Global and National developings resulting from the Cold War.

Andrei Alexandru - SPE1 - 3rd paper Change, Progress and Hysteria Global and National developings resulting from the Cold War After the war, Europe was torn and destroyed. Some historians called it the end of Europe. The people and cities were ruined by the massive war efforts. America, wanting to recover Western Europe in order to help democracy grow and maintain a large economic market for western businesses, decided to give aid to Germany. Tens of billions of dollars were shipped to Western Europe. It was the largest charitable gift in history. The Marshall Plan, named after US General Marshall, was a success. Western Europe recovered fully and then some. By 1960, Western Europe was well above pre-war production levels and its people were living better than ever. Across the iron curtain, little was being done. Stalin was disassembling the factories of Poland and East Germany and literally rebuilding them on Russian soil. It was an amazing but devastating accomplishment. Part of his collectivization plan moved peasants and factories to the cities. The factory re-location created city slums in Russia and turned the buffer states of Poland and East Germany into agricultural states. Stalin felt that an agricultural state would not be a military threat. He created a very effective buffer zone out of Eastern Europe. Through collectivization, Stalin's armies starved,

  • Word count: 5250
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Why was Khrushchev removed from power in 1964?

Why was Khrushchev removed from power in 1964? In 1964, Khrushchev was forced out of parliament by his colleagues. This happened because he lost the confidence of powerful interests in Communism. In my opinion, I think this happened due to 5 reasons. I will explain my theory below. Firstly, and arguably most importantly, the Cuban missile crisis. In 1962, Fidel Castro was the leader of Cuba. Nikita Khrushchev agreed to buy the sugar from Cuba; in fact this was the same sugar America was refusing to buy. But, this was in return for a big favour; Russia could base their nuclear missiles on Cuban soil. Castro agreed. Khrushchev was picking a blatant fight with Kennedy, just for the purpose of winning. He wanted Russia to have a diplomatic success. He thought he could win it because Kennedy was "inexperienced" and "young". Also Kennedy was proven to be inept. This was proven in the "Bay of Pigs" affair in 1961. In the Bay of Pigs affair, the left-wing Castro took over all of the sugar plantations, which irritated the Americans. The Americans tried to push Batista back into power but it didn't work, so the Americans stopped buying Cuba's sugar, this was bad news for Cuba because America was its main buyer. That is when Khrushchev came in with his "offer", Russia would buy Cuba's sugar, but Cuba's price to pay was working with Russia in political affairs and basing the missiles

  • Word count: 1156
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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How important was Germany in the development of the Cold War?

How important was Germany in the development of the Cold War? The issue of Germany thorough out the Cold War was one of great importance to the development of the conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union, yet despite the critical issue of Germany in the great power relations after the Second World War, factors other than Germany were also important in the initial development of the Cold War. The issue of Germany, and more particularly, how Germany was to be administered, what political system would be put into place, and to what extent Germany would be obliged to pay reparations to the victors in the Second World War were all significant issues which lead to the development of the Cold War. The importance of Germany as an issue in superpower relations remains throughout the duration of the Cold War, as the ebb and flow of relations between the United States and the Soviet Union, as caused by Germany can be seen in the effects of Stalin's decision to put a blockade Berlin in 1948 and also to erect the Berlin Wall in 1956. The importance of Germany was great thorough out the Cold War because it was the it represented to both the Soviet Union on the one hand, and Great Britain and the United States on the other the casus belli for the Second World War, and therefore the course taken by Germany after the Second World War was of critical importance for both sides.

