1. History: Globalising world Flashcards
Australian Immigration and Society Post-War
Population and Immigration Campaign
* Australia was a refugee country during the Japanese occupation in 1939.
* After the war ended in 1945, the government and society aimed to increase the population by 1% annually.
* The Curtin government reassured the populace that only the most suitable immigrants would be chosen.
Prime Minister Robert Menzies
* Menzies was elected twice, first from 1939 to 1941 and then from 1949 to 1966.
* His administration led to a ‘long boom’ with reduced unemployment, increased wages, and improved quality of life for many Australians.
Women and Work
* Post-war, women found work in industries like munitions production, nursing, and the Women’s Land Army.
* Despite the war, women were expected to return home and resume their duties.
* Women in the workforce were usually given a lower wage than their male counterparts.
* In 1949–50, the National Council of Women and the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Clubs petitioned for women to receive equal pay.
Prosperity Increases in the 1950s
* Despite the influx of migrants, Australia was a predominantly white, Anglo-Saxon society.
* The majority of people sought entertainment in film, bonded over sports, and learned about current affairs from radio, newspapers, and the Movietone news.
* The relative peace and prosperity led to a ‘baby boom’.
The Impact of Communications Technology and American Popular Culture on Australian Society
- Advances in communications technology introduced American popular culture to baby boomers, leading to a questioning of their parents’ social and political views.
- The nation’s loyalty to its English roots and the concept of ‘Australian’ were challenged.
- The ‘Cold War’ tensions between the US and Russia threatened global peace and stability.
- The Doomsday Clock, a metaphor for the looming catastrophe, was unveiled in 1947.
- Suburban life in the 1960s saw women’s rights movements transform Australian society, with women dominating domestic roles.
- The kitchen was a hub of women’s daily life, with modern lines and pastel colors.
- Men wore suits and tie to dinner parties, while women wore the latest floral designs.
- The dream home of the 1960s was a brick, single-level modern design.
- The living room was the pride of the house, with furniture and art showcasing the owner’s style.
- Children were expected to remain silent unless spoken to.
- Teenagers entertained themselves by listening to music, gossiping, or practicing the latest dance craze.
Superpowers in Conflict: The Cold War
- Post-World War II, two superpowers emerged: the United States and the Soviet Union.
- The US, led by the United States, believed in democracy, private resource ownership, and free-market capitalism, while the Soviet Union had a one-party government, state-owned resources, and a state-run economy.
- The US was the first to develop the atomic bomb, and the Cold War dominated world affairs for 50 years.
- Conflicts were not directly between the superpowers, but were conducted through their allies or dependent states.
- The conflict was centered around a battle of ideologies. The Western Bloc countries, led by the US, were capitalist, believing in private ownership of resources and market-based resource allocation.
- The Eastern Bloc countries were communist, believing in collective resource ownership and government control.
- The US supported brutal and corrupt dictators in Third World countries due to fear of communism.
- The Cold War was a power struggle and battle of ideologies between the US and the Eastern Bloc nations.
The Cold War and the Rise of India and China
* Cold War tensions were fueled by an arms race between superpowers, each aiming to dominate the world.
* The first man in space was Russian Yuri Gagarin, who successfully orbited Earth on 12 April 1961.
* The rise of India and China, both with large populations, strong militaries, and rapidly developing economies, threatens the dominant role of the United States.
* Australia’s relations with these superpowers have been straining, with China being Australia’s largest trading partner.
* The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed in 2022, aims to connect China economically with its neighbours via sea and land.
* In 2021, India became the third most common place of birth for Australian residents, surpassing New Zealand and China.
* Australia’s fear of communism led to security treaties with the US and wars with the US.
* Australians took comfort in their close relationship with the United States, but conservative politicians warned of internal infiltration and communist sympathizers spreading their ideas.
Australia’s Cold War Strategy and Treaties
- In 1954, Russian diplomat Vladimir Petrov was granted political asylum in Australia, despite claims of Soviet spies.
- The incident was used to fear voters during the 1954 federal election campaign, which was won by Menzies.
- Australia signed the ANZUS Pact (1951) and the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) to tie the country to the US during the Cold War.
- The ANZUS Pact was a three-way alliance between Australia, New Zealand, and the US, pledging to cooperate on defense matters and aid each other if attacked.
- The SEATO was disbanded in 1977 due to internal disputes.
- Australia’s main objective was to block the spread of communism through South-East Asia, using the ‘domino theory’ and forward defence strategy.
- Australia supported the Malaysian government against communist rebels and fought in two major wars in the name of anti-communism.
- The post-World War II period known as the Cold War was largely influenced by the competing ideologies of the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
Power Vacuum in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia Post-Japanese Devastation
- The 1945 Japanese defeat left a power vacuum in eastern and south-eastern Asia, leading to conflicts between capitalism and communism.
- Colonial rulers like the French in Indo-China, the Dutch in Indonesia, and the British sought to re-establish control in Burma, Singapore, and northern Borneo.
- Some countries gained or regained independence, while others had temporary administrations established by the victorious Allied powers.
