Importance Of Decolonization During The Cold War

The Cold War had a significant impact on American foreign policy, changing it substantially in both attitudes to social and economic factors. The heavy influence of a difference in political standing between the Soviet Union and the United States, in conjunction with the high tensions that followed in the post war period, set the foundations for American foreign policy to adapt and change to better suit the developing political agender of the time. Socially, the two sides were heavily split, with the Soviet Union seeking communist support and allies whilst the US sought to counter their progress in a similar manner. Economically these relations with foreign countries that either joined the eastern or western blocs helped to further the

When the world famous liberal thinker Francis Fukuyama in his masterpiece declared that we were witnessing the end of the history, he was greeting the new political structure and also the new international environment, which is peaceful[1]. However, developments that occurred after the collapse of the Soviet Union showed us that the dissolution of the Soviets was unexpected. The international society was not ready for peace and Fukuyama’s optimistic assumptions were far from becoming real. Moreover, the international society currently started to realise that the tension and the potential of mass destructive war during the Cold War era had provided a

The main reason for the cold war was because the Americans could not accept the lifestyle that the Soviet Union decided to live as communists. The cold war was heavily routed in American individualism and trying to impose our values on the Soviets. Americans value individualism. They believe in a society that associated with capitalism, and a thriving economy. They also believe that everything is possible and attainable with hard work and determination. The main priority is being individualistic. This is to make sure that everyone is in control of the way their own life will turn out. Soviets that followed communist believed in “social organization.” They believe in equality and liberty through force. All property is public domain and each

The process of decolonization proved to have its own struggles within those who were seeking their independence from imperialist powers. Evidently, these nationalist movements were different in many regions, but they generally shared the sentiment that “Westernization” had taken something away from them. This proved to be the case in Africa and Asia, where the colonization movement from imperialist powers was of strong presence, and that had trouble weakening during and after the Cold War. Part of this struggle was due to the forms of government that were imposed, and because many of these colonies had been in this position for such long time that they were not able to predict upcoming conflicts after their independence. However, in many cases, the problems were more complicated and often implied a combination of reaction to westernization and internal conflicts. Undoubtedly,

“I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.” This declaration, made by former President Harry S. Truman on March 12, 1947, is part of the Truman Doctrine, and was the basis for U.S. involvement in Western Europe throughout the Cold War. Although the North Atlantic Treaty, and the resulting North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), was established during the Cold War “to keep the Russians out, the Americans in, and the Germans down,” NATO has persisted since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990. This essay will seek to examine the U.S. decision to create and participate in NATO. It will begin by providing a history of NATO and the U.S. decision to participate in NATO before considering how this decision is both an instance of continuity and change in U.S. foreign policy since former President George Washington’s Farewell Address. The essay will conclude by considering the legacy of this decision and its impact on U.S. foreign policy. While this essay will consider the period of time leading up to the formation of NATO and will briefly touch on the present day, greatest consideration will be paid to the time period immediately preceding and following the formation of NATO in 1949.

The decades following World War II were all centered on the concept of decolonization, the dismantlement of Imperial empires established prior to World War I throughout Africa and Asia. Due to the aftermath of World War II, countries around the world experienced massive independent movements whose objective was to eliminate colonization and form new independent nations. The process of decolonization was separated by three different approaches: civil war, negotiated independence through foreign pressure, and violent incomplete decolonization. China, for example, had its internal struggles with Nationalistic and Communist parties conflicting that caused a civil war between the two

The United States developed into a world super power following World War II. Many of the Allies were deeply affected by the war financially and were struggling, thus leaving a vacuum that needed to be filled. The United States was thrust into the position of “policing” and assisting nations around the world. The Cold War was in many ways a psychological illusion however there were many factors that led to this illusion which were well founded. The Cold War stemmed from a multitude of factors, the difficult war against Nazi’s and Japan, Stalin behaviors were not trustworthy, Berlin blockade, Poland puppet government, the fall of China, the build up of arms and the birth nuclear weapons all fed fear-based anti-communist policies. In

The Cold War was a state of political hostility, lasting from 1946 to 1991, between Communists Soviet Union and Capitalist Western powers. Two generations worth of tension was filled with propaganda, hot wars, threat of nuclear attacks, and developments in missiles and space technology. Domestic policy and American society changed in the years of the Cold War: more money was being allotted to the defense budget, committees were being created to root out any communists working in Hollywood or the government and Americans were living their life around the fact that they could enter into a nuclear war at any moment.

