Third World Confrontations During the Cold War

Third World Confrontations
Overview

  • Cold War superpowers supported opposing sides in Third World conflicts.

  • Many areas still experience political, economic, and military conflict.

Key Terms and Names

  • Third World: Developing, non-aligned nations.

  • Nonaligned Nations: Neutral countries during Cold War.

  • Fidel Castro: Cuban Revolution leader, communist regime.

  • Anastasio Somoza: U.S.-backed Nicaraguan dictator.

  • Daniel Ortega: Sandinista leader in Nicaragua.

  • Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini: Iranian Revolution leader, Islamic state.

Setting the Stage

  • Post-WWII nations grouped into three "worlds."

    • First World: Industrialized capitalist nations.

    • Second World: Communist nations.

    • Third World: Developing, non-aligned nations.

  • Third World became a competition arena for superpowers.

Fighting for the Third World

  • Third World nations in Latin America, Asia, and Africa.

  • Economically poor, politically unstable due to colonialism and ethnic conflicts.

  • Needed to establish political/economic systems: communism or free-market democracy.

Cold War Strategies

  • Superpowers influenced Third World via:

    • Backed wars.

    • Covert activities by CIA and KGB.

    • U.S. provided aid, schools, and volunteer workers.

    • Soviets offered military and technical assistance.

Association of Nonaligned Nations

  • Some nations sought assistance but stayed neutral.

  • India and Indonesia tried to remain neutral.

  • Bandung Conference (1955): Asian/African leaders formed a "third force."

  • Some stayed neutral, others aligned or played superpowers against each other.

Major Strategies of the Cold War

  • Foreign Aid: Superpowers used aid to gain allies.

  • Espionage: Both sides spied for an advantage.

  • Multinational Alliances: Alliances for support.

  • Propaganda: Superpowers used propaganda.

  • Brinkmanship: Pushing to the brink of war.

  • Surrogate Wars: Indirectly fighting via backing sides.

Confrontations in Latin America

  • Latin America sought aid from superpowers post-WWII due to industrialization and inequality.

  • Countries alternated between democracy and military rule.

  • U.S. supported leaders protecting U.S. interests.

  • Communism/nationalism inspired Soviet-backed movements.

  • U.S. aided anti-Communist dictators.

Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution

  • 1950s Cuba: Fulgencio Batista, U.S.-backed dictator.

  • Cuban Revolution (1959): Castro overthrew Batista.

  • Castro implemented reforms but became a dictator.

  • U.S. embargo after Castro nationalized economy.

  • Castro turned to Soviets for aid.

Nuclear Face-off: The Cuban Missile Crisis

  • Bay of Pigs failure convinced Khrushchev U.S. wouldn't resist Soviet expansion.

  • July 1962: Khrushchev built missile sites in Cuba.

  • October 1962: U.S. spy plane found sites; Kennedy demanded removal, blockaded Cuba.

  • Khrushchev removed missiles for U.S. non-invasion promise.

  • Castro depended on Soviet support until 1991 Soviet breakup.

Civil War in Nicaragua

  • U.S. supported Somoza dictatorship since 1933.

  • 1979: Sandinistas toppled Somoza’s son; U.S./Soviet Union initially provided aid.

  • Sandinistas aided Marxists in El Salvador; U.S. supported Contras.

  • Civil war weakened Nicaragua.

  • 1990: Ortega lost election to Chamorro.

Confrontations in the Middle East

  • Oil-rich Middle East attracted superpowers.

Religious and Secular Values Clash in Iran

  • Oil wealth fueled clash between Islamic values and Western materialism.

  • Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi embraced Western governments.

  • Nationalists nationalized oil company; Shah fled (1953).

  • U.S. helped restore Shah, fearing Soviets.

The United States Supports Secular Rule

  • Shah Westernized Iran with U.S. support.

  • Shah weakened Muslim leaders.

  • Khomeini spurred riots; Shah fled (1979).

  • Khomeini established Islamic state.

Khomeini’s Anti-U.S. Policies

  • Khomeini: strict Islam, anti-U.S. policy.

  • 1979: Revolutionaries seized U.S. embassy, held hostages for 444 days.

  • Khomeini encouraged radicals, heightening tensions with Iraq.

  • Iran-Iraq War (1980): U.S. aided both sides.

The Superpowers Face Off in Afghanistan

  • Afghanistan independent but Soviet influence grew.

  • Late 1970s: Muslim revolt threatened Afghan Communists; Soviet invasion (1979).

  • Soviets aimed to support Afghan Communists.

  • Afghan rebels (