- French colonial rulers in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos sought to re-establish their rule in 1945, but faced resistance due to local inhabitants viewing the defeat as an opportunity to gain independence.
- The Philippines gained independence in 1946, but Communists attempting revolts were quickly put down by the government.
- Indonesia, formerly the Dutch East Indies, declared independence after the Japanese surrender, but the Dutch attempted to re-assert control, but were met with armed resistance.
- Korea was divided, with Russia occupying the area north of the 38th parallel.
- China’s civil war between the Communist Party and Nationalists broke out after the Japanese defeat, supported by Cold War rivals.
- In Burma, the British sought to re-establish their pre-war colonial rule, but were met by an independence movement.
- Burma (now Myanmar) was granted independence in 1947, and a government included both communists and non-communists.
Hawke and Keating’s Asia-Pacific Strategy
* Bob Hawke, a unionist, came to power in 1983, aiming to maintain Australia’s allies with America while also recognizing Australia’s role in the Asia-Pacific region.
* Hawke aimed to assist China in forming closer ties with South-Korea, Singapore, and Indonesia.
* Despite the collapse of the USSR, China continued to rise in power, describing these ties as ‘enmeshment’.
* Paul Keating, Hawke’s treasurer, sought to strengthen the Australian economy through deregulation.
* Keating’s government traveled to Indonesia four times per year, strengthening diplomatic ties between the two nations.
* The Australia-Indonesia Agreement on Maintaining Security was signed in 1995, aiming for regional stability.
East Timor War
* The war in East Timor, a brutal conflict claiming the lives of 100,000 East Timorese, was a significant part of the Cold War era.
* Journalist John Pilger documented the extinction of families and the resulting memorials, including the ‘village of the widows’.
John Howard’s Foreign Policy Challenges
* Howard faced a significant challenge in dealing constructively with China after becoming prime minister in 1996.
* Despite diplomatic issues, Howard managed to rebuild stability with China by meeting with Chinese President Jiang Zemin at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Manila.
Post-War Integration of the Malay Peninsula and Australia
* The Malay Peninsula, previously administered by Britain, was divided into small states ruled by a Sultan.
* Post-war attempts to unify these states were met with resistance from the Malay Communist Party, which had a strong ethnic Chinese membership.
* The Malay Peninsula gained independence in 1957 and joined with neighbouring British colonies in 1963 to form the Federation of Malaysia.
* Post-war period in Asia became a major focus of anti-communist activity, leading Australia to intervene in wars in Vietnam and Korea alongside the United States of America.
Australia’s Focus on Asia-Pacific Region
* Australia’s trade and tourism focus shifted towards Asia in the second half of the 20th century.
* As countries in the region prospered, they became viable trading partners for Australia.
* This realignment towards Asia began under the Whitlam government and continued throughout subsequent governments.
Whitlam to Fraser
* Gough Whitlam, as prime minister, visited China to discuss diplomatic relations with China and established diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
* Malcolm Fraser, appointed caretaker prime minister in 1975, built on Whitlam’s approach towards Asia by attempting to engage more closely with the region.
* Fraser was a proponent of multiculturalism, welcoming Vietnamese refugees and establishing Channel 0/28 (SBS) to assist new migrants.
* The Fraser government supported the establishment of migrant resource centres around Australia, assisting new migrants in finding housing, medical services, translators/interpreters, and English lessons.
Australia’s Soccer Team and Ethnic Tensions
* Australia’s soccer team, comprising clubs from Hakoah Melbourne, St George Budapest, and Pan Hellenic, represented a mix of ethnicities.
* The National Soccer League, established in 1977, was largely ethnically segregated, with 11 teams competing in the 1991 season.
* The 1991 final between South Melbourne Hellas and Preston Macedonia sparked tensions between Greek and Macedonian communities over disputed Macedonian territory.
* The Australian Soccer Federation initiated a process of ‘Australianising’ soccer clubs in 1992 to combat xenophobia and racism.
Establishment of the A-League
* The National Soccer League was succeeded by the A-League, the top professional soccer league in Australia.
* The Socceroos, Australia’s national team, qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974.
* In the 2021/22 season, the top-tier women’s competition, previously known as the W-League, was brought under the A-League banner.
Origins of Rock’n’Roll
* Rock’n’roll, a blend of country and western music, was initially met with controversy and opposition.
* Teenagers were drawn to rock’n’roll’s faster, socially charged beats and melodies, creating a demographic division between older and younger generations.
* Technological developments in the musical world, such as electric instruments and radio, significantly influenced the popularity of rock’n’roll.
Australian Government’s Tensions with Indonesia
* Australian governments initially sought constructive relations with Indonesia, which had annexed East Timor in 1975.
* In the late 1990s, the world demanded Timor’s independence, leading to Australia sending soldiers as peacekeepers to protect East Timorese citizens.
Developing a Surfing Culture
* Sporting activities shaped Australian communities, providing a sense of belonging, identity, and social interaction.
* By the 1970s, Australian beach and surf culture had become a defined movement focusing on freedom of expression and rebellion.
