Cold War and Decolonization Overview

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to the Cold War and Decolonization, including significant events, ideologies, and movements.

Cold War

A period of hostility between two states, characterized by ideological struggle instead of open warfare.

Superpower

A nation that has the ability to project its power and influence globally, particularly referring to the US and USSR post-WWII.

Marshall Plan

A US program that provided aid to Western Europe for rebuilding after WWII, which fostered economic dependence on the US.

Non-Aligned Movement

A group of states that refused to formally align with either the Soviet or US blocs during the Cold War.

Proxy War

A conflict where two opposing countries support combatants that serve their interests instead of waging war directly.

NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a military alliance established in 1949 among Western nations to counter Soviet expansion.

Warsaw Pact

A military alliance of communist nations in Eastern Europe, established in 1955, to counter NATO.

Decolonization

The process through which colonies gained independence from colonial powers, primarily after WWII.

Indian National Congress

A political party in India that played a central role in the country's struggle for independence from British rule.

Partition of India

The division of British India in 1947 into two independent dominions, India and Pakistan, which led to widespread violence and displacement.

Apartheid

A policy in South Africa that enforced racial segregation and discrimination against non-whites.

Terrorism

The use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in pursuit of political aims.

Cuban Revolution

The 1959 uprising led by Fidel Castro that resulted in the establishment of a communist state in Cuba.

Mikhail Gorbachev

The last leader of the Soviet Union, known for his policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) that contributed to the end of the Cold War.

Great Leap Forward

A campaign initiated by Mao Zedong in China aimed at rapidly industrializing the country, which led to widespread famine.

Korean War

A conflict between North Korea (with support from China and the USSR) and South Korea (with support from the US), lasting from 1950 to 1953.

Angolan Civil War

A conflict that lasted from 1975 to 2002, partly fueled by Cold War dynamics, with the US and USSR supporting opposing sides.