Week 4 Post WW II Asia, Africa and the Rise of the Third World
Part 4a
Question 1
Explain the British attitude after 1945 regarding the decolonization of India from a political, economic
and emotional perspective.
The political attitude of Britain regarding India after 1945 focused on the partition. In fact, two
opposing parties had emerged, the Muslim League and the Congress. The former was supported
mainly by the Muslim population, whereas the latter’s characteristic was secularism. As the Muslim
League was ready to veto any form of new independent government which would go against its
interests. Economically, India had not represented a crucial part of the Empire anymore, as its
importance was diminishing. Had Britain tried to reassert his hold on the region once again after War
World 2, it would have had to do so at a high military and financial cost. Nonetheless, on the emotional
perspective, India still represented one of the crown’s oldest and ideologically important colonies.
Then again, the labour government of Clement Attlee was less ideologically committed to the imperial
and colonial cause than a conservative one might have been.
Question 2
a. What is the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) and what are its two main goals?
The NAM is an organizations of Third World countries which decided, during the Cold War to
emerge as a third way possible which did not identify themselves on the capitalist, nor communist
side. It differed from neutrality in that it did not seek rigid neutrality, but rather non-involvement
in the Great Power’s conflicts. Inspired by Nehru’s India and preceded by the Ceylon and Bandung
Conference in 1954 and 1955, its official birth can be traced in the 1961 Belgrade Conference, led
by Nasser’s Egypt and Tito’s Yugoslavia. Its two main goals were to form a political pressure group
aimed at eradicating imperialism, colonialism and apartheid, and to form an economic lobby
which would focus on the eradication of poverty and on developmental issues.
b. How were these aims specified in policy intensions as declared at the conference of Belgrade in
1961?
UN resolution 1514 calling for independence of colonies, UN resolution 1522 calling for the 1960s to
be a development decade, the set of commodity prices, a more fair financial aid coming from IMF and
the World Bank, and assistance for import substitution which would lower their dependence from
Western countries.
Question 3
Mention five reasons for the developing countries’ failure to bring about the New International
Economic Order by the end of the 1980s
The New International Economic Order was a proposal coming from non-aligned countries
which mainly called for fix commodity prices and more voting rights of third world countries within
the IMF and the World Bank. Supported by UNGA resolution in 1974. It failed because:
-aversion of the international community: capitalist countries showed little interest in lower their
influence and changing trading regime, established the G-7, to counter G-77 demands.
-lack of lobbying power because of the suspicion among the western block of third world flirting with
the Soviets, especially because of Cuba
-lack of cohesiveness among its members, Indira Gandhi’s India seemed more moderate, Egyptian
leadership undermine for its treaty with Israel, death of Tito and Boumédienne which were important
figures.
-debt crisis of the 1970s, due to raise in loans and developmental programs, along with the Iranian
revolution
-the collapse of the Soviet Union, it made third world countries lose their pressure influence over
Washington and Moscow, it moreover signified the winning of liberalism and capitalism on
communism and basically anything else
Question 4
Many factors contributed to the fact that Japan never rearmed fully after 1945. Mention and explain
four of them.
,Firstly, it was due to the new constitution that the USA imposed on Japan in 1947 after its defeat.
Article 9 barred the country from going to war and having an army. Secondly, after the explosion of the
two atomic bombs in august 1945 the public opinion was still shocked and leaned towards pacifism.
Thirdly, Yoshida’s conservative government feared that a rearmament would have been a threat to the
finances of the state, which was now concentrating on social and economic development. Fourthly,
rearmament would have meant raise in taxes that could have stimulated the Japanese Socialist Party
which, had it won, it would have meant for the Americans losing their most precious Asiatic ally.
Finally, the revision of the Security Treaty in 1958 by Kishi (whose militaristic past was everything but
reassuring), which was perceived as the first step towards rearmament and the abrogation of Article 9
met the harsh opposition of the people and the JSP which took the battle on the streets. Hence, when
Ikeda took office after the Kishi, he emphasized its policies on dialogue with the opposition and
economic growth, rather than rearmament.
Question 5
What contributed to the Sino-Soviet split in 1960? Give five reasons and elaborate on them.
