Collapse of the grand alliance Flashcards
What were the main communist countries in the 20th century?
The main communist countries were the Soviet Union, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Cuba. These nations implemented varying forms of socialism and communism throughout the century.
How many people died under communist governments between 1917 and 2017, and why?
Approximately 100 million citizens died under communist governments due to policies like forced collectivisation, deliberate famines, purges, and mass executions.
What was collectivisation, and how did it cause famine?
Collectivisation involved transferring food production and farmland from individual farmers to government control. This often led to deliberate famines to enforce government compliance or to poor planning and incompetence, resulting in widespread starvation.
What was the ‘Holodomor,’ and how many people were affected?
The ‘Holodomor’ was a man-made famine in Ukraine during Stalin’s regime in the 1930s, where up to 3.3 million people starved to death due to government policies.
How many people died in Mao’s China due to famine?
In Mao’s China, during the Great Leap Forward, up to 45 million people are estimated to have died from starvation and famine caused by poor planning and forced agricultural policies.
How does socialism lead to a concentration of power?
In socialist systems, centralised decision-making puts political and economic control into the hands of a few individuals or a single party, often leading to dictatorship-like conditions.
What were the Moscow Trials, and who was targeted?
The Moscow Trials in Stalin’s USSR were purges where political rivals such as Zinoviev, Kamenev, and Bukharin were falsely accused of crimes, leading to their execution to consolidate Stalin’s power.
What role did the NKVD play in Stalin’s regime?
The NKVD, Stalin’s secret police, arrested 1.5 million people, executed 680,000, and sent 635,000 to Siberian gulags. They even operated under quotas, with minimum numbers of arrests and executions required.
What atrocities were committed by Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge?
The Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, killed up to 2 million people, including political opponents, intellectuals, and anyone deemed a threat to their regime. This included mass executions and brutal forced labor conditions.
Why do socialist economies often lack worker incentives?
In socialist economies, individuals are assigned production tasks by the government and do not benefit personally from working harder or producing better goods. This discourages productivity and innovation.
Why do socialist economies struggle with decision-making?
Central planners lack the widespread knowledge, brainpower, and adaptability of market-driven systems, leading to inefficiencies and shortages as they attempt to control an entire economy.
How did China’s move toward capitalism affect its economy?
Since shifting to a more capitalist model, China has seen rapid innovation, economic growth, and an improved standard of living, with companies like Tencent and Alibaba becoming global leaders in technology and commerce.
Why did Truman adopt a hard-line approach towards the USSR?
After Roosevelt’s death, Truman wanted to avoid accusations of being too soft on communism. With limited experience in world affairs, he and his advisors took a much tougher stance toward Stalin. This hard-line approach was also influenced by the nearing success of the atomic bomb, which bolstered Truman’s confidence.
How did Truman interact with Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov during his visit to America?
Truman was openly hostile towards Molotov, demanding that he adhere to the agreements made at Yalta, signaling a stark shift in U.S. policy toward the USSR.
What were Truman’s broader principles for post-war world affairs?
Truman emphasized self-determination for nations, an open trading system, and international cooperation as essential for global stability.
