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THE COLD WAR
1947 to 1991.
There were two opposing military alliances, NATO and the Warsaw Pact.
The Cold War had two main phases: an initial phase between 1947 and 1961, during which there was a high level of tension between the superpowers, and a second phase characterised by an easing of tensions between 1962 and a second phase characterized by an easing of tensions between the 1962 and 1975 -
THE VIETNAM WAR
1954 to 1975
This war was caused because the division of Vietnam after gaining the independece from France
Two bands: North Vietnam led by Ho Chi Minh, communist and South Vietnam: held by the Western Bloc
Causes: The emergence of the Vietcong, a communist guerrilla army , they were supported by Nort Vietnam, wanted to unify Vietnam
- The involvence of the United states, they were influenced by the domio theory. As a result they believed that South Vietnam not be alllowed to be communist. -
FROM THE EEC TO THE EUROPEAN UNION
The European Union was originally founded as the EEC (European Economic Community), economic capitalist organisation.
In 1957 the EEC was founded by the Treaty of Rome. Its main objective: eliminate customs barriers between member states. The EEC's development ■ The Single European Act (1986): this agreement aimed to achieve greater economic The Maastricht Treaty (1992): this treaty established the European Union, ■ Other treaties, such as the Treaties of Amsterdam, Nice and Lisbon -
THE 1973 OIL CRISIS
Western capitalist countries suffered this crisis
The main cause was the 1973 Yom Kipur War Arab countries, who were Israel's opponents, adopted the following measures reprisal: ■ OPEC' implemented an embargo on exports of crude oil to Western countries that supported Israel, in particular the United States and the Netherlands. These countries increased oil prices. The price of a barrel of crude oill went from per barrel in 1973 to $12 in 1974. This was a 400% price rise. -
THE DISSOLUTION OF THE USSR (1985-1991)
In 1991 the USSR was dissolved, bringing an end to the bipolar system and the Cold War. This was the result of the reforms introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev and the resurgence of nationalism in the USSR's constituent states.
REFORMS: The introduction of private ownership of land in order to stimulate agricultur production and end food shortages. Spending cuts were introduced due to a lack of monetary resources. -
THE TRANSITION OF THE EASTERN BLOC
In 1989 the Eastern Bloc collapsed. Important events: ■In Poland the trade union Solidarity was legalised and became a political party. In 1989, its leader, Lech Walesa, won the election ■In Berlin: in 1989 the people pulled down the Berlin Wall. ■In Czechoslovakia: after the Communist party had been defeated, nationalist movements grew. In 1991 the COMECON and the Warsaw Pact were dissolved. -
THE INVASION OF AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan was considered to be Al-Qaeda's base. NATO troops occupied it the country with the UN support. -
THE IRAQ WAR
Iran was considered a country that collaborated in international terrorism, it was also considered to have weapons of massive destruction, althught none were ever found there, NATO supported this war but also United States, Great Brittain, Spain and Portugal -
WORLD TODAY AND CURRENT CONFLICTS
Political conflicts: these conflicts are the result of a popular desire to establish democracy. An example of this is the Arab Spring, Nationalist conflicts: these conflicts occur in countries where there is a region that would like to become independent. IExamples: Cataluña in the Spain, Tribal conflicts: these conflicts are the result of different ethnic groups struggling for control of economic resources. Examples: many in Sub-Saharan Africa, -
ISLAMIC TERRORISM
Terrorist attacks carried out around the world by Islamic fundamentalist' groups who use violence against Western governments. Global enemy and are one of the biggest problems faced by Western governments. Islamic terrorism started with Al Qaeda, which means the base or foundation, a terrorist network based in Afghanistan with autonomous cells distributed around the world. Al Qaeda responded by increasing its attacks. Examples: Jakarta in 2002 or París in 2015