1. Review: How did we get here? From the Cold War to the Present
Readings for this week:
Chapter 2 (pages 34-52)

2. “What is past is prologue” -William Shakespeare
Q: How does studying the Cold War help set the stage for this class?

3. Outline for today End of WWII Rise of the bi-polar world
Competing alliances
Containment doctrine
Flashpoints
Korea
Cuba
Vietnam
Détente and decline of the bi-polar world

4. The End of WWII (1945)
Destroyed the multi-polar international system that had been in place since 1815
Q: What factors caused the multi-polar system to collapse?
Created a bi-polar system with two major superpowers
Q: How did the US and USSR succeed in becoming superpowers?

5. Rise of the bi-polar world
The US and USSR each represented one ‘pole’ of the East-West axis
Each superpower established control over part of the world
Using economic, political, and military efforts, each side tried to strengthen its allies and weaken its opponents

6. The bi-polar world

7. Competing Alliances NATO (1949) Warsaw Pact (1955)
US, Canada, and much of western Europe
military alliance designed to oppose the USSR
Warsaw Pact (1955)
Formed in response to NATO
USSR and much of Eastern Europe

8. Containment doctrine
Rather than try to defeat communism, the US tried to contain it (prevent it from expanding)
The Domino Theory
If the US allowed one country to be taken over by communism, other countries would follow
US strategists focused on places where communist forces might gain power

9. Flashpoints: Korea (1950-53)
United Nations mission led by the US
Soviet forces attempted
to control the peninsula
After a 3 year battle
between UN troops
and communist forces,
the two sides agreed to
an armistice

10. Flashpoints: Cuba (1959-63) After Fidel Castro gained power, Cuba
developed relations
with the USSR
US and USSR used
Brinkmanship during
the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1963
Since then, the US has led a trade embargo against Cuba

11. Flashpoints: Vietnam (1964-73)
After France left Vietnam,
the US and other countries
divided Vietnam in 2 parts
Communist forces ran the
north half, while pro-USA
leaders controlled the south
Vietcong guerrillas attacked
the south and the US sent thousands of troops
After a decade of fighting, the US withdrew

12. Decline of the bi-polar world
Détente (late 1960s-early 1980s)
President Nixon established relations with the People’s Republic of China
USSR leader Brezhnev developed better relations with the USA
The Gorbachev years ( )
Realized the USSR’s weaknesses
Led economic and political reforms
This resulted in the collapse of the USSR

13. First assignment Be a journalist
Conduct an interview about the Cold War
Record responses on the sheet provided
Due date: first class next week

14. We’re not finished yet! For the rest of today’s class… For tomorrow…
Complete the questionnaire
For tomorrow…
Go to BlackBoard (cursos.itesm.mx)
Complete the readings (pages 34-52)
Bring your textbook