Reasons for Cold War

Question 1

Bi-Polarity

Answer 1

A situation where two nations / powers in the world possess the greatest economic, cultural and military influence; often describing a context of division of power and influence.

Question 2

Communism

Answer 2

A theory or system of social organization in which advocates for a classless system in which the means of production are owned communally and private property is nonexistent or severely curtailed.

Question 3

Democracy

Answer 3

A system of governance which is built on the fundamental belief of power to the people; typically achieved through elected representatives. Critical attributes include the right to vote (i.e. elections), advocating for individual liberties, establishing of a system of capitalism and private ownership.

Question 4

Capitalism

Answer 4

An economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

Question 5

Appeasement

Answer 5

Political means to give in to some countries’ actions or requests in hopes of avoiding a more serious consequence.

Question 6

Containment

Answer 6

American policy adopted to prevent the spread of communism beyond the USSR. Approach taken in limited Soviet expansion, for e.g. in the Korean War and the Cuban Missile Crisis. As a concept, it is generally a policy of “limiting expansion” and not confrontation.

Question 7

Authoritarianism

Answer 7

Authoritarianism is a form of government characterized by the rejection of political plurality (i.e. multiple parties or influences), the use of a strong central power to preserve the political status quo, and reductions in the rule of law, separation of powers, and democratic voting.

Question 8

Leverage

Answer 8

The power or ability to act or influence people, events and decisions to one’s advantage

Question 9

Arms race

Answer 9

The competition between two or more countries for superiority in the development and accumulation of military weapons

Question 10

Totalitarianism

Answer 10

A system of government that is centralised and dictatorial. It requires complete subservience to the state in every aspect of life from work time to leisure and family planning

Question 11

Satellite states

Answer 11

A state that is formally independent, but is heavily influenced by another country politically and economically

Question 12

Salami tactics

Answer 12

The tactics generally started with initial Soviet support for the establishment of coalition governments in Eastern Europe states, where the local communist gradually isolated and repressed other parties in the coalition, eliminating them on by one

Question 13

Sphere of influence

Answer 13

An area of territory where a foreign power can exercise cultural, economic, military, or political influence on. Unlike a colony, a sphere of influence is not directly controlled by a foreign power.

Question 14

Sovereignty

Answer 14

The complete freedom and power that an independent country has to govern itself

Question 15

Non-Aligned Movement

Answer 15

Non-alignment refers to the idea of not supporting or depending on any of the powerful countries in the world, and not being part of any strategic alliance with the major powers. In the Cold War context, it refers to a movement where more than 120 countries declared non-alignment with either the United States or the Soviet Union, but sought to remain independent or neutral, encouraging non-aligned countries to come together for mutual cooperation.

Question 16

Iron Curtain

Answer 16

The Iron Curtain was a (metaphorical) political boundary dividing Europe into two separate spheres of influence from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1991.

Question 17

Potsdam Conference

Answer 17

Potsdam Conference was held in Potsdam from July 17 to August 2 1945 to decide how to administer Germany, which had agreed to an unconditional surrender nine weeks earlier.

Question 18

Yalta Conference

Answer 18

The Yalta Conference was held from 4-11th Feb 1945 by Stalin, Roosevelt, Churchill to decide what would happen to Europe and Germany after countries freed from Nazi rule. All parties agreed to demilitarize post WWII Germany.

Question 19

Munich Conference (1938)

Answer 19

Due to the appeasement policy, France and Britain were determined to avoid war at any cost. Sudetenland is given to Nazi Germany, without inviting Stalin to the conference. Stalin felt that the Westerners were using Germany to attack the USSR.

Question 20

Delayed 2nd front

Answer 20

Stalin desperately wanted the Western Allies to open up a second front by invading Western Europe. Stalin requested a 2nd war front in France in 1941. Due to forced delays, the second front only started in June 1944. This was a sour experience for Stalin, who felt the delay was intentional to weaken Soviet troops.

Question 21

Manhattan Project

Answer 21

Americans have successfully tested its first nuclear atomic bomb. No longer need the Soviets’ help in war with Japan. Attitudes to USSR at the Potsdam conference became aggressive.

Question 22

Nuclear Monopoly

Answer 22

The United States had a monopoly on specific knowledge of and raw materials for nuclear weaponry. Truman used bombs on Japan in Aug 1945 to end the war. Dropping of atomic bomb also showed superiority of America’s military technology

Question 23

Comeinform

Answer 23

The Cominform was the centralized organization of the international communist movement in the period from 1947 to 1956. It was in a way the successor of the Comintern. The name of Cominform comes from the contraction, in Russian, of the Information Bureau of the Communist and Workers’ Parties. The aim of the organization is to closely control the ideological and political evolution of the participating states or communist parties.

Question 24

Comecon

Answer 24

Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA), also called (from 1991) Organization for International Economic Cooperation, organization established in January 1949 to facilitate and coordinate the economic development of the eastern European countries belonging to the Soviet bloc

Question 25

Berlin Blockade

Answer 25

The Berlin Blockade was an attempt in 1948 by USSR troops to block Western allies land and water transportation access to their sector of Berlin (West) that is under Allied control.

Question 26

Berlin Airlift

Answer 26

Use of air transportation to carry supplies to the people of West Berlin. Public relations success for the USA and humiliation for the USSR.

Question 27

NATO

Answer 27

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 28 European countries and 2 North American countries. It sought to establish cooperation in the military field to safeguard the freedom and security of all its members by political and military means.

Question 28

Warsaw Pact

Answer 28

he Warsaw Pact was a collective defence treaty established by the Soviet Union and seven other Soviet satellite states in Central and Eastern Europe. Although the Soviets claimed that the organization was a defensive alliance, it soon became clear that the primary purpose of the pact was to reinforce communist dominance in Eastern Europe.

Question 29

Truman Doctrine

Answer 29

An American foreign policy with the primary goal of containing Soviet geopolitical expansion during the Cold War. It was announced on March 12, 1947. President Harry S. Truman pledged that the United States would help any nation resist communism in order to prevent its spread.

Question 30

Marshall Plan

Answer 30

The Marshall Plan provided aid to the recipients essentially on a per capita basis, with larger amounts given to major industrial powers, such as West Germany, Greece, France and Great Britain. This was based on the belief of Marshall and his advisors that recovery in these larger nations was essential to overall European recovery.

Question 31

Buffer States

Answer 31

A buffer state is a country lying between two rival or potentially hostile greater powers. Beyond military aggression buffer states also slow down the ideological spread and cultural influences.

Question 32

Veto

Answer 32

Political power to one-sidedly deny a decision or resolution without any concerns to others

Question 33

Bizonia

Answer 33

Part of Western Germany that was co-occupied by the British and USA as Germany was defeated. Incorporation of the French, formed the trizonia, and later the Federa Republic of Germany (FDR) in 1949. The bizonia was a source of tension due to the economic unity that was established, especially through the introduction of the Deutschmark as a new form of currency to boost its economy.

Question 34

Dollar Imperialism

Answer 34

The policy of USA in maintaining and dominating over distant lands through economic aid. This idea was most significantly used in the Soviets’ interpretation of American aid through the Marshall Plan to countries across the world in a bid to spread its influence.