The Cold War propelled the United States of America into a seat of previously unattained power in the world . American citizens spearheaded the push toward advancement in their search for the epitome of happiness: the “American Dream”. Post-war paranoia was driven by the supposed threat of the spread of communism, which Americans feared could interfere with the freedoms and liberties the founding fathers fought to achieve. This paranoia eventually controlled the thoughts and actions of citizens everywhere. The Second Red Scare spread across America like a virus, leaving a trail of dread and despair in its wake. The fear of the growing communist regime, a lack of trust between citizens and the government, and a zealous streak of American pride drove the U.S. toward internal conflict and potential devastation.

Although modernization was not perfect there were many countries that benefited from U.S. help. In fact countries such as India, Ghana, and Egypt embraced the help of the U.S. America’s assistance. With all three countries U.S.’s support in empowering their economic growth was successful. Although modernizations was to help these underdeveloped countries the primary gaol of the U.S. is to decimate the prevalence of communism. American policy makers for foreign affairs “viewed many postcolonial leaders as politically immature and unprepared for self-determination, they exercised little restraint in trying to undermine governments

Well freedom during the cold war was many things. Growing up in the 1970 and 80’s at the end of the cold was it was still all about stopping communism and holding on to the vison of Leave it to Beaver way of life. People though we had to stop communism at all cost, because that was the cancer that will bring down the United States of America. America during World War 2 had lock up its own people and took away their freedoms because of the way they looked. Japanese American were thrown into camps and anyone that would say anything against the war or the government was arrested. Freedom during the cold war was based on fear. Fear that Russia was going to take over the world and the American way of life. After World War 2 the world

The pre-independence endeavors of nationalism later morphs into the aspirations of this elite middle class, whom Fanon deems unfit to lead the society to true independence. This national bourgeoisie is an “undeveloped bourgeoisie” (292) lacking the economic know-how to lead its people to economic independence and progress. This lack of economic initiative from the national bourgeoisie leads to a dependence on former colonial powers. The national bourgeoisie takes over former colonial businesses but doesn’t actually create anything new. The same economic system persists. The same raw materials are made and shipped to Europe. ], and as the state increasingly dives into a corrupt state favoring the greedy bourgeoisie, “The economic channels of the young state become irreversibly mired in a neocolonialist system” (319). The inability of nationalism to lead to economic independence is a shortcoming of nationalism in Fanon’s

Decolonization can be achieved by gaining independence, along with interaction of power also, it is a political process that causes violence in in a lot of circumstances and may sometimes be resolved by negotiating on peaceful terms. But can also lead to violent resistance and arm struggle by the native population. Eventually with World War coming to an end, it brought a revolution of decolonization in many countries. For many people, this was a positive thing as they were to obtain independence from colonies and empires. Decolonization was a long process to begin with, it took almost thirty years after World War II for some places. With colonial powers getting weaker, that was great chance for independence for Africa and Asia. Not only

What effect has decolonization brought? The decolonized nations cope with their own course of action on all fronts - economic, social, political and cultural. Even as they struggle to rid themselves of the shackles of the erstwhile influences, they try to regain touch with their ‘golden past’ and also believe in a brighter future. With centuries of economic exploitation to undo, it does seem to be a daunting task. However, colonial theorists like Frantz Fanon believe that the colony regaining its place in the order, returning to its hierarchic origin is but inevitable.

The decolonization process after the Second World War resulted in the end of British hegemony in the Indian Ocean. The subsequent Cold War which ensued was again marked by superpower rivalry in the region, enhancing the region’s global strategic value. When this period came to an end, the littoral countries of the IOR to a certain extent rediscovered some of the economic, social and cultural facets that made the ocean the bridge between Africa, Asia and Australia . However, regional cooperation & coordination is still a far reality which is a dire necessity for overall development in the region. In the 21st century the Indian Ocean security has evolved to be multifaceted and dynamic. The emerging threats and challenges which are typically common to the entire region, range across a wide spectrum with transnational maritime crimes such as piracy, illegal immigration, human trafficking, smuggling and illegal unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing activities at one end to the more serious challenges of natural disasters, climate change and even interstate maritime disputes erupting into fully fledged confrontations at the other end . The word ‘Maritime Security deals with the prevention of illicit activities in the maritime domain’. In the previous chapter we have been acquainted with the geostrategic and economic importance of the region which has resulted in the shift of world’s interest to this part of the maritime province.