1. Motivation Against Internationalism
Why would nations and nation-states choose not to engage in internationalism?
Do you remember the start of term when it was clear text and notebook are to be open and ready at the start of each class? I do

2. Today’s rundown
Cuban revolution and review of Marshall Plan: together Text pages On your own (or with desk partners)
Review US isolationism, Iraq, Rwanda: together If time:

3. Differing Opinions of Internationalism
Political stability is necessary for a nation to be able to determine its future. Leaders and nations though differ in the extent to which they feel they are affected by political instability around the world.

4. Fidel Castro

5. Cuba Before the Revolution
Before the socialist revolution of , Cuba was controlled by a military dictatorship which was led by Fulgencio Batista, who acted in a repressive manner towards the Cuban people allowed American businesses and gangsters to exploit the land and people as long as he got a cut.
The Godfather Part 2

6. The Cuban Revolution
Various nationalist/socialist groups, led by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, tired of the persecution of the Cuban people and exploitation of Cuba by Americans, led a revolution that threw out the Batista government and proclaimed Cuba a socialist state.
Cuban Revolution: 3 Minute History

7. The Americans are not Amused
After the new Cuban government ordered the seizure of American property in Cuba, the Americans responded by imposing an embargo on Cuba and attempted to overthrow Castro’s government in the infamous Bay of Pigs invasion. The tension between Cuba and the United States has led to instability in Cuba and to an extent in the United States as well.
Bay of Pigs Lessons

8. American Isolationism During the World Wars
Isolationism is a foreign policy in which a nation- state chooses not to become involved in the affairs of other nations and nation-states, neither militarily nor through trade.
Isolationism is a term often applied to the United States’ historic reluctance to become involved in European wars. The country only joined the wars when aggressive actions were taken against them (German aggression against US ships in WW1 and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941).

9. Isolationists vs. Interventionists
Isolationists during the World Wars argued that the United States’ sphere of influence should spread beyond its borders, but they should only be concerned with their own continent.
Interventionists during the World Wars were either idealistic (American responsibility to spread democracy around the world) or economically motivated (spread American values in the pursuit of economic interests).
The Backdoor to War Theory

10. US Expands its Role in International Affairs
Following the Second World War the US played a major role the creation of the United Nations and international affairs during the Cold War through an intense ideological rivalry with the Soviet Union. Throughout the second half of the 20th century the US seemed to give up its policy of isolationism, especially after the attacks on September

11. International Involvement in Iraq
9/11 was an unprecedented attack on US soil, resulting in nearly 3000 deaths and many more injured. The US and its allies intent of punishing those responsible and deterring further acts of terrorism chose to attack Afghanistan, which harboured Al-Qaeda terrorists. In 2002 the US included Iraq in its “war on terror”, as they believed Iraq had WMDs and its leader Saddam Hussein refused to disarm. His refusal led to an invasion of Iraq and the death of Hussein by the US.

12. Canada’s Refusal to Join the US in Iraq
The subsequent occupation of Iraq found that there were in fact no WMDs in Iraq. While Canada supported the US’ and NATO’s involvement in Afghanistan, it did not support the invasion of Iraq. Many argued that the situation in Iraq should have been handled by the United Nations.
Jean Chretien’s Reflection on the Iraq War

13. Current State of Iraq
On May , President Bush delivered his infamous “mission accomplished” speech aboard the the USS Abraham Lincoln. Since that speech, almost 150,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed, along with almost coalition forces. Many now argue that the Invasion of Iraq laid the bedrock for the emergence of the Islamic State and the current state of hostilities that are occurring now.
Iraq Explained

14. How the International Community Failed Rwanda
The lack of action by the United Nations in response to the genocide that took place in Rwanda in 1994 has been universally condemned. Had the UN Security Council acknowledged that what was happening in Rwanda was genocide they would have been legally obligated to act. Despite growing evidence of genocide, many countries refused to intervene and the UN forces in Rwanda were not given the mandate to intervene, so all they could do was watch the horror.
How peacekeeping failed Rwanda

15. Why would the United States (and other countries) think that an invasion of Iraq was necessary, but intervention in Rwanda was not?

16. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burke

17. Reflection Questions
Why would a nation or nation-state choose to isolate itself from the international community?
What are some risks a nation or nation-state takes when they decide to involved themselves in the conflicts of others?
Do you think it was a good decision for Canada to stay out of the Iraq War? Why or why not?
Should it be the mandate of countries like Canada and the United States to fight acts of evil around the world?