UNIT 8: THE WORLD AFTER WW2

DECOLONISATION& THE COLD WAR

(NEW GLOBAL GEOPOLITICS; 1945 – 1991)

IES Camilo José Cela

Teacher: Rocío Bautista

INTRODUCTION

After WW2 (1939 - 45), the world witnessed 2 processes of

great historical significance:

DECOLONISATION

DIVISION OF THE WORLD INTO 2 ANTAGONISTIC BLOCS,

WHO CONFRONTED IN THE SO-CALLED “COLD WAR”

Capitalist bloc led by the USA

Communist bloc led by the USSR

DECOLONISATION

DECOLONISAT ION =

process through which the

former European colonies

gained independence.

INTRODUCTION

Second half of the 20th

Century European

colonial empires were

dismantled as their

former colonies became

independent.

CAUSES CAUSES OF

DECOLONISATION

Support of the two

new superpowers

(USA & USSR) who

lacked colonial

empires & were

interested in

weakening the old

European powers.

A growing international

opinion against colonial

empires. E.g.: right to

self-determination

established by the UN

(1960).

Emergence of charismatic

leaders who, after studying

in Europe, formed political

parties & led the

independence processes.

Rise of nationalistic

movements in the

colonies due to the

spread of nationalistic

ideas that defended the

right of the people to

govern themselves.

The colonies had

become aware of

their importance &

power, since their

collaboration in

WW2 (soldiers &

resources) was

essential.

MAHATMA GANDHI• Leader of the Indian independence

movement.

• The honorific name “Mahatma” comes from

the words “maha” & “atma”, meaning

Great Soul.

• He encouraged non-violent actions. E.g.:

he undertook several hunger strikes to

protest the oppression of India’s poorest

classes.

• After gaining independence from UK

(1947), he continued to work toward

peace between Hindus & Muslims. He

was shot to death in Delhi by a Hindu

fundamentalist (1948).

• He inspired movements for civil rights,

freedom & peace across the world.

http://www.un.org/en/decolonization/declaration.shtml

Charter

of the

U.N.

(1945)

UN’s

“Declaration on the Granting

of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples”

(1960)

ACTIVITY 1

Indicate in which stage of the decolonisation process each of the following countries gained its independence:

MOROCCO / UKRAINE / PHILIPPINES / NAMIBIA / NIGERIA / INDIA / MICRONESIA / CONGO / LIBYA / UZBEKISTAN / ISRAEL / PAKISTAN /

INDONESIA / KENYA / VIETNAM / ESTONIA

1st stage

1945 - 55

2nd stage

1956 - 1975

3rd stage

1975 onwards

Asia & Middle East

(1945 – 55)

North Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa

(1956 – 75)

Other remaining colonies (southern Africa, Oceania, Eastern Europe…)

After 1975

STAGES

In some cases

colonies gained

their

independence

peacefully (by

agreements), but

other times

involved wars.

ACTIVITY 2

Analyse the map and indicate to which colonial empire did these territories belonged to before WW2:

KOREA

PHILIPPINES

INDIA

PAKISTAN

THAILAND

INDONESIA

LAOS

VIETNAM

CAMBODIA

MALAYSIA

1ST STAGE (1945 – 55)DECOLONISATION OF ASIA & THE MIDDLE EAST

The British Indian Empire was partitioned in two independent states: India &

Pakistan (from which Bangladesh emerged later).

Philippines gained independence from the US.

Indonesia gained independence from the Netherlands.

Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia gained independence from France.

1ST STAGE (1945 – 55)DECOLONISATION OF ASIA & THE MIDDLE EAST

In the Middle East (controlled by UK & France after WW1):

Several countries gained their independence (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan…)

In 1947 the UN decided to divide Palestine to create the State of Israel. originated

several Arab-Israeli Wars and a conflict that continues nowadays.

After WW1, the former Ottoman Empire (who fought on the side of the Central Powers) was partitioned, and some of its territories remained under British & French control.

1947: the UN decided to divide

the region of Palestine (controlled

by UK & where most of the

population were Muslims) & create

the State of Israel for the Jews.