Firstly, Khrushchev’s destalinization speech in 1956 is usually seen as the start of the sino soviet split.
This is because the Soviet leader admitted that there might be different ways to reach communism,
letting Mao follow its own path, symbolized by his Great Leap Forward and its more aggressive foreign
policy (especially towards Taiwan) which greatly distanced the PRC from Moscow. Secondly, Mao
rejected the co-existence theory that Khrushchev had promoted towards the West, believing that the
late 50s could finally be the turning point for the outcome of the struggle between Communism and
the West (mainly because of the Soviet success in launching the Sputnik). Thirdly, when China and
India encountered a border dispute over Tibet in 1959, Moscow refused to provide Mao with the
atomic bomb, which was seen by the latter as a refusal of PRC’s independence. Fourthly, a dispute
between Mao and his minister of defense over the disastrous Great Leap Forward’s policies, was
interpreted by the communist leader as having been backed by Moscow, and thus as an intervention in
Chinese domestic politics. Finally, the Sino Soviet split was harshened by the personal antipathy
between Khrushchev and Mao, when the latter described Soviet communism as being phony (also in
regards of Mao’s decision to withdraw missiles from Cuba).
Question 6
a. Sketch the situation of China in the beginning of the 1970s.
The beginning of the 1970s meant for China the opening towards Nixon’s USA. After having been on
the brink of a new civil war and because of Brezhnev’s new tough line in foreign policy, Mao thought
that approaching the US would end PRC’s diplomatic isolation and calm the situation in Asia. The
official meeting between M and N was anticipated by secret talks between Prime Minister Enlai and
national security advisor Kissinger. After agreeing to disagree on many matters, the progress in
negotiation stopped with the Watergate scandal and Mao’s death.
b. Give three reasons why China agreed to a rapprochement with the United States in 1971-1972.
Brezhnev’s tough line, Soviet hostility, PRC diplomatic isolation.
Question 7
a. What is Pan-Africanism?
Important ideology which propelled decolonization of African countries and the raise of African
nationalism. It is rooted on the belief that all African people share common spiritual and cultural
values. It comes mainly from the African diaspora and it suggested that the continent should put aside
the artificial boundaries drawn by the colonial power to move towards a continental federalism. Mainly
supported by the Ghanaian leader Nkrumah which convened in 1958 a conference of all independent
states in Accra.
b. Why did it not succeed? Give four arguments.
Divisions among African countries. Monrovia group and Casablanca group, as the latter saw little
interest in merge its territories. The Congo crisis of 1960, when Patrice Lumumba was assassinated
because he turned to the Soviet Union for help against the region of Katanga. This led to the
radicalization of pro western and pro soviets governments in the region. Thirdly, the establishment of
the OAU, which upheld the status quo. Finally, death of Nkrumah in a coup in 1966.
Question 8
, Give a description of:
1. Conference of Bandung 1955 conference of African and Asian states which called for cooperation
among third world countries as independent from the communist and western block. Usually seen
as the predecessor of the Belgrade conference of 1961 and the start of third world lobbying in
international politics. Criticism of cold war was muted as well and the denunciation of colonialism
but it did assert the need for prohibition of nuclear weapons and for commodity prices to be fixed.
2. Third World those countries which were not part of either the West of the Eastern bloc. Today is
used to describe underdeveloped countries and the South in general.
3. UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development of 1964, used by the third world
countries as a forum where to promote fair terms of trade and greater access to development aid.
While it did help in lowering tariffs, its result was disappointing.
4. The 1955-system political scheme of Japanese which saw the merge of socialist parties in the
Japanese Socialist Party and the right wing in the Liberal Democratic Party. It served as guaranteeing
stability and it started the LPD’s dominance of Japanese politics.
5. Nixon Doctrine: doctrine adopted by President Nixon which stated that South Asian countries
should be able to guarantee their national security by forcing allies to engage more responsibility for
the security of the region
6. ‘One country two systems’ model: term used to describe the autonomy granted to Hong Kong after
its return from British rule to the PRC, negotiated in 1984 in a Joint Declaration between PRC and
Mao.
7. Negritude movement: movement launched by the Senegalese literate which preached similarity and
affinity among the African people.
