Notes Class 12 Chapter 10 History Maharashtra Board

Cold War

10.1 Cold War: Definition

What is the Cold War?

• A period of tension and rivalry between Capitalist nations (led by the USA) and Communist nations (led by Soviet Russia) after World War II.
• No direct fighting occurred, but there was a constant threat of conflict, creating a sense of a possible Third World War.
• Term coined by Walter Lippmann, an American political columnist.

Key Features of the Cold War:

• No Direct War: Countries avoided direct military conflict.
• Arms Race: Intense competition to build weapons, especially nuclear ones.
• Aggressive Policies: Nations used political tactics to gain influence.
• Lack of Trust: Mutual suspicion among nations.
• Political & Economic Pressure: Countries pressured each other to follow their ideologies.
• Ideological Conflict: Clash between Communism (government ownership) and Capitalism (private ownership).

Background:

• After World War II, Europe was divided:
• Eastern Europe: Under Soviet influence, adopted Communism.
• Western Europe: Under American influence, adopted Capitalism and Democracy.
• This division created a political tension called the Iron Curtain (term by Winston Churchill), separating Communist and Democratic nations.
• The Cold War spread beyond Europe to Asia (e.g., Sino-Soviet Treaty, Korean Conflict).

Progression of Cold War:

• Marshall Plan: USA provided financial aid to rebuild Western Europe.
• Soviet Russia supported freedom movements in Asia and Africa.
• Key events:
• Berlin Wall (1961): Built by Soviet Russia to separate East and West Berlin, increasing tensions.
• Cuban Missile Crisis (1962): Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba caused a major standoff with the USA.

Efforts to reduce tension:

• Moscow-Washington Hotline: For instant communication.
• Nuclear Missile Limits (1972): Agreement between USA and Soviet Russia to limit nuclear weapons.
• Détente: A period of relaxed tensions, e.g., Paris Conference (1973), Helsinki Conference (1975).

Mikhail Gorbachev’s Era (1985 onwards):

• Introduced Perestroika (restructuring) and Glasnost (openness) to reform Soviet Russia.
• Democratized politics, gave more freedom to people, and decentralized the economy.
• His policies led to the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of Soviet Russia (1991), creating 15 independent countries (e.g., Russia, Ukraine, Estonia).
• Marked the rise of the Post-Cold War World with the USA as the sole superpower.

Aftermath:

• The Cold War caused global fear due to nuclear threats, political misunderstandings, and neglect of basic issues like food and housing.
• The Berlin Wall (called the “Wall of Shame”) was demolished in 1989-1990, reuniting Germany.

10.2 NATO, ANZUS, SEATO, CENTO, Warsaw Pact

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 1949):

• Formed to protect 29 European countries from Soviet expansion.
• Members: USA, UK, France, West Germany, Italy, Canada, etc.

Key Terms:

• An attack on one member is an attack on all.
• Maintain peace and resolve issues through discussions.
• Headquarters: Paris (later moved to Brussels).
• USA had significant influence.

ANZUS Treaty (1951):

• Signed by Australia, New Zealand, and the USA for collective security in the Pacific region.
• Aimed to protect against Communist China.
• First time Commonwealth nations (Australia, New Zealand) made a pact with the USA independently, bypassing UK and France.

SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, 1954):

• Members: USA, UK, France, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Thailand, Philippines.
• Signed in Manila to stop Communism in Southeast Asia.

Flaws:

• Only three Asian countries included; others were Western nations with little understanding of Asian issues.
• No dedicated military force.
• Dissolved in 1977 after Pakistan withdrew (1973) and France stopped funding (1975).

CENTO (Central Treaty Organization, 1955):

• Earlier called Baghdad Pact; members: Turkey, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq (later withdrew), UK.
• Aimed to counter Soviet influence in the Middle East.
• USA provided economic and military aid but didn’t fully support members’ needs.
• Became non-operational after Iran and Pakistan withdrew due to dissatisfaction.

Warsaw Pact (1955):

• Soviet Russia’s response to NATO, uniting Communist countries (e.g., East Germany, Poland, Hungary, Romania).
• Aimed to strengthen the Eastern Bloc against Western policies.
• Albania withdrew in 1968.

