Countries of “catching-up modernization†in the global division of labor (ХIХ – ​early ХХ century)

The 19th and early 20th centuries had a great impact on the transformation of the world economy. Foreign economic activity was a driver of the “catching-up modernization†process. The study is based on the author’s classification of the countries by “catching-up modernization†. Special attention is paid to the rating of the leading exporting and importing countries in the early 20th century. It was revealed that almost half of them belong to the countries of “catching-up modernization†. The countries of “catching-up modernization†were among the top‑5 largest foreign trade partners for each other. The countries of the “catching-up modernization†of the Pacific basin influenced the reorientation of global foreign trade flows. The analysis of colonies and dependent countries’ economy revealed their use for foreign trade activities’ expansion. This trade accelerated the modernization processes. The success of the countries of “catching-up modernization†is associated with a change in their place in the global division of labor. The development of foreign economic activity is important for achieving national priorities. The close foreign economic relations of the countries of the “catching-up modernization†are revealed. Their active participation in the global division of labor is noted.