8.1-8.2

Hopes for greater self-government were largely unfulfilled after World War I. However, in the years following World War II, increasing anti-imperialist sentiment contributed to the dissolution of empires and the restructuring of states.
Technological and economic gains experienced during World War II by victorious nations shifted the global balance of power.
The USSR and the USA emerged from World War II as superpowers with differing ideologies:
- Democratic Capitalism (USA)
- Totalitarian Communism (USSR)

After World War II, many colonies continued to express unfulfilled hopes for self-government.
Anti-imperialist sentiment intensified.
Colonial desires for independence became intertwined with the ideological struggle between capitalism and communism.
The USSR and the USA were at odds due to their conflicting ideologies on economics and governance:
- Democratic Capitalism vs. Totalitarian Communism.

The leaders of Great Britain, the United States, and the USSR met several times to discuss the end of WWII and the plans for the post-war world.
Potsdam Conference: Final big three meeting in 1945, Germany.
- President Truman replaced FDR after his death.
- Winston Churchill was voted out mid-conference and replaced by Clement Attlee.
- The U.S. revealed the existence of atomic bombs, causing paranoia in the USSR.
  - Truman insisted on FREE ELECTIONS in Eastern Europe.
  - Stalin demanded NO elections, as Soviet troops were already in the region.
  - Communists gained control in Eastern Europe backed by USSR in countries like East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania.
By the end of 1945, mutual distrust between the US and USSR was growing, laying the groundwork for the Cold War through escalating rhetoric.

The end of the war left parts of Asia and Europe in ruins, with death tolls estimated at 40-60 million and destroyed industrial capacities and infrastructures, leading many to seek refuge in communism for relief.
Massive Destruction in Europe:
- Eastern and Central Europe suffered the worst, losing around 10-20% of their populations.
- Great Britain and France experienced significant losses but maintained strong democracies and educational systems, aiding their return as global leaders later on.
- The influence and power of Europe globally diminished due to these losses, while the USA and USSR emerged more powerful.
  - The US was comparatively unscathed with no fighting on its mainland, which contributed to a burgeoning economy and the ability to aid Western Europe through initiatives like the Marshall Plan to prevent the spread of communism.
  - Both superpowers developed atomic bombs, increasing military might and fostering an arms race, including advancements in military technologies during the conflict.

Following WWI, imperialism was rampant, yet several empires (e.g., Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman) began to disintegrate.
- Calls for self-determination in lead to significant anti-colonial movements:
- Nationalism surged post-WWII, motivating colonies fighting for independence.
- Western imperial powers like Great Britain and France found their hold weaker, complicating governance.
- The Cold War offered anti-colonial activists opportunities to recruit support from either superpower.

Tehran Conference (1943): Allies agreed the USSR would focus on Eastern Europe while Western Allies would concentrate on Western Europe, marking the division of interests (East vs. West).
Yalta Conference (1945): FDR sought free elections in Eastern Europe but was met with Stalin's hesitancy, leading to increasing tensions.
Potsdam Conference (1945): By this point, Soviet forces occupied much of Eastern Europe, and Stalin refused to agree to free elections, marking the phase one of the Cold War with clear divisions.

The outcomes of the Big Three conferences solidified a growing mistrust between the US and the USSR, escalating aggressive rhetoric that set the stage for future conflicts.
The devastation wrought by WWII led to a diminished global stature for Western Europe, while both the US and USSR gained increased prominence and influence.

The US emerged relatively unscathed from WWII, solidifying its status as a global superpower by the late 1940s, with the USSR as its primary rival.
By 1950, the USSR had tested atomic weapons, finally putting both nations on equal footing regarding nuclear capabilities.

Cold War: A state of heightened hostility and rivalry without direct military confrontation between the superpowers, marked by propaganda, covert operations, proxy wars, and an arms race.

Development of powerful hydrogen bombs fueled the arms race and the establishment of military-industrial complexes in both nations.

Both superpowers became involved in supporting combatants in regional conflicts, leading to small conflicts escalating into international events.
Examples include conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and various parts of Central America.

Major historical events contributed to the Cold War ending, most notably the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 due to internal reforms and a lack of military might to suppress uprisings in satellite states.
Mikhail Gorbachev's rise as a leader was marked by efforts of perestroika (economic restructuring) and glasnost (political openness) that sought to reform the Soviet system but ultimately led to its collapse.

The Cold War reshaped international relations, influencing military strategies, global alliances, domestic policies, and ideological conflicts that continued to resonate even after the Cold War officially concluded.

The ideological struggle between capitalism and communism defined global politics in the 20th century and significantly impacted decolonization movements around the world.