Global Geopolitics: Blocs, Cold War, and Decolonization
New Global Geopolitics: World Divided into Blocs
The Formation of Blocs (1947)
The United States and the USSR became adversaries due to their radically different political and economic systems, forming two blocs of countries.
Capitalist Bloc (USA)
Included countries of Western Europe and Japan, characterized by parliamentary democracy and a capitalist economy. This bloc was strengthened by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Communist Bloc (USSR)
Included countries of Central and Eastern Europe
Read MoreKey Concepts: Bourgeois Republic, Marxism, Anarchism & Labor Movements
The Bourgeois Republic
After the fall of the Jacobins, the third phase of the Convention began. It adopted a new constitution that restored censitary suffrage. The Directory harshly repressed popular uprisings led by the most leftist elements. Napoleon Bonaparte staged a coup and seized power, initiating the Consulate.
Marxism
Marxism takes its name from Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who described early utopian socialist thought and developed a theory that served as a program of action to change
Read MoreRepublican Zone: Revolution, Collapse, and Governments
The Republican Zone and the Revolution
The Collapse of the Republican State
To prevent the uprising, the Republican government had to organize a military force. It decided to deliver arms to the militias of the parties and trade unions. State power suffered a crash and was replaced by revolutionary organizations. Councils, committees, and juntas emerged. These united to form Regional Councils. The establishment of the Central Committee of Antifascist Militias was also important.
The Outbreak of the
Read MoreGothic Architecture: Key Features and Elements
Key Features of Gothic Architecture
1. Constructive Elements
a) Arches
The defining arch of Gothic architecture is the pointed arch. While the pointed arch is most common, the fifteenth century saw the use of ogee arches, elliptical arches, and segmental arches.
b) Load-Bearing Structures
The primary load-bearing structure is the pillar, to which ribs are attached. These are referred to as pillar ribs.
c) Vaults
Gothic vaults are typically ribbed vaults, consisting of ribs and infill. Ribbed vaults allow
Read MoreSpain’s Transition: From Dictatorship to Democracy
End of the Franco Dictatorship
The final years of Franco’s dictatorship were marked by the dictator’s declining health, uncertainty about the regime’s future, and intense repression, even more violent than in previous eras. The economic development of the 1960s had also generated social and cultural changes that contradicted the ultraconservative dictatorship, highlighting the need for political change in Spain.
The Arias Navarro Government
In December 1973, Arias Navarro formed a government that
Read MoreAnalysis of Father-Son Conflict in ‘My Son the Fanatic’
‘My Son the Fanatic’: A Story of Conflict and Identity
‘My Son the Fanatic’ is a short story by Hanif Kureishi, first published in The New Yorker in 1994. It tells the story of the conflict between Parvez, an Asian (Pakistani) father, and his son, Ali. ‘My Son the Fanatic’ analyzes the father-son relationship. Hanif Kureishi claims that he wrote the story “to understand what it is to be a son, what it is to be a father.”
In the late 20th century, multiculturalism caused problems in various Western
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