reasons for worsening of international relations

Question 1

two factors

Answer 1

1. The Great Depression
2. The emergence of authoritarian regimes

Question 2

The Great Depression

Answer 2

Protectionism, Calling in Loans, Rearmament & Radicalisation

Question 3

Protectionism

Answer 3

• introduction of tariffs by countries (such as Britain, France and the US) to protect own industries by limiting or stopping exports
• trading partners did the same - led to overall fall in trade volumes

Question 4

Calling in loans

Answer 4

• due to struggle faced by the US economy, US banks called in their loans
• led to the collapse of banks and businesses which led to massive unemployment

Question 5

Explanation

Answer 5

• countries became more concerned with their internal affairs
• this led to a deterioration in trade relationships and foreign policies as nations started to prioritise the needs of its own nation (economic nationalism instead of international cooperation)

Question 6

Rearmament

Answer 6

• as there was an increase in employment, may countries (eg. Britain, Germany, Italy and Japan) begun rearmament process
• aims : to boost industry and create jobs for the unemployed

Question 7

Explanation

Answer 7

• countries became more concerned with the need to provide jobs for its unemployed
• this made them pursue rearmament, which was a breach of LON covenant / world disarmament efforts by the league
• led to the deterioration of international relations as everyone started to be wary of each other / fuelling underlying tensions through an indirect arms race

Question 8

Radicalism

Answer 8

• due to the devastating effects of the great depression (eg. unemployment, poverty), the situation was exploited b radical groups (eg. Nazi Party in Germany)
• existing radical regimes (eg. Fascist Italy) also resorted in more extreme and aggressive policies, tightening grips over its banks and industries

Question 9

Explanation

Answer 9

• radical parties such as the Nazis exploited the effects of the Great Depression to its own benefit by exploiting the fears of the people
• this helped radical regimes to power, which pursued an aggressive foreign policy
• this also made existing regimes (eg. Mussolini Fascist Italy) adopt more extreme and aggressive foreign policies

Question 10

The emergence of authoritarian regimes

Answer 10

• 1930s saw the rise of Nazism (Germany) and Fascism (Italy)
• Aims of Nazi Party
• Fascist Italy was led by Benito Mussolini since 1922

Question 11

The Nazi Party wanted to…

Answer 11

• reclaim land (eg. the polish corridor) lost under TOV
• carve out living space (Lebensraum) for Germans in Eastern Europe
• destroy communism in Germany and other places in the world

Question 12

Fascist Italy was led by Benito Mussolini since 1922

Answer 12

• long-held ambitions to build an Italian empire around Eastern Mediterranean ad North America, bringing back the glory days of the Roman Empire
• felt that established powers (eg. Britain and France) were in decline wen the Nazis took power in Germany
• as Mussolini felt Italy had more in common with Germany, an alliance (Rome-Berlin Axis, 1936 and subsequently formalising alliance in the Pact of Steel, 1939) between Italy and Nazi Germany was made

Question 13

Explanation

Answer 13

• the formalising of relations between both authoritarian regimes fuelled greater desire and emboldened one another as they had a common goal to achieve - which was the desire to redraw their borders in Europe
• this fuelled the pursuit of expansionist and aggressive foreign policy which meant that European peace and stability got increasingly fragile

Question 14

link

Answer 14

Hence, this led to tense relations amongst different nations, leading to worsening international relations