This decision originated several Arab-Israeli Wars and a

conflict that continues nowadays.

1955: BANDUNG CONFERENCETHE PUSH TO DECOLONISATION

In 1955 recently decolonised countries met in

Bandung (Indonesia) where they…

Condemned colonialism, affirming the right

of every nation to govern themselves, and

rejecting foreign intervention in the internal

affairs of other countries.

Encouraged peaceful coexistence.

Promoted Afro-Asian cooperation (to reduce

their dependence on their former metropolis)

Committed to remain neutral in response to

the great powers, setting the foundations of

the future “Non-Aligned Movement”.

2ND STAGE (1956 – 75)DECOLONISATION OF AFRICA

1st colonies in Northern Africa

gained their independence

(Libya, Tunisia, Morocco,

Algeria…).

2nd later on, most Sub-Saharan

Africa was decolonised (Nigeria,

Congo, Cameroon, Kenya…)

3rd finally, Southern Africa was

decolonised (Angola,

Mozambique, Namibia…)

In the 19th Century, the

“Scramble for Africa”

(Berlin Conference, 1884)

had drawn artificial

borders in Africa, without

consideration for those

actually living there

(religion, language, ethnic

groups, …)

After the decolonization,

the new rulers in Africa

kept the artificial borders

drawn by former

colonizers, decision that

has caused many conflicts

in the African continent

(rebellions, civil wars,…)

CONSEQUENCES

OF

DECOLONISATION

POLITICAL PROBLEMS: the arbitrary demarcation

of borders caused frequent wars & conflicts, which

many times led to the establishment of violent &

corrupt military dictatorships

ECONOMIC PROBLEMS: despite their political

independence, many countries maintained economic

dependence with their former metropolis (neo-

colonialism).

SOCIAL PROBLEMS: low standards of living

(poverty, hunger, malnutrition, medical deficiencies,

illiteracy…)

CONSEQUENCES

The new countries that resulted from colonisation were called “THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES”

because of their resemblance to the Third State which existed before the French Revolution.

They had to face many problems:

DEFINITIONS OF “NEO-COLONIALISM”

• The policy or practice of a wealthy or powerful nation in extending its

influence into a less developed one, especially in exploiting that nation's

resources.

• Political control by an outside power of a country that is in theory sovereign

and independent, especially through the domination of its economy.

• Control by a powerful country of its former colonies (or other less developed

countries) by economic pressures.

• The policy by which a nation exerts political and economic control over a less

powerful independent nation.

• Domination of a small or weak country by a large or strong one without the

assumption of direct government.

ACTIVITY 3

• What do you understand for “neo-colonialism”

• P. 175 exercise 2

• P. 176 exercises 1 / 2 / 3

1945 – 1991:NEW GLOBAL GEOPOLITICS

THE COLD WAR

COLD WAR 1945 - 1991

Situation of permanent military, ideological & diplomatic tension.

COMMUNIST

BLOC

Led by USSR

VSCAPITALIST

BLOC

Led by USA

WHY WAS IT CALLED “COLD” WAR?

It is said that it was a “cold” war because there was no direct

confrontation. Instead, they confronted indirectly in “proxy wars”:

regional wars around the world in which both, USSR & US,

supported one side or the other. E.g.: Korean & Vietnam

WHAT MADE THE COLD WAR DIFFERENT FROM ALL WARS BEFORE IT?

Direct confrontation was avoided because it could lead to the destruction

of the world MAD DOCTRINE (Mutual Assured Destruction)

Due to the nuclear arms race between

the 2 superpowers, both countries had

enough nuclear weapons to wipe out

each other & destroy humanity.

MAD MUTUAL ASSURED DESTRUCTIONSituation in which any use of nuclear weapons by either of two

opposing sides would result in the destruction of both, the attacker

& the defender. It dissuades both sides to initiate any attack.

