20) Developments in Africa and Americas Flashcards
Political backdrop to Africa after WWII
-ending of colonialist rule, this however did not mean the end of western involvement in Africa
-Ethiopia and Liberia were the only independent countries at the start of the 21st century
-at the end of WWII, most were of the opinion to support African self determination
-Pan-Africanism, political/cultural movement across Africa that promoted unity
-impact of colonisation was the destruction of traditions and oppressive ruling, thus in the absence of colonial rule, there was a power vacuum
how did the situation in African countries result in it becoming a part of the cold war
-proxy wars, due to political vacuums both pro-capitalist and pro-communist parties/powers were developed
what struggles did many African countries face due to the involvement of the west
-economic problems, many western colonial powers up and left without considering the impacts- moreover, the depression of the 1930s spread to Africa through western involvement
-wars/conflict, even leading to genocide (1994 Rwanda)
Reagan’s quote on detente and what it meant
‘detente does not mean the end of danger (…) detente is not the same as lasting peace’
this was clearly reflected at between 1975-85 (during the period of detente) the USSR, its allies, and USA all intensified their efforts it intervene and support sympathetic regimes in Africa, Asia (Afghanistan) the Caribbean and South America
US attitude towards Cuba post crisis
-hostile
-feared domino theory in south America
-sought to undermine nascent socialist and communist parties in the region
Cuban attitude towards US post crisis
-hostile
-ally to USSR but not dependent of this, Castro (like Tito) seized power without their support
-supported developing communist/socialist parties in African countries
deployment of Cuban troops
during the Cold War Cuba sent more troops overseas than all other countries bar the USA
who was the colonial power in Angola
Portugal, after a coup in april 1974, the new rulers sought to get rid of its expensive colonial empire
when they left Angola, a power vacuum was created
Angolan civil war prior cold war intervention
since the 1960s
between the Portuguese colonists and the Angolan nationalists
very expensive
3 main groups (MPLA, FNLA and UNITA) had been fighting in this civil war
The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola
MPLA
Marxist organisation
led by Agostinho Neto
The National Front for the Liberation of Angola
FNLA
based in the North
strong ties to the US ally in the neighbouring country of Zaire
The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)
UNITA
off shoot of the FNLA
led by Jonas Savimbi
was supported by the countries largest ethnic group, the Ovimbundu
Alvor Agreement
Jan 1975
Between Portugal and the 3 main revolutionary groups
Established 3 way power shared government that quickly fell apart into a civil war as each party wanted sole power
How was the Angolan civil war a proxy war
The USA, USSR and PRC all gave covert assistance to groups in order to ensure than a party, hostile to their interests, did not win the war
US intervention in Angola
- $300,000 in covert funding to support the FNLA
-July ‘75, Kissinger persuades Ford to send $25mill in supplies and $16mill in arms
-recruited mercenaries while training and equipping the FNLA troops
-airlifted armaments and CIA advisors
-however in December 1975, fearing another Viet Nam, the US stop support
USSR’s intervention in Angola
-Brezhnev was initially wary, he feared intervention would destabilise detente
-intervened due to pressure from the Cuba/his advisors and as a reaction to US intervention
-did not want the PRC to gain anything, at the expense of the USSR, in Angola
-sent military support, including ground troops
PRC intervention in Angola
-wanted to prevent a Soviet backed MPLA victory
-send military advisors, 120 million in June 1974, in the FNLA
Cuban intervention in Angola
-arguably committed the most and had the most long standing relationship with Angola
-backing the MPLA
-the MPLA win a decisive victory against the FNLA in autumn 1975 (made possible by the support from Cuba)
-Jan 1976, there are 12,000 Cuban troops in Angola
When was the Angolan civil war and what did it result in?
1975-2002 (with interludes)
Relevant to cold war course until 1976 when, in March, the People’s republic of Angola was formed with an MPLA victory
what contributed to the MPLA victory
cuban backing
termination of US and South African (UNITA) support
consequences of the MPLA victory
combined with the North Vietnamese victory in July 1975, it showed to the USSR that developing countries were willing/ready to embrace soviet-communism
Why did the superpowers get involved with Ethiopia?
