bfi exam

Wall Street Crash 1929

The most traumatic episode in the history of capitalism, triggering a worldwide economic depression.

Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act 1930

U.S. legislation that raised tariffs and worsened the global economic depression.

Manchurian Crisis 1931

Japanese invasion of Manchuria, undermining the League of Nations.

US Neutrality Acts 1935-37

Series of laws passed to keep the U.S. out of future wars.

Appeasement 1936-38

Policy of making concessions to fascist powers to avoid conflict, notably toward Hitler.

Italian Invasion of Abyssinia 1935-36

Mussolini's imperial conquest that challenged the League of Nations.

Rape of Nanjing 1937-38

Massacre and atrocities committed by Japanese forces in China.

Totalitarianism

Political system in which the state holds total authority over society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life.

New European Order

Nazi vision of a racially unified Europe dominated by Germany.

Lebensraum

"Living space" concept used by Nazi Germany to justify expansion eastward.

Operation Barbarossa 1941

Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during WWII.

Churchill and de Gaulle during WWII

Key figures in the Allied resistance against Axis powers.

A Nazi Death Camp

Facilities such as Auschwitz designed for mass extermination.

Bretton Woods Conference 1944

Established the IMF and World Bank to stabilize post-war economies.

Iron Curtain Speech 1946

Churchill's address marking the ideological divide between the Soviet bloc and the West.

UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948

Foundational document establishing universal human rights post-WWII.

Marshall Plan 1947

U.S. initiative to aid Western Europe's reconstruction after WWII.

Truman Doctrine 1947

U.S. policy to contain communism by providing economic and military aid to threatened nations.

Containment

Strategy to prevent the spread of communism during the Cold War.

Yalta and Potsdam Conferences 1945

Allied meetings to decide the post-war reorganization of Europe.

Formation of the People's Republic of China 1949

Establishment of Communist rule in China by Mao Zedong.

Sino-Soviet Split

Breakdown in relations between China and the USSR due to ideological differences.

Bandung Conference 1955

Meeting of Asian and African countries promoting economic and cultural cooperation outside the Cold War blocs.

Geneva Conference 1954

Conference that led to the division of Vietnam and ended French Indochina involvement.

Moscow Conferences of 1957 and 1961

Diplomatic meetings highlighting shifts in East-West relations and the evolving Sino-Soviet dynamic.

Lean to One Side Policy

Early Chinese policy aligning with the Soviet Union before shifting later.

Decolonization

Process through which colonies gained independence, reshaping global power dynamics.

Beveridge Report 1942

British report that laid the foundation for the post-war welfare state.

Road to Serfdom 1944

Hayek's influential work warning against excessive government planning and control.

NHS 1948

Creation of the UK's National Health Service, a cornerstone of the welfare state.

CNR Programme 1944

French post-war blueprint emphasizing national reconstruction and social reform.

Schuman Declaration 1950

Proposal that led to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community.

Treaty of Rome 1957

Founding treaty of the European Economic Community (EEC).

Indochinese War 1946-1954

Conflict between French colonial forces and the Viet Minh, leading to Vietnam's partition.

Algerian War 1954-1962

Struggle for independence that led to the collapse of the French Empire in North Africa.

Creation of the European Coal and Steel Community 1951

An early step toward European integration following WWII.

Nation-building after 1945

The process of reconstructing political, social, and economic institutions following WWII.

Welfare State

A system in which the government protects and promotes the social and economic well-being of its citizens.

Keynesianism

Economic theory advocating state intervention to smooth economic fluctuations and maintain employment.

British international role post-1945

Britain's efforts to redefine its global influence after WWII.

French international role post-1945

France's reorientation towards European integration and decolonization following WWII.

Collapse of the Bretton Woods System

Transition from fixed exchange rates to floating currencies in the 1970s.

Oil Crisis 1973

OPEC embargo-induced crisis that spurred a worldwide energy shortage and economic downturn.

Neoliberalism

Economic model that emphasizes deregulation, privatization, and a free-market approach.

Election of Margaret Thatcher 1979

Start of radical neoliberal reforms in the UK.

Election of Ronald Reagan 1980

U.S. presidency that championed conservative economic and foreign policies, influencing the Cold War's end.

Détente

Period of eased tensions and improved diplomatic relations between the USA and USSR in the 1970s.

Triangular Diplomacy

U.S. strategy engaging both the USSR and China to reduce Cold War tensions.

Ostpolitik

West Germany's policy aimed at normalizing relations with Eastern bloc countries.

Reagan Doctrine

U.S. policy of providing support to anti-communist movements around the world.