  • Word count: 2116
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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The fundamental cause of the Cold war was the clash of ideologies between the superpowers, Discuss

Q. The fundamental cause of the Cold war was the clash of ideologies between the superpowers, Discuss In this essay I would like to highlight my understanding for the causes of the cold war. In fact, "the cold war" called in that name because of the struggle which is followed the World War II between superpowers: US & USSR. Both of sides work hard to widen their potency and narrowed the conflict, but it found overlap in it, which raise the stress and the struggle. The struggle lengthened from the end of the of second world war, middle of 1940s to the end of 1980s in 20th century, and the result was USSR collapsed in 1991, end of the cold war. The aim of this essay is to draw the attention to the people who don't aware that the fundamental cause of the cold war was a clash of ideologies between the superpowers, because of increased the radices of ideologies of this war and many historians negotiate for the causes. First of all, I started with the structure of the cold war (the origins of the cold war). During this section I argued that why the conflict started?, and who was the inciter? to be the introduction of the causes. Secondly, I would be deeper to prove the cause, so I would argue about some schools of thought, the orthodox or traditionalist thinkers who blamed the Soviet for the confrontation and give some historians views to prove this school. Thirdly, another school

  • Word count: 2325
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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EssayAssessTheContributionOfTheUnitedNationsToDisarmament

Assess the contribution of the United Nations to disarmament To facilitate discussion on the United Nations' contribution to disarmament in a meaningful way, one must first define disarmament. 'Disarmament means a reduction in the means to engage in war and may be qualitative, quantitative, or both1' and is closely linked to 'arms control' which refers to the propagation of mutually consented restraint with respect to the use of existing armaments. In assessing the 'contribution' of the United Nations, one is essentially analysing the level of input it had upon arms reduction, and it will be argued in this vein that the United Nations' contribution to disarmament has been, and will continue to be, very limited. It will be demonstrated that the overwhelming majority of successful disarmament agreements and treaties have been the product of negotiations held outside of the United Nations. Discussion within the United Nations, conversely, has proved unsuccessful with respect to disarmament, whose greatest achievement - the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty - serves primarily to illuminate Great Power exploitation of UN mechanisms for the sake of the National Interest. Indeed, historical evidence will be used to demonstrate the UN's minor contributions to date, but more significantly it is through explanation of the UN's failure that a justified prediction of its future

  • Word count: 2257
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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What was the real meaning of destalinization, from social point of view?

What was the real meaning of destalinization, from social point of view? Historical Stalinism as definite composition of principles of business life of the country, population, administration, ideological treatment, bringing up and educating of people of the country, etc. played a great historical role. In extremely difficult circumstances of the country ruined by revolution and war, Stalinism built the bases for communistic social organization and protected them from outer attacks. But it played out and became an obstacle for normal life of the country and its further evolution. Some forces and opportunities for overcoming of this crisis appeared with the purpose of rising on a new level of communist evolution. As a result of Stalin's Cultural Revolution a human factor of the country suffered qualitative changes. In sphere of administration and power a state apparatus of officials was formed together with over-state apparatus of Communist Party, which was more effective than Stalin's autocracy. Level of state ideology stopped corresponding to increasing educational level of population. In other words, destalinization was carried out like natural process of maturation of Russian communism, taking of its routine form. Stalin's style of administration was voluntarism: the highest power forced the dependents to live and to work the way the power wanted. In fact, a real fight

  • Word count: 1013
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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The Ultimate Castro Outline - Rise to Power.

The Ultimate Castro Outline Rise to Power . 1901: Cuban gained independence from the U.S. and a constitutional democracy (with the Platt Amendment) was formed. i. Platt amendement from US to Cuban constitution that said that the US could interven in Cuba whenever Cuba's independece is threatnened - very subjective and open a. Estrada Palma was the first elected president of Cuba. 2. After the war, Americans and Spaniards bought land cheaply and economic and political power began to concentrate in their hands. a. Cuban elites lost their land. b. Cuban laborers lost their jobs as they were replaced with cheap labor from Haiti and Jamaica. --> resentment 3. 1903: the U.S. and Cuba signed the Treaty of Reciprocity, which promised Ouba 20% of the U.S. sugar market without paying taxes. In return, Cuba dropped taxes designed to protect the economy from U.S. imports. a. The Cuban market was opened to cheap U.S. products. b. The Cuban economy became dependent on the U.S. a. Cuba becomes mistress od US b. US throughout 1st half of 20th century it encraoched upon Cuban economy by having tariff advantages ad relatively unrestricted access to property 4. 1944-1948: Grau was the president of Cuba. 1948-1952: Carlos Prio Socarrás was the president of Cuba. --> 40s characteriesed by corrupt dictorships a. Both rules were very corrupt. b. Unsure how long they would be in

  • Word count: 1900
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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The post 1978 wave of democratization in Latin America has been far from an unqualified success. Do you agree with the previous statement?

