The End of the Cold War, Decolonization, and Spain (1939-1991)
Theme 7: The End of the Cold War (1968–1991)
Détente (1968–1979)
- The Détente period marked a reduction in tensions between the USA and the USSR, although communist influence continued to spread in Latin America and Africa.
- The 1973 Oil Crisis caused a global economic downturn as oil prices rose dramatically, leading to inflation and economic restructuring.
Renewed Conflict (1979–1985)
- The Cold War escalated again in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
- Ronald Reagan, US President from 1981 to 1989, adopted neoliberal economic policies, cutting taxes while significantly increasing military spending.
- The arms race intensified as both superpowers expanded their nuclear arsenals.
- In China, Deng Xiaoping took power in 1978 and introduced market socialism, combining state control with capitalist economic reforms. His policies led to massive economic growth through investment in public works and export-oriented industries.
Crisis and Collapse of the Soviet Bloc (1985–1991)
Mikhail Gorbachev, leader of the USSR from 1985 to 1991, introduced two major reforms:
- Perestroika (Restructuring): An economic restructuring that incorporated some elements of market socialism.
- Glasnost (Transparency): A policy of political openness that allowed freedom of speech and democratic elections.
These reforms were implemented too late, and the Soviet system began to weaken.
- The fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, symbolized the collapse of the Eastern Bloc and accelerated the disintegration of the USSR.
- In 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved. Ten former Soviet republics formed the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to maintain economic and political cooperation. The USSR officially disappeared on December 25, 1991.
Factors Contributing to the Soviet Collapse
- Economic Failure: The collapse was rooted in economic issues starting around 1973. The USSR failed to adapt to the new international scenario of higher energy prices.
- Military Overspending: High spending on the Red Army. The Soviet Union prioritized expanding communism globally and failed to adjust its budget accordingly. People in the popular democracies and later in the USSR felt abandoned.
- Technological Lag: The Soviet Union failed to develop microelectronics and refused industrial reconversion.
- Systemic Incompatibility: The Soviet system was not compatible with unemployment. When Perestroika was finally implemented, it was too late, and Soviet companies remained uncompetitive.
- Political Pressure: Ronald Reagan (1981–1989) was a conservative, anti-communist leader who intensified the arms race, pressuring the USSR economically.
- Triggering Event: The fall of the Berlin Wall was the triggering factor. Although countries like Poland had abandoned communism months before, the divided Berlin Wall was a symbol of the Cold War, and its fall showed the weakness of the Soviet bloc.
Theme 8: Decolonization
Decolonization refers to the independence of former colonies, which were weakened after World War II. The movement was led by nationalist leaders who aligned either with capitalism or communism.
Stages of Decolonization
- Middle East
- Asia
- North Africa
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Southern Africa
The Non-Aligned World
- The Third World consisted of non-aligned countries. However, complete neutrality proved impossible over time.
- The Bandung Conference (1955) took place in Indonesia, led by Sukarno (Indonesia), Nasser (Egypt), and Nehru (India). Its main objectives were to promote independence and cooperation among newly decolonized nations.
- The Non-Aligned Movement (1961) was established in the Belgrade Conference, led by Tito (Yugoslavia), Nasser (Egypt), and Nehru (India). This movement was initially neutral but eventually leaned towards the Soviet Union.
Decolonization Process by Region
| Significant Aspect | Middle East | Asia | Northern Africa | Sub-Saharan Africa | Southern Africa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Period | Before WWII* / 1945–1948 | 1947–1962 | 1951–1962 | 1956–1966 | 1968–1980 |
| First Independence | — | India (1947) | Libya (1951) | — | — |
| Other Examples | Egypt*, Syria, Israel | India, Indonesia, Vietnam | Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria | Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Congo | Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe |
Causes of Decolonization
| Types of Causes | Causes |
|---|---|
| Economic | Economic and military weakening of European powers after WWII. |
| Demographic | Demographic expansion since the early 20th century, leading to a new mentality. |
| Political and Strategic | American and Soviet support, further weakening European powers. |
| Ideological |
|
Tema 9: El Franquismo (1939–1975)
Posguerra (1939–1951)
- España no participó en la Segunda Guerra Mundial, pero apoyó a la Alemania nazi y la Italia fascista.
- La División Azul, formada por voluntarios, luchó contra la URSS.
- El régimen de Franco adoptó inicialmente la ideología fascista de la Falange (fundada por José Antonio Primo de Rivera), que fue reemplazada posteriormente por el Nacionalcatolicismo (nacionalismo español y doctrina y tradición católica).
- El régimen de Franco fue condenado y aislado internacionalmente en 1946.
Postura Española durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial
La postura española fue primero de neutralidad (1939–1940); posteriormente de no beligerancia (1940–1943) y, tras varias derrotas alemanas, de vuelta a la neutralidad. Franco tomó estas decisiones, en primer lugar, como compensación al apoyo alemán e italiano durante la Guerra Civil y, en segundo lugar, buscando la supervivencia de su régimen cuando Alemania comenzó a perder la guerra.
La División Azul fue oficialmente un grupo de voluntarios reclutados por la Falange para combatir en la Operación Barbarroja (invasión de la Unión Soviética) en 1941.
Consolidación (1951–1955)
- El régimen de Franco fue reconocido en la década de 1950, cuando España se convirtió en aliada de Estados Unidos.
Evolución (1955–1965)
- Abandono de la Autarquía (autosuficiencia económica) en 1957 y adopción del Desarrollismo (liberalización con una importante intervención estatal). Esto llevó a un gran desarrollo económico y una sociedad más abierta.
Institucionalización y Apertura (1965–1969)
- Elección de Juan Carlos de Borbón como heredero a la jefatura de Estado.
Tardofranquismo (1969–1975)
- Fin de las reformas hasta la muerte de Franco el 20 de noviembre de 1975.
Oposición al Franquismo
- Maquis (guerrilla comunista)
- Partidos clandestinos
- Sindicatos clandestinos
- Terroristas de ETA
- Estudiantes universitarios
- El clero más joven (desde finales de los años sesenta)
Tema 10: La Transición Española (1975–1978)
La Transición es el periodo comprendido entre la muerte de Franco y la aprobación de la Constitución de 1978.
- En 1976, el nuevo rey Juan Carlos I eligió a Adolfo Suárez para liderar la transición a la democracia.
- Adolfo Suárez impulsó la Ley para la Reforma Política para desmantelar el franquismo y celebrar elecciones tras la legalización de todos los partidos.
- Suárez ganó las elecciones de 1977 y las Cortes redactaron la Constitución de 1978.