WOH 2001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Mobutu Sese Seko, Imperial Presidency, Economy Of The Soviet Union
Questions
• Why is the Cold War called the Cold War? Was it really cold?
o Because no weapons were used
• Where were the Cold War hot spots? What were the consequences of
these?
o Korea: Korean War (1950-1953); ended in a stalemate at the 38th
parallel; North Korea remains communist and isolated. South Korea is
capitalist and strongly supported by the United States
o Vietnam: Vietnam War : North Vietnamese (aided by the Chinese and
the Soviets) defeated the American-backed South Vietnamese;
Vietnam remains communist
o Afghanistan: Soviets invaded Afghanistan; American troops supported
the mujahedeen (including Bin Laden) to defeat the Soviets; The
Taliban eventually came to power
• Could the Cold War have erupted into nuclear war?
o
• Where else did Cold War fears prompt US intervention? What were often the
consequences of this?
o Iran, the Philippines, Guatemala, El Salvador, Chile, the Congo, and
elsewhere
o The United States frequently supported anticommunist but corrupt
and authoritarian regimes
o Examples include:
o The Shah of Iran
o Mobutu in the Congo
o Pinochet in Chile
o The 1954 coup in Guatemala that took democratically elected Arbenz
out of of power
• In what ways did the United States play a global role after World War II?
o Became a superpower
o (ad an imperial presidency
o Developed a military-industrial complex
o (ad the world’s most productive economy
o American firms established factories and offices in many countries
o The US dollar replaced the British pound as the most trusted
international currency
o American music, movies, and food McDonald’s! became popular in
many countries
• What were the strengths and weaknesses of the communist world by the
1970s?
Strengths
Weaknesses
Soviet Union had a system of
strong military and defense
industries
Experienced bitter and divisive
conflict
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