1970s to 2000s

SELECTED TOPICS TOWARDS THE END OF THE COLD WAR

Israel/Palestine Conflict

• Palestine was a British mandate at the end of WWI – after WWII and the Holocaust, the land was established as a Jewish state by the UN in 1948. (Zionism)
• Since WWII multiple wars have been waged over this land. 1973 – Yom Kippur War
• Main arguments are over political rights of Palestinians within Israel, land occupation, Israeli settlement policies, and future of either one-state or two-state solution.

South Africa & Apartheid

• South African Independence granted to all-white settler-controlled government.
• Apartheid (Segregation) became a legal system in 1948.
• Black populations often left out of economic development, investment, and land ownership in the post-war era.
• African National Congress (ANC) championed black African rights since 1912.
• Combination of internal pressure and resistance, international pressure, and economic realties led to end of Apartheid. ANC was legalized and Nelson Mandela was elected President in 1994.

Iran & Responses to the Global Cold War

• Islamic Revolution in 1979 overthrew the western-backed Shah (dictator)
• Rise of Islamic Nationalism as a new path during the Cold War and a response to globalization.
• Difficulty of establishing democracy in the Middle East – Western and USSR support of authoritarian allies often undermined their efforts of nation-building.

Latin American Transitions

• Latin America was a hotbed for Cold War conflict – multiple revolutions, civil wars, and conflict. Heavily influence by Catholic Church. Mostly return to “democracy” after 1990.
• Nicaragua – Sandinista revolutionaries (left wing) (Liberation Theology) overthrew dictator based on social inequality and oppression in 1979. AUS backed group (Contra rebels) waged a war against the new government until 1990.
• Chile – Ruled by Augusto Pinochet (Right wing military leader) from 1973 – 1990. Supported by the US. Transitioned to democracy after he lost an election that he decided to allow after speaking with the Pope.
• Argentina – Military generals overthrew a democratic government. Led to war with Britain over Falkland Islands and their own fall. Return to democracy afterwards.

End of the Cold War

Why did the Cold War end?

Ronald Reagan

• Elected in 1980 as a Republican with strong anti-communist views.
• Reformed US Economy with expansion of free-market, decrease of regulations, and large tax cuts.
• Increased US military spending – Star Wars Program (Strategic Defense Initiative)
• Supported anti-Soviet regimes abroad
• Opposed détente and increased military rhetoric – including possibility of limited nuclear war in Europe.

Margaret Thatcher

• Elected in 1979 as a Conservative
• Oversaw privatization of UK economy and pushed free market policies.
• Led UK in the Falklands War against Argentina
• Invested in new nuclear weapons – Trident Missile System
• Supported Reagan’s anti-communist rhetoric
• Nicknamed “The Iron Lady”
• Increased diplomacy with Gorbachev and supported his reforms of the USSR.

Mikhail Gorbachev

Became Soviet Premier in 1985

Admitted that the USSR had economic and political weaknesses.

Perestroika reforms gave workers and managers greater ability to make economic decisions.

Glasnost reforms reduced censorship, admitted poas political mistakes, and sought to remove corrupt and lazy party members from government.

Abandoned Brezhnev doctrine of intervention and refused to use Soviet troops in Eastern European demonstrations in 1989.

Signed INF and START treaties in 1987 and 1991 to reduce arms.

Pope John Paul II

• Became Pope in 1978
• As a Polish Pope, he inspired many in Eastern Europe and provided moral support for the Polish trade union movement.
• Blessed the Polish Solidarity leader, Lech Walesa in 1981 – clear sign of support for anti-Soviet leadership.

Deng Xiaoping

• “Architect of Modern China”
• Introduced limited free market reforms and attracted foreign investment in the Chinese economy.
• Negotiated return of Hong Kong to China from Britain – announced in 1984 to occur by 1997.
• USSR global position was weakened as China internationalized and increased trade and relations with Europe and the United States.

What are the arguments for why the Cold War ended?

• Gorbachev’s policies
• USSR economic weakness – effects of Afghanistan War
• Reagan’s policies
• People power in Eastern Europe
• ???

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• Identify the elements of each possible argument in the excerpts provided and group them accordingly.