Invasion of Afghanistan 1979

Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan that intensified Cold War tensions.

INF Treaty 1987

Agreement between the USA and USSR to eliminate intermediate-range nuclear weapons.

Who Governs Britain? 1974

A study of British political dynamics during a period of economic and social upheaval.

Thatcherism

Set of economic and social reforms implemented by Margaret Thatcher in the UK during the 1980s.

Privatisation

The process of transferring government-owned assets to private ownership.

Miners' Strike 1984

Industrial action against the closure of coal mines, emblematic of tensions in Thatcher's Britain.

Big Bang 1986

Deregulation of the London financial markets which modernized the British economy.

Birth of the RMI (France)

Implementation of a minimum income scheme in France.

Austerity (France)

Economic policy centered on reducing government deficits through spending cuts and tax increases.

Mitterrand's 110 Propositions

François Mitterrand's initial comprehensive set of socialist reform proposals.

Cohabitation (France)

Political arrangement in which the president and the prime minister come from opposing parties.

Gorbachev's Reforms

Policies (Glasnost and Perestroika) introduced to reform the Soviet system, hastening its collapse.

Glasnost

Policy of openness and transparency in government institutions in the Soviet Union.

Perestroika

Economic restructuring initiatives aimed at revitalizing the Soviet economy.

Fall of the Berlin Wall 1989

A symbolic event marking the beginning of the end of the Cold War.

Dissolution of the USSR 1991

The formal collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War era.

Kyoto Protocol 1997

International agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat global climate change.

Foundation of the ICC 2002

Establishment of the International Criminal Court to prosecute serious international crimes.

Rwandan Genocide 1994

Mass slaughter of Tutsi and moderate Hutu in Rwanda, highlighting failures in international intervention.

9/11 2001

Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon that reshaped global security policies.

Bush Doctrine

U.S. strategy advocating preemptive strikes against emerging threats following 9/11.

War on Terror

Global military and political campaign initiated in response to terrorism after 9/11.

US-led Invasion of Afghanistan 2001

Military intervention to dismantle terrorist networks following the 9/11 attacks.

Iraq War 2003

Conflict initiated by the US to overthrow Saddam Hussein under the pretext of eliminating weapons of mass destruction.

European Union Enlargement 2004

Expansion of the EU to include several former Eastern Bloc countries.

Creation of the Eurozone 2002

The introduction of a single currency, the euro, among many EU member states.

Channel Tunnel 1994

Engineering project physically linking the UK and France, symbolizing European integration.

Islamic Terrorism

Ideologically driven violent campaigns targeting Western liberal democracies.

Multipolarity

A global order where power is distributed among multiple influential states or blocs rather than two superpowers.

Western Liberalism

Political and economic ideology emphasizing democracy, free markets, and human rights.

Islamic Fundamentalism

Religiously driven movements advocating a return to strict Islamic principles.

Globalization

The process of increased interconnectedness and interdependence of the world's markets and cultures.

Climate Change

Long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns attributed chiefly to human activities.

International Cooperation

Collaborative relations between nations to address global challenges.

International Law

Body of laws and norms governing relations between states and international entities.

Human Rights

Inalienable rights to which all humans are inherently entitled.

Supranationalism

The process by which nations surrender some sovereignty to make collective decisions at a higher level.

Right-wing Populism

Political approach that combines strong nationalistic rhetoric with criticism of established elites.

Euroscepticism

Skepticism toward the process of European integration and the policies of the EU.

War on Terror

Global efforts to combat terrorism, especially following the events of 9/11.

New World Order

Concept describing a post-Cold War global framework that emphasizes Western democratic values.

National Sovereignty

The principle of a state governing itself without outside interference.

State Socialism

Economic system in which the state owns and controls major industries to achieve social goals.

Collapse of Communism

The disintegration of communist regimes in Eastern Europe and the USSR during the late 20th century.

1986 Legislative Elections (France)

Elections that led to the political phenomenon of cohabitation in France.

Ministers' Strike 1984 (UK)

Industrial action reflecting challenges to social democracy in Britain.

Wall Street Crash of 1929

The event that shocked the global capitalist system and led to a prolonged economic depression.

What was the impact of the Wall Street Crash of 1929?

It triggered a global economic depression and transformed international relations in the 1930s.

Why were the great democratic powers reluctant to defend the liberal order post-1929?

They faced internal political and economic challenges that hindered proactive defense of the post-Versailles liberal order.

What critical aspect does Theme One encourage students to analyze regarding totalitarianism?

The origins, nature, and impact of totalitarian regimes on the collapse of global peace.