COLD WAR (1945 – 1991)

An ideological struggle

URSS,

Eastern Europe

& China

USA

Western Europe

& Japan

of Capitalism worldwide

& spread

Support in Proxy wars

THE IRON CURTAIN(“El Telón de Acero”)

• A term coined by Winston Churchill

• Imaginary line that divided Europe from the end of WWII

(1945) until the end of the Cold War (1991)

• Symbolizes the Soviet Union’s efforts to isolate itself and its

satellite states from contact with Western and non-Soviet-

controlled areas

The threat of a war led to the creation of two military alliances:

- Capitalist bloc NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

- Communist bloc WARSAW PACT

CAPITALIST BLOCUSA

Western Europe

Japan

CAPITALIST BLOC:COMMON CHARACTERISTICS

Parliamentary democracies Free elections to chose political

representatives

Separation of powers

Capitalist economy Minimum intervention of the state in

the economy. Economy is regulated

by the law of supply & demand.

Free competition & private

property.

N.A.T.O.(O.T.A.N.)

NORTH ATLANTIC

TREATY ORGANIZATION

1949

Military alliance between

several North American &

Western European states

USA HEGEMONIC POWER

• After WW2 the US had major growth in economic power and civil rights.

USA HEGEMONIC POWERCONSUMER SOCIETY

1945 – 73 Golden Age of Capitalism. Mass-

consumption became widespread. New inventions

manufactured at cheap prices were available for

the middle class, improving their lives (especially

women's!).

USA HEGEMONIC POWER:GAINING ALLIES

The US gave billions of

dollars to Europe & to Japan

in the form of investments,

grants and loans.

MARSHALL PLAN (1947)

USA’s program of economic aid for

the RECONSTRUCTION OF EUROPE

after the devastation of WW2.

Over 25.000 million dollars in

grants & loans.

Aim: to avoid social unrest & stop

the advance of Communism in

Western Europe.

Thanks to it, European economy

experienced a rapid recovery.

MARSHALL PLAN(1947)

1ST STEPS TOWARDSEUROPEAN INTEGRATION

European integration was desired to create political & economic

cooperation among the countries

TREATY OF ROME (1957) created the European Economic

Community (EEC), which established a single market: free

movement of people, goods, services & capital among member

countries.

Founders: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands & West Germany.

First step towards European integration and modern-day E.U.

JAPAN

1945-1951 occupied by USA

1947: new constitution established a parliamentary monarchy& emperor’s power is simply symbolic

Economy grows:

Disciplined workforce that worked long hours for low wages

Help from the USA

High-tech products

Why was the Cold War different from every other

war in history?

How did the US secure alliances in Europe & Japan?

What was the Marshall Plan?

What was the Treaty of Rome?

QUICK REVIEW…

The “Red Scare”: fear of communists infiltrating or destabilizing the US government. It led to fierce anti-communist feelings, political campaigns & propaganda.

USA DURING THE COLD WAR

THE COLD WAR IN EVERYDAY LIFE

Fallout Shelters!

Bomb Drills!

CAPITALISM VS COMMUNISM

Capitalism vs Communism –

Released in the 1940s, this short cartoon would have been shown in theaters before the featured movie.

1) Why do you think this film was made?

2) How is it connected to the ideas we discussed in class?

ACTIVITY 4

• Define:• MAD Doctrine

• NATO

• Marshall Plan

• Treaty of Rome

• Why do the say that the conflict between USA & the USSR was a “Cold” War?

Hippie & Peace Movements

Women’s Liberation Movement

Civil Rights Movement

SOCIAL MOVEMENTS OF THE 60S & 70S

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.MARCH ON WASHINGTON, 1963 (ABOVE)MARCH ON SELMA, 1965 (LEFT)

THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

Focus on English

The term African American

doesn’t just refer to African

immigrants. It also refers to

the descendants of slaves

who were taken to the US

from Africa hundreds of

years ago.

THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

HIPPIE, PEACE & FEMINIST MOVEMENTS

How did the Civil Rights,

Hippie, Feminist, and

Peace movements relate

to the Cold War?