Part 4b
Part 4a
Question 1
Explain the British attitude after 1945 regarding the decolonization of India from a political, economic
and emotional perspective.
The political attitude of Britain regarding India after 1945 focused on the partition. In fact, two
opposing parties had emerged, the Muslim League and the Congress. The former was supported
mainly by the Muslim population, whereas the latter’s characteristic was secularism. As the Muslim
League was ready to veto any form of new independent government which would go against its
interests. Economically, India had not represented a crucial part of the Empire anymore, as its
importance was diminishing. Had Britain tried to reassert his hold on the region once again after War
World 2, it would have had to do so at a high military and financial cost. Nonetheless, on the emotional
perspective, India still represented one of the crown’s oldest and ideologically important colonies.
Then again, the labour government of Clement Attlee was less ideologically committed to the imperial
and colonial cause than a conservative one might have been.
Question 2
a. What is the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) and what are its two main goals?
The NAM is an organizations of Third World countries which decided, during the Cold War to
emerge as a third way possible which did not identify themselves on the capitalist, nor communist
side. It differed from neutrality in that it did not seek rigid neutrality, but rather non-involvement
in the Great Power’s conflicts. Inspired by Nehru’s India and preceded by the Ceylon and Bandung
Conference in 1954 and 1955, its official birth can be traced in the 1961 Belgrade Conference, led
by Nasser’s Egypt and Tito’s Yugoslavia. Its two main goals were to form a political pressure group
aimed at eradicating imperialism, colonialism and apartheid, and to form an economic lobby
which would focus on the eradication of poverty and on developmental issues.
b. How were these aims specified in policy intensions as declared at the conference of Belgrade in
1961?
UN resolution 1514 calling for independence of colonies, UN resolution 1522 calling for the 1960s to
be a development decade, the set of commodity prices, a more fair financial aid coming from IMF and
the World Bank, and assistance for import substitution which would lower their dependence from
Western countries.
Question 3
Mention five reasons for the developing countries’ failure to bring about the New International
Economic Order by the end of the 1980s
The New International Economic Order was a proposal coming from non-aligned countries
which mainly called for fix commodity prices and more voting rights of third world countries within
the IMF and the World Bank. Supported by UNGA resolution in 1974. It failed because:
-aversion of the international community: capitalist countries showed little interest in lower their
influence and changing trading regime, established the G-7, to counter G-77 demands.
-lack of lobbying power because of the suspicion among the western block of third world flirting with
the Soviets, especially because of Cuba
-lack of cohesiveness among its members, Indira Gandhi’s India seemed more moderate, Egyptian
leadership undermine for its treaty with Israel, death of Tito and Boumédienne which were important
figures.
-debt crisis of the 1970s, due to raise in loans and developmental programs, along with the Iranian
revolution
-the collapse of the Soviet Union, it made third world countries lose their pressure influence over
Washington and Moscow, it moreover signified the winning of liberalism and capitalism on
communism and basically anything else
Question 4
Many factors contributed to the fact that Japan never rearmed fully after 1945. Mention and explain
four of them.
,Firstly, it was due to the new constitution that the USA imposed on Japan in 1947 after its defeat.
Article 9 barred the country from going to war and having an army. Secondly, after the explosion of the
two atomic bombs in august 1945 the public opinion was still shocked and leaned towards pacifism.
Thirdly, Yoshida’s conservative government feared that a rearmament would have been a threat to the
finances of the state, which was now concentrating on social and economic development. Fourthly,
rearmament would have meant raise in taxes that could have stimulated the Japanese Socialist Party
which, had it won, it would have meant for the Americans losing their most precious Asiatic ally.
Finally, the revision of the Security Treaty in 1958 by Kishi (whose militaristic past was everything but
reassuring), which was perceived as the first step towards rearmament and the abrogation of Article 9
met the harsh opposition of the people and the JSP which took the battle on the streets. Hence, when
Ikeda took office after the Kishi, he emphasized its policies on dialogue with the opposition and
economic growth, rather than rearmament.
Question 5
What contributed to the Sino-Soviet split in 1960? Give five reasons and elaborate on them.