Somalia invaded in July 1977
reasons for the Somalian intervention
post WWII, Britain gave the traditional Somalian Ogaden territory to Ethiopia
1974- the Ethiopian emperor is overthrown and a Marxist-Leninist dictatorship is set up
events of Somalian intervention
Ethiopian get support from Cuban (Nov 1977)
The USST support this decision
by Feb 1978 there are 15,000 Cubans in Ethiopia and then conflict ends with a truce and the Somalians retreated in March 1978
Consequences of action in Ethiopia
Ruined any chance of Cuban-American détente, the USA accused the USSR of using Cuba to extend its own power
The 3 places where the US intervened in Latin America
Chile, Grenada and Nicaragua
causes for US intervention in Chile
-the election of socialist Salvador Allende, he was elected democratically even after a failed US Coup in 1970
-the US had economic interests in Chilean copper
what was the 40 committee
-A part of CIA/government
-purpose to initiate and plan covert operation that were deemed to be part of the USA’s national interest- their initial aim was to prevent the election of Allende in Chile
-this committee existed, under different names and with different roles since about 1948 but the 40 committee was disbanded in 1976
-Kissinger played an important role in this
the role of the 40 Committee in Chile
it is reported that they approved, in 1970, the payment of $350,000 to members of the Chilean Congress, in an attempt to block the election of President Allende
events in Chile (including US intervention)
-Allende implements socilaist policies in Chile
-US influence the world bank not to lend Chile money or economic aid which results in inflation, declining industry and unemployment
-this leads to people not liking Allende anymore, strikes (some CIA organised) and lots of social discontent
when was Allende president and how did it end
1970-73
In September ‘73 he was overthrown by capitalist dictator Augusto Pinochet, US economic sanctions are lifted after this
Consequences of US intervention in Chile
-Allende and all his supporters are killed
-Chile endures years of brutal oppression and major civil rights violations
-all socialist reforms are reversed
-US intervention in the downfall of Allende and rise of Pinochet are discovered but the situation in Chile does not change until 1998- upon finding out about Kissinger’s involvement, Chilean courts ask for him to testify but there is no US cooperation
Causes for intervention in Grenada
-military leftist coup led by the Coard faction in october 1983
US actions in Grenada
-Reagan assembles a 7,000 strong invasion force (there was no actual evidence that the Coard faction planned to set up a pro-Soviet/Cuba/communist state)
-Really just invaded to protect US medical students on Grenada
Consequences of US actions in Grenada
-Very unpopular
-USSR viewed it as imperialism
-Thatcher was angry that Reagan invaded without talking to her, as Grenada was a former british colony
-when censured by the UN, the USA are forced to use their veto power
-only American’s believed the invasion was the right course of action (due to Reagan’s televised speech on 27.11.1983 where he called Grenada a ‘soviet-cuban colony’ and that the us got there ‘just in time’)
causes for intervention in Nicaragua
In June 1979, the Sandinista National Liberation Front (SNLF) seize power in Nicaragua
Initially the US (Carter administration) don’t take action but Reagan did not like the Sandinistas
Events of US intervention in Nicaragua
-March 1981
-US form an anti-communist group to support the counter revolutionaries (the Contras)
-the US provide funding, equipment and training for the contras in the neighbouring, pro-us, Honduras
-while the Sandinistas implemented major social and economic reforms as well as trying to get rid dictatorial abuses, all of this was undermined by the Contra attacks
-a state of emergency was declared in Nicaragua from 1982-84 due to the contra attacks, they caused lots of fear
-more than 50,000 people were killed in Nicaragua between 1981-87
-Reagan’s government got involved in lots of illegal activity on behalf of the contras
examples of the US breaking international law
mining in Nicaraguan harbours
consequences of US intervention
Sandinistas impose press censorship, restrict liberties and introduce universal conscription (exactly the image Reagan wanted of Nicaragua)
In 1984, congress banned military support for the Contras
Overall, how did US/Soviet intervention in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean impact cold war tensions
-Both negatively, the US either saw the USSR as expansionist or the USSR saw the US as imperialist
How successful was US/Soviet intervention in this period
-Victory in Angola for the USSR, however they also get stuck in the Afghan conflict
-the USA have success in preventing/complicating things for Latin American communists however they also are criticized for their actions, esp. Grenada