Politics Essay The post 1978 wave of democratization in Latin America has been far from an unqualified success. Do you agree with the previous statement? The post 1978 wave of democratization in Latin America has not been an unqualified success. Despite movements away from cruel and authoritarian regimes these new fledgling democracies have had limited success as 'full democracies'. Corruption, injustice, military intervention, unstable economies and widespread poverty have been constant throughout the last three decades. This means that despite nearly every country in Latin America having competitively elected governments by 1990, much of Latin American democracy is still unstable with a temptation to revert to an authoritarian regime in times of crisis. A comparison with Spain for example, who returned to a democratic regime shortly before much of Latin America, shows that they have a way to go before being called 'qualified successes'. However these democracies have proved to be very durable and resilient, and are possibly on the right track to being fully functioning, free, just democracies. In order to define a country as truly democratic they must: Have a government elected in free and fair elections, offer good protections for civil liberties, have an electorate including most of the adult population and have no encroachment from the military or other

  • Word count: 1656
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Evaluate Ernesto "Ché" Guevara's impact on the success of the Cuban Revolution.

Ahmed Ismail December 8, 2003 A Plan of the Investigation The scope of this investigation is to evaluate Ernesto "Ché" Guevara's impact on the success of the Cuban Revolution. Emphasis will be placed on Guevara's influential relationship with Fidel Castro and how he contributed to the downfall of the Batista regime. In order to carry out this investigation a number of different sources will be utilized. Firstly, a source solely describing Guevara's life and secondly a number of sources critiquing his influence on the Cuban revolutionary scene. The plan is to include in B, the summary of evidence, the following: . Background to the Cuban political climate prior to the revolution 2. Guevara's life and career before his involvement in the Cuban Revolution 3. Guevara's activities and how his relationship developed with Fidel Castro 4. Guevara's role in the 26th of July Movement and involvement in the invasion of Havana The two main sources used will be evaluated in C, the findings and results of the investigation will be discussed in D, and the conclusion reached will be stated in E. B Summary of Evidence . Background to the Cuban political climate prior to the revolution Prior to any revolutionary activity in Cuba, the state had been ruled by the pro-U.S. dictator Fulgencio Batista. He had opened the way for large-scale gambling in Havana and reorganized the

  • Word count: 2153
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Do Great Men change the course of history? Discuss with reference to either Lenin or Stalin or Gorbachev

Do "Great Men" change the course of history? Discuss with reference to either Lenin or Stalin or Gorbachev Stalin Today the great man theory is out of favour as a singular explanation for why things happen. Historians look at other factors such as economic, societal, environmental, and technological which are just as or more significant to historical change. Many historians believe that a history which only follows around single persons, especially when their significance is determined primarily by political status, is a shallow view of the past, and that sometimes such a view excludes entire groups of people from being parts of the study of history. A broader view is provided by a people's history approach. But it takes a special kind of character to shape these influences whether he is a homicidal megalomaniac or men of undeniable charisma. Great men don't change the course of history they create it. For better or worse, that is up to the historians to decide. But it is impossible to deny his role in not only Russian history but also world history. In this essay I am going to look at 3 areas where Stalin changed the course of history. Obviously the two biggest achievements/impacts that were overseen during Stalin's reign were the defeat of Hitler Germany and the transformation of Russia into a Superpower. The other major area I am going to look at is his battle of ideals

  • Word count: 1824
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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