not knowledgeable enough about Venezuela to say. Pretty standard communist story. Secret police, middle class and educated flee in their millions, economy collapses.