Cold War Conflicts and Decolonization: A Historical Analysis
Conflicts
In 1949, the Western bloc countries were grouped into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a defensive military alliance to counter the progress and influence of the USSR. The Soviet bloc’s response was the creation of another military alliance in 1955, the Warsaw Pact.
The Berlin Crisis
In 1945, Germany was divided into four zones controlled by the victors. The Western Allies (USA, UK, and France) came together and created the Federal Republic of Germany, while the Soviets established East Germany. In 1961, to prevent the flight of East German citizens to West Germany, the Communists decided to build a wall that divided the city in two.
The Korean War
It began in 1950 when North Korean forces invaded South Korea. The UN intervened in support of the South Korean government and entrusted territorial defense to the U.S. North Korea received the support of China and the USSR. Finally, an armistice was signed, ratifying the division of Korea into North Korea and South Korea.
Suez Crisis
Following the arrival of Nasser to power in Egypt, the Suez Canal, previously in the hands of the British and French, was nationalized. Israel attacked Egypt to occupy the Sinai Peninsula, while the British and French occupied the Canal Zone. The U.S. did not support these interventions, and the Soviet Union pressured them to withdraw.
The Missile Crisis in Cuba
It broke out in 1962 following the failed attempt by the U.S. government (John F. Kennedy) to invade Cuba and end the communist regime led by Fidel Castro. The installation of Soviet nuclear missiles on the island led to a naval blockade of Cuba. An agreement between Kennedy and Khrushchev averted nuclear war.
Decolonization and the Third World
Causes of the independence of former colonies and the formation of new states were:
- The European weakness after the Second World War.
- Development of nationalist movements among indigenous minorities.
- The positive attitude towards decolonization from the U.S., USSR, and the UN’s proclamation of the right of self-determination of all peoples.
From decolonization, there were some conflicts:
The Vietnam War
After independence from France, Vietnam was divided into two zones: the North, led by the communist Ho Chi Minh with its capital in Hanoi, and the South, backed by the US, with its capital in Saigon. This resulted in a violent war. In 1960, communist guerrillas tried to achieve the unification of Vietnam. The United States intervened in support of South Vietnam and sent more than half a million soldiers. After several years of war, due to American public opinion, President Richard Nixon withdrew troops from Vietnam.
The Middle East Conflict
After World War I, Palestine was under British rule until 1948. In 1947, the UN approved a plan to divide it into two areas, one for Muslims (Palestine) and another for Jews. In 1948, when the British mandate ended, the Jews proclaimed the birth of the State of Israel. The Palestinians did not accept it, which led to numerous wars between Jews and Palestinians for control of the territory. Successive victories led to Israeli expansion and the emigration of Palestinians. Palestinian guerrillas were organized and created the Organization for the Liberation of Palestine (PLO).
Third World
The confrontation between the two superpowers turned the former colonies into a potential battlefield. In 1955, the Bandung Conference was held, in which the newly independent African and Asian nations expressed their desire to adopt a neutral position. Thus was born the Non-Aligned Movement.