A Comparative History of 20th Century Global Events
1. Post-War Japan and South Korea
The Rise of the Democratic Party in Japan
Under the Constitution of Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party dominated Japan since the Second World War. In the 2000s, the Democratic Party gained power.
The Zaibatsu and Chaebol
The Zaibatsu were the major industrial and financial organized businesses in the Empire of Japan whose influence and size allowed control over significant parts of the Japanese economy. The Chaebol were the South Korean equivalent of the Zaibatsu.
2. Economic Development in East Asia
Taiwan’s Economic Miracle
Taiwan managed to develop its industrial economy by engaging in land reforms with the use of industrialized agriculture for higher crop yields. The United States also provided aid to Taiwan which helped develop the economy even further. Taiwan also engaged in aggressive foreign trade.
3. The Vietnam War and its Aftermath
The Viet Minh and Vietnamese Independence
The Viet Minh was a Vietnamese, Communist-led anti-imperialist organization created for Vietnamese independence from France. The Viet Minh gained massive support and were successful in defeating the French and causing their withdrawal.
American Involvement and the Domino Theory
The Americans bankrolled French attempts to hold on to Indochina in fear of the Domino Theory. If Vietnam gained independence, the Americans thought this independent-minded nationalism would spread across Asia.
Chemical Weapons and the Ho Chi Minh Trail
Some of the chemical weapons used by the United States during the Vietnam War are Agent Blue, Agent White, and Agent Orange. Agent Orange was the most used chemical as it killed rice crops and bushes which in turn starved the population and destroyed cover.
The Ho Chi Minh Trail was a logistical system that ran from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) to the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) through Laos and Cambodia. The system provided support such as manpower and materials to the Vietcong during the Vietnam War.
4. African Decolonization and Independence Movements
Pan-Africanism and Ghana’s Role
Pan-African ideology encourages the solidarity of Africans worldwide. It downplays the differences between Africans and is based on the belief that unity is vital to economic, political, and social progress, and aims to unify all African people. Ghana played a significant role for pan-Africanism as it was one of the first colonies in Africa to gain independence and was therefore promoted for its anti-imperialism and economic success.
The Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya
The Mau Mau was also known as the Land and Freedom Army. They declared war on European and British settlers in Kenya to essentially drive them out and prevent them from extracting anymore resources so that they can be used for people in Kenya.
Apartheid in South Africa
Apartheid was an official policy of racial segregation in South Africa which enforced discrimination against nonwhites. Apartheid was introduced as a means of subjugating any nonwhite people of South Africa and to attain preferential treatment for whites.
5. China’s Transformation in the 20th Century
The Great Leap Forward and its Consequences
The Great Leap Forward was a five-year social plan aimed towards transforming China’s economy into a more modern industrialized economy by increasing steel production. The plan resulted in a widespread famine over China that killed millions of people and led to Mao’s colleagues trying to rid the economic depression that ensued, which in turn led to a reduction in Mao’s power.
The Cultural Revolution and the Gang of Four
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution was Mao’s last campaign in a last-ditch effort to maintain his power after the failure of the Great Leap Forward. The purpose of the revolution was intended to eliminate counterrevolutionary elements in the government, as Mao felt China was becoming more capitalist and resulted in purges of the intellectuals and socioeconomic chaos.
The Gang of Four was Mao’s radical followers who strongly believed in Maoism. The Gang of Four consists of Wang Hongwen, Yao Wenyuan, Zhang Chunqiao, and Mao’s wife, Jiang Qing. The group was established during the Cultural Revolution.
Deng Xiaoping’s Economic Reforms
Deng Xiaoping promoted economic growth in China by changing the social, political and economic systems to resemble a more modern, industrial nation. He downgraded communitarian values and allowed market forces in the socialist market economy. Also, policies that resembled capitalism were introduced which helped facilitate China’s economy.
6. Latin American Revolutions and Ideologies
Liberation Theology
Liberation Theology is a political movement in Roman Catholic theology which seriously follows the new testaments of Jesus Christ. Liberation Theology implies the central message that poverty should not exist at all.
The Monroe Doctrine and American Influence
The main role of the Monroe Doctrine was to maintain American economic dominance over the region. The United States saw the Latin American countries as a resource base. And so, the doctrine states if any European country were to interfere in the internal affairs with Latin American countries, it would be considered, on the part of the United States, an act of war.
The Guatemalan Revolution and Jacobo Árbenz
Arévalo was a moderate social democrat and an elected leader in Guatemala. He introduced a basic constitution and changes called spiritual socialism such as education reforms and a graduated income tax. With the UFCO angry, Arévalo’s government eventually gets overthrown and would lead to a civil war.
Similarities Between the Cuban and Nicaraguan Revolutions
The Nicaraguan and Cuban revolutions are very similar in that they are both caused in retaliation to corrupt and oppressive governments that had little regard for the vast majority of their populations. Both nations experienced brief periods of honest governments and were destroyed by coups that were promoted by the United States. However, there was greater American involvement in Cuba than Nicaragua as Cuba had more resources that the United States wanted. Thus, the Cuban Revolution happened significantly faster than the Nicaraguan Revolution.
7. The Middle East in the 20th Century
Plan D and the Palestinian Exodus
Plan D was a campaign for the ethnic cleansing of Arabs which included Arab towns/villages. The purpose was to remove all Arabs from the Jewish state. It was very successful and caused a huge refugee crisis of Palestinians and created hatred towards Israel.
Ba’athism and Arab Nationalism
Ba’athism is an Arab nationalist ideology. It is a form of nationalism and more specifically, pan-Arab nationalism. Ba’athism promotes the development and creation of a unified Arab state and strives for a socialist form of economic development for Arab countries.
The Overthrow of Mossadegh in Iran
Mossadegh was overthrown due to the policies he created, and the internal conflicts in Iran. He nationalized Iran’s oil for the benefit of the poor and not Britain. He also focused on anti-imperialism and economic nationalism. Finally, Mossadegh purged the army and introduced land reforms to limit the Shah’s power which would lead to a coup by Britain and the United States. The coup failed but Mossadegh was arrested eventually.
8. The Decline and Fall of the Soviet Union
Gorbachev’s Reforms: Perestroika
Perestroika, which means “restructuring”, was an economic reform program that restructured the economic system of the Soviet Union. Economic decisions were made at the local/regional level to suit local needs rather than state planning. Limited private ownership began as well.
9. The Rise of Global Terrorism
The Lasting Impact of 9/11
The first result of 9/11 is that G.W. Bush immediately declares war against Afghanistan calling it the “War on Terror” and overly commits militarily. US troops and other UN-approved nations invade Afghanistan. The second result of 9/11 is the Iraq war. The United States and Great Britain invade Iraq on some premise that Iraq is linked to 9/11, but the main reason is considered to be for the huge oil reserves in Iraq. Another result of 9/11 is that Terrorism had prevailed in the United States. Politicians became scared and desperate and spent as much money as they needed to protect Americans from terrorism. American civilians were also scarred from the brutal events of 9/11.