How was Africa drawn into the Cold War (12) Flashcards
What happened at the height of the Cold War?
When African states became independent from colonial rule in the 1950s and 1960s, it was at the height of the Cold War.
How did the superpowers try to gain allies in Africa?
The superpowers tried to gain allies among the new African states by supplying aid and weapons. The intervention by the Cold War rivals usually had a negative impact on Africa.
What did this mean for disputes?
It often meant that disputes could not be resolved peacefully because of superpower support for opposing sides.
How did the USSR see its role in Africa?
The USSR saw its role in Africa as helping to overthrow colonial governments, supplying aid to nationalist liberation movements, and supporting anti-Western governments.
Why did the USA and other Western powers become involved in Africa?
The USA and other Western powers became involved in Africa to protect trade links and to support pro-Western governments, such as Zaire.
Why were many African states suspicious of the aims of Western countries?
However, many African states were suspicious of the aims of Western countries, partly because they were associated with colonialism and also because they maintained economic links with apartheid South Africa was also affected by the conflict and rivalry between China and the Soviet Union.
What happened after the Sino-Soviet split in 1960?
After the Sino - Soviet split in 1960, China identified itself more closely with the developing world, and initiated and financed projects which were designed to secure ‘economic liberation, as well as check Soviet advances in Africa.
What did the Chinese believe?
The Chinese, with large peasant populations, believed that their form of communism was better suited to developing countries
How did the superpowers compete for spheres of influence?
The superpowers competed for spheres of influence in Africa, areas which they could dominate or control. They did this by establishing trading partnerships, or by providing arms or aid, sometimes to governments in power, or to rebel groups fighting against governments in power, or to opposing sides in civil wars.
What was the main aim of the US foreign policy?
The main aim of US foreign policy in Africa was to counteract Soviet influence wherever it emerged, this is what led to their intervention in the Congo.
Why did the become involved in Somalia?
So too they became involved in Somalia, after a communist government came to power in neighbouring Ethiopia in 1974 and established links with the USSR.
Why was Africa important to the USA?
Africa as a source of minerals was also extremely important to the US, especially for industrial diamonds, uranium, manganese, cobalt and chromium.
What had threatened the capitalist mining and trading companies?
The capitalist mining and trading companies that had been set up under colonial rule were threatened by the communist views of many liberation groups and looked to the US to protect their interests.
What also motivated the USSR?
The USSR was also motivated by Cold War concerns in its provision of aid to Africa. For example, it supplied aid to anti-Western governments in Mozambique and Angola, and weapons to Somalia and Ethiopia.
What was this often accompanied by?
This aid was often accompanied by Cuban, rather than Soviet, troops and technicians. During the 1980s about a quarter of Cuba’s armed forces were involved in military training exercises in Africa.
