Unit 4: Decolonization and Conflict in the Post War World

Détente

A period of decreased hostility and improved relations between the United States and the Soviet Union during the 1970s, aiming to de-escalate Cold War tensions.

SALT I & II

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, a series of bilateral conferences and treaties between the United States and the Soviet Union aimed at curbing the nuclear arms race by limiting the number of strategic nuclear weapons each superpower could possess.

Soviet-Afghan War

A protracted armed conflict from 1979 to 1989, initiated by a Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to support its communist regime against mujahideen rebels, which proved to be a costly and ultimately unsuccessful endeavor for the Soviet Union.

1980 Olympics Boycott

A diplomatic and political protest led by the United States, involving over 60 countries, against the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan, resulting in the boycott of the Summer Olympic Games held in Moscow.

Mikhail Gorbachev

The eighth and final leader of the Soviet Union, serving as General Secretary of the Communist Party from 1985 to 1991. He is recognized for introducing significant reform policies, Perestroika and Glasnost, which were intended to revitalize the ailing Soviet system but ultimately contributed to its dissolution.

Perestroika

Mikhail Gorbachev's economic reform policy implemented in the Soviet Union during the 1980s. It aimed at restructuring the Soviet economy by introducing limited free-market practices and decentralization to improve efficiency and productivity.

Glasnost

Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of 'openness' introduced in the Soviet Union during the 1980s. It sought to reform the political system by allowing greater freedom of speech, expression, and access to information, intending to reduce corruption and increase public participation.

Bipolar World

The international system of power distribution that existed primarily during the Cold War era (mid-20th century). It was characterized by global power being concentrated in two dominant superpowers: the United States and the Soviet Union.

Multipolar World

A global system of international relations that emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In this system, power is diffused and distributed among multiple major nations or blocs, rather than being concentrated in just two.

Non-Aligned Movement

An international alliance of states established during the Cold War that formally chose not to align themselves with either of the two major superpowers (the U.S. or the Soviet Union), advocating for independence and self-determination.

1960: Year of Africa

A historically pivotal year in the decolonization of Africa when 17 African nations gained independence from European colonial rule, marking a significant acceleration in the continent's self-governance movement.

African Union

An intergovernmental organization established in 2002, succeeding the Organization of African Unity (OAU). Its primary aim is to promote unity, solidarity, cooperation, and development among African states, and to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its member states.

Six-Day War

A brief but decisive conflict in June 1967, initiated by Israel's preemptive military strike against Egypt, followed by engagements with Syria and Jordan. The war resulted in significant territorial gains for Israel, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights.

World Bank / IMF

The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are two international financial institutions established after World War II. They aim to stabilize the global economy, providing financial assistance, loans, and policy advice to member countries, often with conditions attached to aid for developing nations.

National Party

The political party in South Africa that came to power in 1948 and institutionalized the system of racial segregation and discrimination known as apartheid, which it rigorously enforced until 1994.

African National Congress (ANC)

A major political party and liberation movement in South Africa that spearheaded the struggle against white minority rule and the apartheid system. Initially advocating nonviolent reform, it later embraced armed resistance when nonviolent methods proved ineffective.

Sharpeville Massacre

A tragic event on March 21, 1960, in Sharpeville, South Africa, where police opened fire on a crowd of peaceful black protesters demonstrating against apartheid pass laws, killing 69 people. This massacre intensified international anti-apartheid activism.

Nelson Mandela

A revered South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist. He served as the first President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, having played a key role in ending apartheid and transitioning to a multiracial democracy. He was a prominent leader of the African National Congress (ANC).

Zionism

A political and religious movement for Jewish nationalism that advocates for the creation and support of a Jewish state in the historical Land of Israel, primarily as a response to centuries of persecution and antisemitism in Europe.

Mandate System

A system established after World War I by the League of Nations, where 'advanced nations' (mainly European powers) were given control over former territories of the Ottoman Empire (like Palestine and Iraq) and German colonies. This was framed as a temporary trusteeship to prepare these territories for self-governance.

Two-State Solution

A proposed framework for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which envisions two independent states—a Jewish state of Israel and an Arab state of Palestine—coexisting side-by-side in peace and security. Its implementation is hindered by ongoing disputes over borders, settlements, Jerusalem, and refugee rights.

Yom Kippur War

A surprise armed conflict launched by a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria against Israel on October 6, 1973, during Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The war aimed to regain territories lost to Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War.

Gaza Strip

A densely populated Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It was occupied by Israel after the Six-Day War in 1967 and remains a strategically important area, central to Palestinian society and the ongoing conflict.

PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization)

An umbrella organization founded in 1964 with the goal of establishing an independent Palestinian state. It has employed both political and militant strategies in its struggle and is recognized by various international bodies as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.

Intifada

A term referring to popular Palestinian uprisings against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. These movements typically involve widespread civil disobedience, protests, and varying degrees of violence, notably occurring in 1987 (First Intifada) and 2000 (Second Intifada).

Oslo Accords

A series of landmark peace agreements signed in 1993 and 1995 between the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). These accords established a framework for Palestinian self-rule in parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, marking a significant step towards a two-state solution.

Hamas

A Palestinian Sunni-Islamist fundamentalist militant and political organization founded in 1987 during the First Intifada. It governs the Gaza Strip and is known for its armed resistance against Israel, as well as its extensive social welfare programs.

Iranian Revolution

A pivotal and popular uprising in 1979 that led to the overthrow of the U.S.-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the establishment of an Islamic republic in Iran under the leadership of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Reza Shah Pahlavi

The last monarch of Iran, reigning from 1941 until his overthrow in the 1979 Iranian Revolution. He was known for his modernization efforts and close political and economic ties to the United States and other Western powers.

Ayatollah Khomeini

An influential Iranian cleric, revolutionary, and the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He led the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and served as the first supreme leader of the country, establishing a fiercely anti-Western theocratic government.

Iranian Hostage Crisis

A diplomatic crisis that began on November 4, 1979, when Iranian student revolutionaries seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran and held 52 American diplomats and citizens hostage for 444 days. The event symbolized the deep anti-American sentiment following the Iranian Revolution.

Iran-Iraq War

A major armed conflict that lasted for eight years, from 1980 to 1988, initiated by Iraq's invasion of Iran. The war was driven by territorial disputes, religious differences, and political rivalries, resulting in massive casualties and economic devastation for both nations.

Persian Gulf War

A military conflict that took place from 1990 to 1991, primarily initiated by Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait. This led to a U.S.-led international coalition undertaking military intervention (Operation Desert Storm) to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait.

Taliban

An Islamic fundamentalist political and military organization that emerged in Afghanistan in the mid-1990s. They gained control over most of Afghanistan, establishing a strict Islamic emirate, and provided a safe haven and base for al-Qaeda before being overthrown in 2001.

Al-Qaeda

A global militant Sunni Islamist organization founded in 1988 by Osama bin Laden. Its primary ideological objective has been to drive Western (particularly American) influence and personnel out of Muslim nations and to establish a global Islamic caliphate, known for large-scale terrorist attacks, including 9/11.