Major Themes
The revolution in American foreign policy
The beginning of the cold war
The return to peacetime World War II
The goals and policies of collective security and containment
Anti-Communism
Modern Republicanism
DP Themes (Paper 2)
This topic addresses East–West relations from 1945. It aims to promote an international perspective and understanding of the origins, course and effects of the Cold War—a conflict that dominated global affairs from the end of the Second World War to the early 1990s. It includes superpower rivalry and events in all areas affected by Cold War politics such as spheres of interest, wars (proxy), alliances and interference in developing countries.
| Origins of the Cold War | Ideological differences Mutual suspicion Fear From wartime allies to post-war enemies |
|---|---|
| Nature of the Cold War | Ideological opposition Superpowers and spheres of influence Alliances and diplomacy in the Cold War |
| Development and impact of the Cold War | Global spread of the Cold War from its European origins Cold War policies of containment, brinkmanship, peaceful coexistence, détente Role of the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement Role and significance of leaders Arms race, proliferation and limitation Social, cultural and economic impact |
| End of the Cold War | Break-up of Soviet Union: internal problems and external pressures Breakdown of Soviet control over Central and Eastern Europe |
| Material for detailed study | Wartime conferences: Yalta and Potsdam US policies and developments in Europe: Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, NATO Soviet policies, Sovietization of Eastern and Central Europe, COMECON, Warsaw Pact Sino–Soviet relations US–Chinese relations Germany (especially Berlin (1945‑61)), Congo (1960‑64), Afghanistan (1979‑88), Korea, Cuba, Vietnam, Middle East Castro, Gorbachev, Kennedy, Mao, Reagan, Stalin, Truman |
DP Themes (Paper 3)
The Cold War and the Americas 1945-1981: This section focuses on the development and impact of the Cold War on the region. Most of the second half of the 20th century was dominated by the global conflict of the Cold War. Within the Americas, some countries were closely allied to the United States and some took sides reluctantly. Many remained neutral or sought to avoid involvement in Cold War struggles. A few, influenced by the Cuban Revolution,instituted socialist governments. No nation, however, escaped the pressures of the Cold War, which had a significant impact on the domestic and foreign policies of the countries of the region.
Truman: containment and its implications for the Americas; the rise of McCarthyism and its effects on domestic and foreign policies of the United States; the Cold War and its impact on society and culture
Korean War and the United States and the Americas: reasons for participation; military developments; diplomatic and political outcomes
Eisenhower and Dulles: New Look and its application; characteristics and reasons for the policy; reprecussions for the region
Unites States' involvement in Vietnam: the reasons for, and nature of, the involvement at different stages; domestic effects and the end of the war
United States' foreign policies from Kennedy to Carter: the characteristics of, and reasons for, policies; implications for the region: Kennedy's Alliance for Progress: Nixon's covert operations and Chile; Carter's quest for human rights and the Panama Cabal Treaty
Cold War in EITHER Canada or ONE Latin American country: reasons for foreign and domestic policies and their implementations
Greece - 1946 - A Source of Tension- Audio
Berlin & the Berlin Bockade - Audio
Cold War Beginning Essay
TRuman & MacArthur - THE Firing of the Century
Resources:
Reagan and Gorbachev: Shutting the Cold War Down
Cold War 01-24 Comrades 1917-1945
Cold War 03-24 Marshall Plan 1947 1952
Cold War 02-24 Iron Curtain 1945-1947
Cold War 04-24 Berlin 1948 1949
Cold War 05-24 Korea 1949 1953
Cold War 06-24 Reds 1947 1953
Cold War 07-24 After Stalin 1953 1956
Cold War 08-24 Sputnik 1949-1961
Cold War 09 - The Wall 1958-1963
Cold War 10 - Cuba 1959-1962
Cold War 11 - Vietnam 1954-1968
Cold War 12 - M.A.D 1960-1972
Cold War 13 - Make Love Not War - The Sixties
Cold War 14 - Red Spring - The Sixties
Cold War 15 - China 1949 - 1972
Cold War 16 - Detente 1969 - 1975
Cold War 17 - Good Guys, Bad Guys 1967-1978
Cold War 18 - Backyard 1954-1990
Cold War 19 - Freeze 1977-1981
Cold War 20 - Soldiers of God 1975-1988
Cold War 21 - Spies 1944-1994
Cold War 22 - Star Wars 1981-1988
Cold War 23 - The Wall Comes Down 1989
Cold War 24 - Conclusions 1989-1991
Political poster produced by Hungarian Fidesz (Alliance of Young Democrats) in 1990. The poster suggests "Tessék választani" ("Let's choose") between kissing Communist leaders (USSR's Brezhnev and East Germany's Honecker) and kissing lovers
Of all of the East Central European revolutions, only Romania's turned violent. After government security forces killed protesters in the city of Timisoara, violence broke out between the army and the secret police, with the army standing by the protesters. Following a failed speech in the main square of Bucharest on December 21, 1989, Prime Minister Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife were hunted down and executed after a brief trial. This poster, produced by the opposition National Liberal Party (Partidud National Liberal - PNU) for June 1990 elections, depicts a more peaceful departure. "Adio Tovarasi," it says: "Goodbye" - in this case implying good riddance - "Comrade," above a figure resembling Ceausescu walking off towards the red distance.