Firstly, Khrushchev’s destalinization speech in 1956 is usually seen as the start of the sino soviet split.
This is because the Soviet leader admitted that there might be different ways to reach communism,
letting Mao follow its own path, symbolized by his Great Leap Forward and its more aggressive foreign
policy (especially towards Taiwan) which greatly distanced the PRC from Moscow. Secondly, Mao
rejected the co-existence theory that Khrushchev had promoted towards the West, believing that the
late 50s could finally be the turning point for the outcome of the struggle between Communism and
the West (mainly because of the Soviet success in launching the Sputnik). Thirdly, when China and
India encountered a border dispute over Tibet in 1959, Moscow refused to provide Mao with the
atomic bomb, which was seen by the latter as a refusal of PRC’s independence. Fourthly, a dispute
between Mao and his minister of defense over the disastrous Great Leap Forward’s policies, was
interpreted by the communist leader as having been backed by Moscow, and thus as an intervention in
Chinese domestic politics. Finally, the Sino Soviet split was harshened by the personal antipathy
between Khrushchev and Mao, when the latter described Soviet communism as being phony (also in
regards of Mao’s decision to withdraw missiles from Cuba).
Question 6
a. Sketch the situation of China in the beginning of the 1970s.
The beginning of the 1970s meant for China the opening towards Nixon’s USA. After having been on
the brink of a new civil war and because of Brezhnev’s new tough line in foreign policy, Mao thought
that approaching the US would end PRC’s diplomatic isolation and calm the situation in Asia. The
official meeting between M and N was anticipated by secret talks between Prime Minister Enlai and
national security advisor Kissinger. After agreeing to disagree on many matters, the progress in
negotiation stopped with the Watergate scandal and Mao’s death.
b. Give three reasons why China agreed to a rapprochement with the United States in 1971-1972.
Brezhnev’s tough line, Soviet hostility, PRC diplomatic isolation.
Question 7
a. What is Pan-Africanism?
Important ideology which propelled decolonization of African countries and the raise of African
nationalism. It is rooted on the belief that all African people share common spiritual and cultural
values. It comes mainly from the African diaspora and it suggested that the continent should put aside
the artificial boundaries drawn by the colonial power to move towards a continental federalism. Mainly
supported by the Ghanaian leader Nkrumah which convened in 1958 a conference of all independent
states in Accra.
b. Why did it not succeed? Give four arguments.
Divisions among African countries. Monrovia group and Casablanca group, as the latter saw little
interest in merge its territories. The Congo crisis of 1960, when Patrice Lumumba was assassinated
because he turned to the Soviet Union for help against the region of Katanga. This led to the
radicalization of pro western and pro soviets governments in the region. Thirdly, the establishment of
the OAU, which upheld the status quo. Finally, death of Nkrumah in a coup in 1966.
Question 8
, Give a description of:
1. Conference of Bandung 1955 conference of African and Asian states which called for cooperation
among third world countries as independent from the communist and western block. Usually seen
as the predecessor of the Belgrade conference of 1961 and the start of third world lobbying in
international politics. Criticism of cold war was muted as well and the denunciation of colonialism
but it did assert the need for prohibition of nuclear weapons and for commodity prices to be fixed.
2. Third World those countries which were not part of either the West of the Eastern bloc. Today is
used to describe underdeveloped countries and the South in general.
3. UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development of 1964, used by the third world
countries as a forum where to promote fair terms of trade and greater access to development aid.
While it did help in lowering tariffs, its result was disappointing.
4. The 1955-system political scheme of Japanese which saw the merge of socialist parties in the
Japanese Socialist Party and the right wing in the Liberal Democratic Party. It served as guaranteeing
stability and it started the LPD’s dominance of Japanese politics.
5. Nixon Doctrine: doctrine adopted by President Nixon which stated that South Asian countries
should be able to guarantee their national security by forcing allies to engage more responsibility for
the security of the region
6. ‘One country two systems’ model: term used to describe the autonomy granted to Hong Kong after
its return from British rule to the PRC, negotiated in 1984 in a Joint Declaration between PRC and
Mao.
7. Negritude movement: movement launched by the Senegalese literate which preached similarity and
affinity among the African people.
Part 4b