1960’s Peace Marches:https://ia800304.us.archive.org/2/items/1967-04-18_Peace_March/1967-04-

18_Peace_March_512kb.mp4

QUICK REVIEW…

Liberal democracies replaced military dictatorships in Southern Europe

• Portugal: Oliveira Salazar was overthrown in 1974 (“Carnation Revolution”)

• Spain: after Franco’s death in 1975, Spain became a democracy.

• Greece: Papadopoulos was overthrown in 1974

THE CAPITALIST BLOC AFTER 1973.SPREAD OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACY

▶ Communist parties in Western countries embraced Eurocommunism →

modified version of Marxism that said power should be accessed through

parliamentary processes

THE CAPITALIST BLOC AFTER 1973.SPREAD OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACY

ENERGY CRISIS

Arab member countries of OPEC* increased

oil prices by over 70% in efforts to gain

support from Western countries in their

conflict with Israel. .

*Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries

CAUSE: conflict between

Arab states & Israel

(Yom Kippur War)

INDUSTRIAL CRISIS

Most industrial sectors were deeply affected

by the increase of oil prices because most of

them used technologies & production

processes that depended greatly on oil.

THE CAPITALIST BLOC AFTER 1973.1973 ECONOMIC RECESSION

High inflation

Decrease in demand

Many large companies closed

Huge unemployment

Social unrest in several Latin American countries →

military dictatorships established: (e.g.: Chile,

Argentina)

Consequences of this crisis

THE CAPITALIST BLOC AFTER 1973.1973 ECONOMIC RECESSION

a) Neoliberal economic policies were

established (e.g: Ronald Reagan in US /

Margaret Thatcher in UK)

Cut public & social spending

Privatized state enterprises

Wages lowered & labor market

deregulated to create “flexible” workforce

So what did they do?

THE CAPITALIST BLOC AFTER 1973.1973 ECONOMIC RECESSION

b) Traditional industrial sectors were restructured…

New technology (robots!) replaced

workers to lower production costs

Alternative energy sources

(instead of oil) were developed

to reduce oil dependence

Jobs relocated to cheaper

locations

THE CAPITALIST BLOC AFTER 1973.1973 ECONOMIC RECESSION

So what did they do?

Copy and fill in the chart using p.184 of your book.

The 1973 Recession

Causes Consequences Measures Taken

ACTIVITY 5

COMMUNIST BLOCUSSR

Eastern Europe

China

Cuba

COMMUNIST BLOC

Led by the USSR

Eastern European countries

where after WW2 the USSR

had imposed its dominion &

Communist governments known

as “peoples’ democracies” were

established.

It was reinforced with the

Communist revolutions in China

(1949) & Cuba (1959).

PACT OF WARSAW(PACTO DE VARSOVIA)

1955

Military alliance between the USSR

& other communist states in Eastern

Europe during the Cold War (it

reached its end in 1991).

LEADERS OF THE USSR DURING THE COLD WAR:

First leaders:

Joseph Stalin (until 1953)

Nikita Kruschev (1953 – 64)

Leonid Brezhnev (1964 – 82)

1980’s leaders:

Yuri Andropov (1982 – 84)

Konstantin Chernenko (1984 – 85)

Mikhail Gorbachev (1985 – 91)

COMMUNIST BLOC

COMMUNIST BLOC: COMMON CHARACTERISTICS

“Peoples’ democracies” (democracias populares)

Communist dictatorships. No real political

pluralism.

No freedoms or individual rights. They were

subordinated to the interests of the state.

They were controlled by the USSR. Any

attempt at independence was crushed.

Planned economy Huge intervention of the state in the economy.

The government regulates production,

distribution, prices, etc.

Property is public. No free competition.

HUNGARIAN

REVOLUTION

(1956)

PRAGUE

SPRING

(1968)

1948: BERLIN BLOKADE

First major crisis of the Cold War

When US, UK & France decided to unify Western

Germany, the USSR closed all road & rail routes

to West Berlin. In response, the Western Allies

organized the Berlin airlift to carry supplies to

the people of West Berlin.

