History Geopolitics and East Asia

Definitions of Key Terms

• Sovereignty – The authority of a state to govern itself without external interference.

• Anthropocene – The current geological age, in which human activity significantly impacts the Earth's climate and environment.

• Communism – A political and economic ideology advocating for collective ownership of production and the abolition of private property, aiming for a classless society.

• Appeasement – A policy of making concessions to an aggressor to avoid conflict, often associated with Britain and France's approach to Nazi Germany before WWII.

• Containment – A Cold War strategy aimed at preventing the expansion of communism, primarily through political, military, and economic measures.

• International Order/International Systems – The set of global rules, norms, and institutions that govern relations between nations.

• International Governance – Cooperation between states and organizations to manage global issues through treaties, agreements, and institutions.

Causes of the Cold War & Key Policies

• Causes of the Cold War – Ideological differences between capitalism (U.S.) and communism (USSR), post-WWII power struggles, nuclear arms race and competing global influence.

• Containment – U.S. strategy to limit Soviet expansion, using diplomacy, military alliances, and economic aid.

• The Truman Doctrine – U.S. policy pledging support to countries resisting communism, particularly Greece and Turkey.

• The Marshall Plan – U.S. economic aid program to rebuild Western Europe after WWII, preventing communism’s appeal.

• NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) – A military alliance formed in 1949 to counter Soviet influence in Europe.

• Berlin Airlift – U.S. and Allied response to the Soviet blockade of West Berlin (1948-1949), supplying the city by air.

• “Iron Curtain” – Metaphor used by Winston Churchill to describe the division between Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe and the West.

• The Warsaw Pact – A military alliance of communist nations led by the USSR, formed in response to NATO.

Four Stages of Sino-American Relations

1. Hostility (1949-1972) – U.S. and China as adversaries, Korean War conflict, and U.S. support for Taiwan.

2. Rapprochement (1972-1979) – Nixon’s visit to China, diplomatic thaw, and normalization of relations.

3. Strategic Cooperation (1980s-1990s) – Economic and political collaboration, especially against the Soviet Union.

4. Competition & Rivalry (2000s-Present) – Economic interdependence but growing tensions over trade, Taiwan, and military influence.

Historical Development of East Asia

• The Chinese Dynastic Period – Long history of dynasties ruling China, characterized by cycles of rise and fall, Confucian governance, and territorial expansion.

• People’s Republic of China (PRC)

  • Rise through Chinese Civil War – Conflict between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Kuomintang (KMT), leading to communist victory in 1949.

  • Oppressive Policies – Crackdowns on political dissent, mass surveillance, and repressive governance under Mao and later leaders.

  • Land Reform – Redistribution of land from landlords to peasants, often accompanied by violent purges.

  • Great Leap Forward – A failed economic campaign (1958-1962) aiming for rapid industrialization, leading to famine and millions of deaths.

  • Cultural Revolution – A radical movement (1966-1976) led by Mao to reassert communist ideology, resulting in social upheaval and persecution.

  • State Capitalism – China’s blend of a controlled economy with market reforms, encouraging foreign investment and private enterprise while maintaining government oversight.

• The Rise of Imperial Japan – Japan’s transformation into a major world power (late 19th-early 20th century) through industrialization, militarization, and territorial expansion, culminating in WWII.