World History and Geopolitics Review (1919–2011)

Flashcards covering the major geopolitical events, economic policies, and key terminology from 1919 to 2011, spanning the Cold War, the rise of the USSR and Nazi Germany, the American Century, and Middle Eastern conflicts.

Sphere of Influence

The area established by the USSR along its western border after 1945, including Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania, consisting of satellite states sympathetic to communism.

Yalta Conference

A February 1945 meeting where Germany was divided into four sectors, eventually leading to the creation of East and West Germany and the erection of the Berlin Wall in August 1961.

Arms Race

The superpower rivalry characterized by the USSR's first nuclear test in August 1949 and a build-up that resulted in a combined total of $70,000$ warheads by the 1970s.

'American Century'

A term coined by Henry R. Luce in 1941 asserting that the US had a moral duty to spread freedom, democracy, and capitalism globally.

Soft Power

The use of attraction and persuasion through cultural and diplomatic means, exemplified by the Marshall Plan (1948) providing economic aid to reconstruct post-WWII Europe.

Perestroika

Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of economic restructuring that introduced modest market forces and decentralisation but caused inflation to rise to $19.00\%$ by 1990.

Glasnost

Gorbachev's policy of 'openness' which allowed freedom of the press and public discussion, leading to the formation of $30,000$ organizations by 1987.

'Sinatra Doctrine'

The policy Gorbachev used to replace the Brezhnev Doctrine, allowing Eastern bloc states to 'do it their way' and determine their own internal affairs.

'Shock Therapy'

An economic reform strategy in Russia under Yeltsin that lifted price controls in 1992, causing prices to rise $20$-fold and GDP to shrink by $5.3\%$ by August 1998.

Putin Doctrine

A foreign policy approach seeking to reassert Russia as a regional and world power, often denouncing US unilateralism and NATO expansion.

Maastricht Treaty

The agreement signed on 1 November 1993 that evolved the European Economic Community (EEC) into the European Union (EU).

BRICS

An association of emerging economies including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (added in 2010), representing $40\%$ of the global population.

D'Arcy Concession

A 1901 oil agreement where the Shah of Iran received $\pounds20,000$ cash and shares plus $16\%$ of annual net profits.

SAVAK

The Iranian domestic security and intelligence service founded in 1957 with help from the FBI and Mossad, which employed a height of $5,000$ agents.

'Rentier State'

An economic description of Iran under the Shah where oil revenue accounted for over $60\%$ of government revenue, totalling over $\$55 billion$ over 23 years.

White Revolution

A program of social reform in Iran (1963–79) that increased literacy from $26\%$ to $42\%$ and redistributed land to approximately $340,000$ peasants.

Black Friday

The 8 September 1978 event in Iran where the military killed approximately $84$ people at Jaleh Square during protests against the Shah.

Treaty of Versailles

The 1919 peace treaty that stripped Germany of $13\%$ of its territory, $10\%$ of its population, and imposed reparations of $132 billion$ marks.

Article 231 [War Guilt Clause]

The provision in the Treaty of Versailles requiring Germany to accept sole responsibility for all damage caused during World War I.

League of Nations

An international body established with the intention of ensuring peace and security through collective security and international law.

'Sanation' Government

The authoritarian political system established in Poland by Józef Piłsudski in 1926, meaning 'general healing' to prevent corruption.

Gleichschaltung

The process of Nazi coordination by which all aspects of German life (local assemblies, police, and unions) were brought under Nazi control.

Enabling Act

A March 1933 law that gave the Nazi government complete control to enact laws without the Reichstag or President, suspending the constitution.

Fuhrerprincip

The Nazi leadership principle demanding a strong central power in the Reich and the replacement of the constitutional state with the Führer's 'single will.'

Lebensraum

The Nazi ideological goal of acquiring 'living space' in Eastern Europe for the sustenance of the German people.

Volksgemeinschaft

The Nazi concept of a 'people's community' based on race and blood rather than social class or creed.

Night of Long Knives

The 1934 purge of Ernst Röhm and the SA leadership to ensure the support of the German military and consolidate Hitler's power.

Greater East-Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere

Japan's imperial concept of 'liberating' Asia from Western imperialism and establishing a new order under Japanese dominance.

Carter Doctrine

The 1980 US policy stating that any attempt by an outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf would be regarded as an assault on vital US interests.

Resolution 661

The UN Security Council resolution that imposed economic sanctions and froze $\$200 billion$ in assets against Iraq following its invasion of Kuwait.

Operation Desert Storm

The 1991 combat phase of the Gulf War where a coalition of $950,000$ ground troops engaged Iraqi forces to liberate Kuwait.

UNSCOM

The United Nations Special Commission established to oversee the destruction of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) facilities after 1991.