BERLIN BLOKADE (1948) & BERLIN WALL (1961)

This first major crisis of the Cold War finished with the creation of 2 German

states (1949):

Federal Republic of Germany

German Democratic Republic

1961: BERLIN WALL

Due to the economic recovery of

Western Germany (FRG), during the

1950’s over 4 million people

abandoned East Germany.

In response, the communist

government of East Germany (GDR)

ordered the construction of the

BERLIN WALL to prevent the citizens

of East Germany from fleeing to West

Berlin.

BERLIN BLOKADE (1948) & BERLIN WALL (1961)

BERLIN WALL

(1961 – 1989)

“CHECKPOINT

CHARLIE” IN BERLIN,

GERMANY

COMMUNIST REVOLUTION IN CHINA

• 1945 – 49 CIVIL WAR IN CHINA

CHINESE COMMUNIST

PARTY

Led by Mao Zedong

CHINESE NATIONAL

PARTY (Kuomintang)

Led by Chiang Kai-shek

VS

COMMUNIST REVOLUTION IN CHINA

• The Civil War ended in

1949 with the victory of the

Communists, and the

division of China into 2

states:

PEOPLES’ REPUBLIC OF

CHINA (on the continent)

communist

REPUBLIC OF CHINA (on

Taiwan/Formosa island, where

the nationalists had fled)

capitalist

MAO ZEDONG’S REGIME (1949 – 76) was a Communist dictatorship where all opposition was supressed.

Estimated deaths: 30 – 70 millions

It seems impossible to

know the exact amount of

people that were killed

during the dictatorships of

Stalin, Hitler & Mao…

What it’s clear is that they

all committed brutal

genocides.

ACTIVITY 6

• Define:

Warsaw pact

Peoples’ democracies

Berlin blockade

Berlin wall

• Who led the Communist bloc? Name 5 countries in Eastern

Europe that fell under Soviet influence after WW2.

• What economic & political differences were there between

the Capitalist & the Communist blocs?

• Explain the Chinese Communist Revolution.

CUBAN REVOLUTION

CUBA BEFORE THE REVOLUTION:

• Until 1898: Spanish colony. Gained independence with the help of the USA.

• 1898 – 1959: Cuba was an independent republic characterized by:

Political instability democratic governments alternated with dictatorships

Despite it was technically independent, in reality it was largely controlled by

the USA.

U.S. military base in Guantanamo was established

Cuban economy was dominated by the US

American tourism crowded the island

American products & culture everywhere (cars,

fashion, sports, music, movies…)

In the 1950’s Cuba had become the playground of

the US. Its tropical beauty, night-life and cheap prices

attracted many celebrities (Ava Gardner, Frank

Sinatra and Ernest Hemingway) and tourists.

Tourism was an excellent source of revenue… but it

also brought many problems:

• Corruption, gambling, drugs, prostitution,…

• Increasing prices made land & properties

affordable only for foreign investors

"Havana was then whatLas Vegas has become today“

CUBAN REVOLUTION

• Prior to the revolution, Cuba was ruled by a

dictator: BATISTA (coup d’etat in 1952).

• After a first failed coup

d’état (1953), FIDEL CASTRO

led a revolution to overthrow

Batista. After a 25-months

guerrilla campaign, the

revolution triumphed in

1959.

CUBAN REVOLUTION

• Once in power, FIDEL

CASTRO established a

Communist dictatorship:

One single party

Planned economy

Social control

During the revolution, Fidel Castro

repeatedly promised that he would

organize free elections after their

victory, thus becoming very popular.

Once the revolution had triumphed, the

promised elections were never

summoned. He established a

Communist dictatorship.

In 2008 he gave power to his brother

(Raul Castro), and he died in 2016.

CUBAN REVOLUTION

To try to halt the revolution the US:

Ordered an embargo of the island.

Prohibited commercial, investment & other

business activities with Cuba.

In this context of international isolation,

Cuba aligned with the USSR.

Tried to invade Cuba in the

Bay of Pigs (“Bahía de

Cochinos”), but failed.

