Final answer:
The end of the Cold War led to increased independence and potential for democracy, but also to complex global challenges. The data provided suggests a general trend towards greater economic freedom, implying that the number of countries classified as 'free' likely increased between 1972 and 2002.
Step-by-step explanation:
The collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War were significant events that allowed many countries to pursue independence and democracy. However, this transition period also witnessed the resurgence of ethnic conflicts and the rise of new global challenges, such as cross-national terrorist organizations. Regarding the freedom status of countries, while the information provided does not explicitly state the number of countries classified as “free” between 1972 and 2002, there's mention of a general trend towards greater economic freedom in recent decades. Specifically, in 2013 and 2015, more countries shifted toward greater economic freedom than those which shifted toward less. This trend suggests that, on the economic front, there may have been an increase in countries classified as “free” in terms of economic policies and practices from 1972 to 2002.