Sino-Soviet Security Pact (1950):

Soviet Russia agreed to provide China with economic, industrial, and technological aid.

10.3 Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) & India’s Policy

What is NAM?

• A group of nations that refused to join either the USA or Soviet Russia’s alliances during the Cold War.
• Focused on peace, progress, and independence rather than war or poverty.
• Founders: Jawaharlal Nehru (India), Sukarno (Indonesia), Nkrumah (Ghana), Nasser (Egypt), Tito (Yugoslavia).

Non-Aligned Nations:

• Adopt independent foreign policies based on peaceful coexistence.
• Support independence movements and avoid military alliances with superpowers.

Key NAM Conferences:

• Belgrade (1961): First summit, 25 countries, demanded end to aggression in Asia, Africa, and South America.
• Cairo (1964): Opposed military groups and foreign military bases.
• Lusaka (1970): Focused on unity, disarmament, and ending colonialism.
• Algiers (1973): Demanded a new economic system.
• Colombo (1976): Aimed to reduce superpower influence.
• New Delhi (1983): Supported Palestinian cause and Namibia’s independence; emphasized Freedom, Development, Disarmament, Peace (Indira Gandhi’s speech).
• Harare (1986): Created Africa Fund to aid South Africa’s neighbors.
• Jakarta (1992): Demanded better trade facilities and UN restructuring.

NAM Criteria (Belgrade, 1961):

• Independent policy based on coexistence.
• Support national independence movements.
• Not part of Cold War military alliances or foreign military bases.

10.4 India’s Anti-Colonial Policy

• India opposed imperialism even before independence.
• Post-independence, adopted active non-alignment:
• Stayed neutral but engaged in global peace efforts.
• Respected sovereignty and opposed foreign interference.
• Examples:
• Delhi Conference (1949): Supported Indonesia’s independence from Dutch rule.
• Africa: Demanded independence for African colonies, spoke against mistreatment of Africans in the UN, and supported their struggles (e.g., Gandhi’s satyagraha in Africa).
• India’s historical ties with Africa (trade, migration, railway projects) strengthened its anti-colonial stance.

10.5 South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

• Origin: Proposed by Zia-ur Rehman (Bangladesh President) for economic and social development in South Asia.
• Established: 1985, Dhaka Summit.
• Members: Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal (later Afghanistan joined).

Objectives (Dhaka, 1985):

• Promote rapid development of member nations.
• Oppose terrorism and drug smuggling.
• Resolve issues and build trust.
• Cooperate with regional and international organizations.
• Work for collective well-being globally.

Structure:

• Secretariat in Kathmandu.
• Annual meetings; rotating Principal Secretary (3-year term).

Challenges:

Economic disparity, high defense spending, poor infrastructure, underdeveloped agriculture, rising terrorism, population growth, limited trade, diverse politics, and religious-lingual differences.

Achievements:

• Agro-information center in Bangladesh (seeds, animal husbandry, fisheries).
• Meteorological research center in Dhaka.
• Orthopedic center in Kathmandu.
• Efforts to promote tourism and reduce poverty with ESCAP.
• SAFTA (2004) and SAPTA (1993): Promote free trade among members.
• Documentation center in Delhi, HRD center in Islamabad, agreements on narcotics, postal services, and transportation.

10.6 Commonwealth

What is the Commonwealth?

• A voluntary group of sovereign nations, formerly British colonies, now called the Commonwealth of Nations.
• Head: British King/Queen; Secretariat: London.
• Principle: Voluntary cooperation.

History:

• Statute of Westminster (1931): Granted autonomy to colonies (e.g., Canada, Australia).
• Post-World War II, Asian and African colonies gained independence, partly due to Commonwealth’s influence.
• Helped reduce resentment in the UK about granting independence.

India and Commonwealth:

• Joined in 1948 (Jaipur Congress Session, Nehru’s decision) as an equal sovereign state.
• Reasons: UK supplied arms, offered trade benefits, and provided a platform to counter Pakistan’s propaganda.

Commonwealth Games:

• Started as British Empire Games (1911, King George V’s coronation).
• Renamed in 1950; modeled after Olympics.
• 1986 Games: Boycotted by 32 countries (including India, led by Rajiv Gandhi) to protest South Africa’s racist policies.
• India has performed well in recent Commonwealth Games.