Topics 11-12 Test Study Guide Flashcards

Topic 11: Common Problems Facing Modern Nations in the Post-Colonial World

11.1 New Nations in South Asia and Southeast Asia

• Decolonization: Refers to the process by which colonies become independent from their colonizers.

• Partitioning of India and Pakistan:

  • Following independence from British rule in 1947, India was partitioned into two separate nations: India and Pakistan.

  • India: Primarily Hindu.

  • Pakistan: Primarily Muslim.

  • This partition led to mass migrations and widespread violence, resulting in significant loss of life and displacement.

• Jawaharlal Nehru:

  • The first Prime Minister of India after independence.

  • A key figure in the Indian independence movement.

  • Advocated for a socialist economic policy and non-alignment during the Cold War.

• Indira Gandhi:

  • Prime Minister of India (daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru).

  • Known for her policies of nationalization and the declaration of a state of emergency in 1975.

• Bangladesh and the Grameen Bank:

  • Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan in 1971.

  • Grameen Bank: Founded by Muhammad Yunus, provides microloans to the poor, enabling them to start small businesses and lift themselves out of poverty.

• Non-Aligned Nations:

  • During the Cold War, many newly independent nations chose not to align with either the United States or the Soviet Union.

  • These nations formed the Non-Aligned Movement to promote their interests and maintain their independence.

• Autocracy: A system of government in which one person possesses unlimited power.

• Common challenges in Southeast Asia following independence:

  • Political instability

  • Economic difficulties

  • Ethnic and religious conflicts

• Aung San Suu Kyi:

  • A Burmese politician, diplomat, and author.

  • A key figure in the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar.

  • Spent many years under house arrest for her activism.

• Ferdinand Marcos:

  • President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986.

  • Initially popular, his regime became increasingly authoritarian and corrupt.

11.2 African Nations Win Independence

• Coup d’etat: The sudden, illegal seizure of power from a government.

• Ethnic conflict in postcolonial Africa:

  • Many African nations are characterized by diverse ethnic groups.

  • Colonial boundaries often disregarded ethnic divisions, leading to conflict after independence.

• Nigerian government since 1960:

  • Nigeria gained independence in 1960.

  • Experienced periods of military rule and ethnic conflict, including the Biafran War.

• Ghanaian independence:

  • Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African nation to gain independence in 1957.

  • Led by Kwame Nkrumah, it became a symbol of African liberation.

• Jomo Kenyatta:

  • A key figure in the Kenyan independence movement.

  • The first President of Kenya.

• Joseph Mobutu:

  • The autocratic ruler of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) from 1965 to 1997.

  • Known for his corruption and human rights abuses.

• Kwame Nkrumah:

  • The first President of Ghana.

  • A key figure in the Pan-African movement, advocating for a united Africa.

• Rwandan Genocide:

  • In 1994, approximately 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis, were killed in Rwanda in a genocide carried out by Hutu extremists.

• Darfur Genocide:

  • A conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan that began in 2003.

  • Government forces and allied militias have been accused of widespread human rights abuses against the civilian population.

• Omar al-Bashir:

  • The President of Sudan from 1989 to 2019, when he was overthrown in a military coup.

  • Indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in connection with the Darfur conflict.

11.3 Modern Middle East Takes Shape

• Suez Crisis:

  • In 1956, Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal, leading to a military intervention by Britain, France, and Israel.

  • The crisis highlighted the declining influence of European powers in the Middle East.

• Golda Meir:

  • Prime Minister of Israel during the Yom Kippur War in 1973.

• Iranian Revolution:

  • In 1979, the Iranian monarchy was overthrown in a revolution led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

  • Established an Islamic Republic.

• OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries):

  • An organization of oil-producing nations that coordinate their petroleum policies.

  • Has a significant impact on global oil prices.

• Saudi Arabian economy:

  • Based primarily on oil production.

  • Saudi Arabia has the largest proven oil reserves in the world.

11.4 Conflicts in the Middle East

• Palestinian-Israeli conflict:

  • An ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians over land and self-determination.

• Militia:

  • A group of armed civilians who are not part of a regular army.

• Iran-Iraq War:

  • A conflict between Iran and Iraq that lasted from 1980 to 1988.

  • Resulted in significant loss of life and economic damage on both sides.

• Gulf War:

  • In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, leading to a military intervention by a US-led coalition.

  • Iraq was driven out of Kuwait.

• Saddam Hussein:

  • The President of Iraq from 1979 to 2003.

  • Known for his authoritarian rule and human rights abuses.

Topic 12

12.1 Challenges of Development

• Green Revolution: A period of agricultural innovation in the 1960s and 1970s that increased food production in many developing countries through the use of new technologies, such as high-yielding crop varieties, fertilizers, and irrigation.

• Developing world: Nations characterized by low levels of economic development

12.2 Challenges for African Nations

• Nelson Mandela: South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist who was imprisoned for his activism and later became President of South Africa, working to dismantle apartheid and promote reconciliation.

• Desertification: The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.

• Sustainable development: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

• AIDS Crisis: A global epidemic caused by HIV that originated in Africa and has had a devastating impact on public health, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

12.3 Rapid Development in China and India

• Tiananmen Square: In 1989, pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square in Beijing were violently suppressed by the Chinese government.

• Deng’s Four Modernizations: Economic reforms implemented by Deng Xiaoping in China in the late 1970s, focused on agriculture, industry, science and technology, and national defense.

• China’s economy: Underwent significant economic growth and transformation since the late 20th century, becoming one of the world's largest economies.

12.4 Latin American Nations Move Toward Democracy

• Liberation theology: A religious movement that emphasizes the role of the church in promoting social justice and combating poverty.

• Juan Peron: An Argentine military officer and politician who served as President of Argentina and implemented populist policies, including nationalization and social welfare programs.

• Oscar Romero: A Catholic archbishop in El Salvador who was assassinated in 1980 for speaking out against human rights abuses.

• OAS (Organization of American States): A regional organization that promotes cooperation and integration among the countries of the Americas.

12.5 The Industrialized World

• Good Friday Agreement: A peace agreement signed in 1998 that aimed to end the conflict in Northern Ireland.

• Vladimir Putin: The President of Russia, known for centralizing power and pursuing strong foreign policy objectives.

• Troubles in Ukraine: Political and military conflict in Ukraine, particularly since 2014, involving Russia, pro-Russian separatists, and the Ukrainian government.

• European Union and 21st century challenges: The EU faces challenges such as economic crises, Brexit, migration, and security threats.

12.6 Globalization and Trade

• Globalization: The increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of countries through trade, investment, migration, and cultural exchange.

• Outsourcing: The practice of hiring external organizations to perform specific functions or tasks.

12.7 Social and Environmental Issues

• Global warming: The long-term heating of Earth's climate system observed since the pre-industrial period (between 1850 and 1900) due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth's atmosphere.

12.8 Terrorism and International Security

• Al Qaeda: A global militant Islamist organization founded by Osama bin Laden, responsible for numerous terrorist attacks, including the September 11 attacks in the United States.