* William Gocher, an American Olympic champion, defied local regulations for daylight swimming in 1902, leading to all-day bathing in 1903.
* The rise of surfing coincided with peace and civil rights movements, environmental concerns, and youth counter-culture.
Going for Gold
* Australia has been part of the Olympic movement since the first modern games in 1896.
* The country’s involvement in the Olympic Games and the wider Olympic movement represents the country’s passion for sport and commitment to Olympic and Paralympic values.
Australian Olympic Achievements and Political Protests
* In 1956, 325 Australian athletes won 35 medals at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, placing Australia third on the overall medal table.
* Cathy Freeman won a gold medal in the women’s 400 m at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, symbolizing reconciliation.
* Australia has been a prominent participant in political protests at the Olympics, including the ‘Blood in the Water’ match between Hungary and the Soviet Union.
* Australian athlete Peter Norman was embroiled in controversy over a civil rights protest by his American counterparts, leading to his dismissal and subsequent selection for subsequent games.
Influence of Soccer on Migration and National Identity
* Soccer, known in Europe as ‘football’, was the sport that European migrants to Australia loved.
* Between 1947 and 1964, over two million migrants entered Australia under industry expansion schemes or as displaced persons following World War II.
* Soccer remained popular with migrant communities in all states, with clubs run by immigrants and often representing a single ethnicity.
* In 1974, Australia qualified for the FIFA World Cup, reignited interest in establishing an Australian league.
Australia’s Soccer Team and Ethnic Tensions
* Australia’s soccer team, comprising clubs from Hakoah Melbourne, St George Budapest, and Pan Hellenic, represented a mix of ethnicities.
* The National Soccer League, established in 1977, was largely ethnically segregated, with 11 teams competing in the 1991 season.
* The 1991 final between South Melbourne Hellas and Preston Macedonia sparked tensions between Greek and Macedonian communities over disputed Macedonian territory.
* The Australian Soccer Federation initiated a process of ‘Australianising’ soccer clubs in 1992 to combat xenophobia and racism.
Establishment of the A-League
* The National Soccer League was succeeded by the A-League, the top professional soccer league in Australia.
* The Socceroos, Australia’s national team, qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974.
* In the 2021/22 season, the top-tier women’s competition, previously known as the W-League, was brought under the A-League banner.
Origins of Rock’n’Roll
* Rock’n’roll, a blend of country and western music, was initially met with controversy and opposition.
* Teenagers were drawn to rock’n’roll’s faster, socially charged beats and melodies, creating a demographic division between older and younger generations.
* Technological developments in the musical world, such as electric instruments and radio, significantly influenced the popularity of rock’n’roll.
Australian Rock’n’Roll: The First Wave
- Australian rock’n’roll gained popularity through disc jockeys like Bob Rogers, who presented the first top 40 show in Australia.
- The movie Blackboard Jungle (1955) and its soundtrack, featuring Bill Haley’s ‘Rock around the clock’, captivated Australian teenagers, offering newfound freedom and an opportunity to break away from traditional values.
- Australian singer Lonnie Lee recalls the impact of Blackboard Jungle on him, describing it as a live performance.
- Live shows organized by promoters like Lee Gordon brought major rock’n’roll acts to Australia, promoting the local music scene.
- Australian singer Johnny O’Keefe, known as ‘The Wild One’, became the first Australian rock’n’roll performer to tour the United States and break into the U.S top 40.
- Television shows like Six O’Clock Rock, hosted by O’Keefe, presented rock’n’roll to a predominantly teenage audience.
- The American rock’n’roll performers faced a challenge from British rock’n’roll bands, known as ‘The British Invasion’.
- The rise in popularity of pub rock was partly due to TV music shows, particularly ABC’s Countdown, which promoted Australian musical acts to a local audience.
The Rise of the Beatles
- The Beatles, consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, emerged as a creative outlet in post-war Liverpool.
- Their first single, ‘Love-me-do’, peaked at number 17 on the British charts in 1962.
- The band’s music style was heavily influenced by rock’n’roll, with influences from Elvis Presley, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry.
- The’moptop’ hairstyle worn by the Beatles was seen as an expression of rebellion, increasing their popularity.
- The Beatles embarked on a World Tour in 1964, including Australia, where they received a hysterical reaction known as ‘Beatlemania’.
- The Beatles held the top six spots on the top 40 in Australia after leaving Australia.
- The first wave of Australian rock bands emerged, influenced by the American music industry, with artists like Johnny O’Keefe.
- The second wave of Australian rock, which occurred directly after the Beatles’ 1964 tour, was heavily reminiscent of the British band.
- The third wave of Australian rock developed in the grit and grime of the ‘pub rock’ scene, with AC/DC becoming one of the world’s most popular and enduring rock bands.
napalm a highly flammable,
sticky jelly used in incendiary
bombs and flamethrowers
multiculturalism policy
recognising an immigrant’s right
to practise whichever culture they
wish to, so long as they do not
break the law; respect for, and
appreciation of, cultural diversity