1960’s: EMBARGO & INVASION OF

BAY OF PIGS

CUBAN REVOLUTION

1962: CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

13-days crisis, considered the closest point the world

has ever come to nuclear war.

US discovered that the USSR had placed nuclear

missiles on Cuba.

In response, the US ordered a naval blockade

around Cuba, to make it clear that the US was

prepared to use military force if necessary.

Finally, Kennedy & Kruschev agreed:

USSR remove missiles from Cuba

US promised not to invade Cuba &

remove missiles from Turkey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geGWPL1mEkk

USSR’S INVASION OF AFGHANISTAN

• A Communist revolution took place in Afghanistan (1978), and a Communist

government was established. It was very unstable because of:

Internal disputes among the members of the communist party that was in power.

Opposition of traditional Islamic population (that were against anti-religious

reforms undertaken by the communists) created guerrilla groups to fight the

communists.

• 1979: the USSR decided to intervene and invaded Afghanistan to support of

the Communists. In response, the US decided to support the Islamist guerrilla

groups by providing them with weapons and economic support.

Communist government

(Democratic Republic of

Afghanistan)

supported by USSR

VSIslamist guerrilla groups

supported by USA

USSR’S INVASION OF AFGHANISTAN

• After a long & exhausting war, a

demoralized USSR abandoned the war

in 1989 (now under reformist leader

Gorbachev).

• However, the Civil war in Afghanistan

continued, leading to a very complex

and unfinished conflict:

1996: the Talibans (one of the groups

of the Islamists) established a

fundamentalist Islamic regime (imposed

the Sharia law).

2001: as a reaction to S-11, the US

invaded Afghanistan to overthrew the

Taliban government.

Map of the situation in Afghanistan before US invasion in 2001

CONTROLLED BY THE TALIBANS

CONTROLLED BY THE NORTH ALLIANCE (RIVALS OF TALIBANS)

GUERRILLA ACTIVITY AGAINST TALIBANS

SEPT. 11TH 2001

ATTACKS

Coordinated terrorist attacks by the

Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda (led

by Osama Bin Laden)

Killed nearly 3,000 people

THE END OF THE COLD WAR 1985 - 1991

CRISIS & DISSOLUTION OF THE USSR

By the mid-1980’s the USSR was facing a deep crisis:

ECONOMIC CRISIS due to the inefficiency & low productivity of the Communist economic system.

POLITICAL CRISIS due to an increasing discontent of the population given the lack of freedom & the corruption inside the Communist Party.

THE GDP of the USSR was gradually decreasing,

and the GDP per capita was much lower than in the US

CRISIS & DISSOLUTION OF THE USSR

1985: new leader of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev.

He initiated a set of…

economic reforms to liberalize the Russian economy

the “perestroika”

permitted private ownership of businesses

state companies should determine their production & prices

according to the demand.

political reforms to democratize the Russian politics

the “glasnost”

political parties were permitted

censorship was abolished

CRISIS & DISSOLUTION OF THE USSR

Mikhail Gorbachev also granted autonomy to the Eastern European countries (the

USSR wouldn’t intervene in their internal issues). In 1989, the Eastern “Peoples’

democracies” gained independence from the USSR, communist regimes were

overthrown & democracy was established.

Peacefully (except in

Romania), people overthrew

the Communist governments

in the Eastern European

countries.

After the fall of the Berlin

wall, Germany was

reunified in 1990

Czechoslovakia was divided

peacefully in 2 countries:

- Czech Republic

- Slovakia

FALL OF THE BERLIN

WALL (1989)

CRISIS & DISSOLUTION OF THE USSR

1990: first free elections in the Republic of

Russia. Boris Yeltsin was elected president.

This democratization led to an attempt of

coup d'état by some members of the

Communist Party that didn’t want to loose

their power & privileges.

CRISIS & DISSOLUTION OF THE USSR

1991: the rest of Republics that formed the USSR declared

their independence. The USSR was dissolved, which was

then divided in 15 independent states.

The dissolution of

the USSR meant the

end of the Cold

War too. The US

remained as the

only superpower.