Superpowers Glossary Flashcards
A bomb
Atomic bomb developed and dropped on Japan by the USA during WWII in August 1946
Afghanistan 1979
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to support the Communist leader. This invasion ended the period of detente during the Cold War.
arms race
A period where two or more nations engage in rapid production of military technology and equipment, often in competition to each other.
AVH
Abbreviation for Allamvedelmi Hatosag, the state security police in communist Hungary.
Bay of Pigs
A beach in Cuba, which became famous as the main location for the failed 1961 invasion by CIA-backed Cuban exiles.
Berlin airlift
A massive program using aircraft to supply Western zones of Berlin with food, fuel and coal, during the Soviet and East German blockade of the city.
Berlin blockade
Joseph Stalin and East Germany’s closure of land corridors and entry points to the Western zones of Berlin in 1948-49, an attempt to starve the Western allies out of the capital.
Berlin Wall (1962)
A fortified wall constructed around the Western zones of Berlin in 1961, to prevent the escape and defection of East Germans to the West. It remained a symbol of Cold War division until 1989.
Bizonia
The name adopted by the US and British zones of West Germany when they merged in 1947.
blockade
A military action to surround or barricade a port, island, city or nation, often with naval vessels.
Boris Yeltsin
Soviet leader who emerged after the failed military coup d’etat in the USSR against Gorbachev in August 1919. Yeltsin led the USSR from 1991.
Boycott
To purposely and deliberately stop attending an international event as a method of protest.
Brandenburg Gate
A Berlin landmark, once a main city entrance, later closed by the Berlin Wall.
Brezhnev doctrine
Soviet foreign policy after the Prague Spring stating that no Eastern European country could leave the Warsaw pact.
brinkmanship
Bold, aggressive or risky measures that risk war, to pressure the other side to back down.
buffer zone
A ring of countries (East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria) around Russia’s borders to protect Russia from direct invasion from Germany.
Capitalism
Ideology and economic belief that puts profit-making, private ownership, the creation of wealth and free trade first.
Carter Doctrine
In 1980 President Carter stated that the USA would use military force to protect its interests in the Persian Gulf and contain the spread of Soviet influence in the region.
Checkpoint Charlie
A US-manned gateway on the border of East and West Berlin.
CIA
Central Intelligence Agency, US government body formed in 1947. Responsible for intelligence gathering, espionage and covert operations.
Clement Atlee
Replaced Winston Churchill, having won the British general election in 1945, he attended the final conference at Potsdam.
Cold War
Political and dipolmatic hostiliies, military rivalry, threats made during a war of words and propaganda between the USA and the USSR, without directtly fighting a hot war, from 1945 to 1990
Collapse of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union Republics rapidly began to declare their independence, after the fall of Berlin Wall in 1989.
Comecon (1949)
Abbreviation for the Council of Mutual Economic Assistance, a Soviet-led council that facilitated trade, economic, technical and scientific cooperation between Soviet bloc nations. It was formed in 1949 and disbanded in 1991.
Cominform (1947)
Abbreviation for the Communist Information Bureau, a committee of delegates from communist countries that met between 1947 and 1956. One function of Cominform was to ensure conformity and unity between Soviet bloc governments.
Comintern
Abbreviation for the Communist International, a committee of delegates from communist parties around the world. The Comintern met regularly in Moscow between 1919 and its dissolution in 1943. Its main function was to expand communism by assisting communist movements with tactical direction and support.
Commonwealth of Independent States (or CIS)
A confederation of 11 former Soviet bloc countries, formed in December 1991 after the dissolution of the USSR.
communism
A political ideology and system that strives for a society with no classes or structures of government.
Consequence
The next step, the effect, the what happened next in the sequence of events.
containment
The policy of restricting communist expansion, a key element of the Truman Doctrine.
The policy of restricting communist expansion, a key element of the Truman Doctrine.
coup d’etat (pronounced coo day tar)
Seizure of power by a small group, usually comprised of military officers.
Crisis
A major event which could have imminent negative consequences on Cold War relationships
Cuban missile crisis
Most significant event during the Cold War when Soviet Missiles were put in Cuba. Kennedy and the USA responded placing a naval blockade around Cuba defying Spviet ships to pass through. The World held its breath for 13 days hoping that the crisis would not lead to nuclear war.
Cuban Revolution
Fidel Castro seized power in 1959, against the military dictatoship led by Batista, and he evntually established a Communist regime in Cuba.
Decrease
To reduce in size, to become smaller.
DEFCON
The US DEFence readiness CONdition’, ranging from DEFCON 5 (peace) to DEFCON 1 (imminent war).
detente (pronounced ‘day-tont’)
A state of improved relations after a period of conflict or tension. In the Cold War it refers to the decade-long thaw in US-Soviet relations between the late 1960s and late 1970s.
Domino Theory
Anti-communist theory, contending that the rise of communism in one country would inevitably lead to it spreading to neighbouring countries, particularly in Asia.
East
The term used to describe the countries under communism or Soviet influence.
Eastern bloc
The satellite states controlled by the USSR in Communist Eastern Europe.
Eastern Europe
The Countries in Eastern Europe under the influence and control and allied to the Soviet Union
espionage
The practice of using agents and spies to advance government policy, through secret activities such as information-gathering, sabotage or assassination.
evil empire speech
Term used by Ronald Reagan in 1983 to describe the Soviet bloc.
EXCOMM
Abbreviation for Executive Committee, a group of politicians, defence personnel and advisors assembled by John F Kennedy during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.
Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989)
The symbol of the Cold War divide, was pulled down by protestors while the DDR guards stood by watching.
Federal Republic of Germany (also FRG or BRD)
The formal title of the Western aligned nation of West Germany between 1949 and 1990.
Fiasco
Something planned that goes wrong and is a complete failure, usually in an embarrassing way
Fidel Castro
Communist leader from the Cuban Revolution from 1956 - 2008. Ally of the USSR.
first strike
The ability of one nation to launch a pre-emptive or surprise attack on another, giving them a significant advantage.
foreign policy
A government’s policies with regard to other nations. Can relate to areas such as diplomacy, alliances, trade, sanctions and military involvement or intervention.
Franklin D Roosevelt
USA President who was a held together the wartime Grand Alliance. Died in 1945 and was replaced by Truman.
German Democratic Republic (also GDR or DDR)
The formal title of the Soviet-aligned East Germany between 1949 and 1990.
glasnost
Russian for openness. A Soviet reform implemented by Mikhail Gorbachev during the late 1980s, encouraging open debate, discussion and freedom of speech.
Gorbachev’s new thinking
Included policies of Glasnost and Perestrokia to end the Cold War which was bankrupting the Soviet economy
Grand Alliance
The wartime alliance 1939 - 45 of Britain, USA and USSR to defeat Nazi Germany
Grepo
East German armed police, responsible for guarding the Berlin Wall and other borders.
Helsinki Accords
An agreement signed in 1975, aimed at improving communications and relationships between Soviet bloc and Western countries.
Hot war
A war or a military conflict fought between two or more countries.
hotline
A communications system directly linking two remote points. Usually refers to teletype machines installed in the White House and Kremlin in 1963.
Hungarian Uprising (1956)
Anti-Communist pro-democracy popular uprising led by Nagy for Hungary to leave the Warsaw Pact.