Cold War Era: USSR, China, Cuba, USA, EEC, and Japan
The Cold War Era: A World Divided (1953-1989)
The Political Evolution of the USSR
After Stalin’s death in 1953, Nikita Khrushchev rose to power and convened the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU). He initiated a period of *de-Stalinization* and advocated for “peaceful coexistence” with the United States. Subsequently, the Brezhnev era began, characterized by a more conservative approach and increased control over the population through intelligence agencies like the KGB.
Eastern Europe Under Soviet Influence
A large part of the population in Eastern Europe was hostile to the implementation of “people’s democracies.” Countries like East Germany and Poland experienced significant revolts, as did Hungary and Czechoslovakia.
China’s Transformation
At the beginning of the 20th century, China was ruled by an emperor, economically underdeveloped, and land ownership was concentrated in the hands of a few. In 1911, the emperor was deposed, and a republic was established, headed by Chiang Kai-shek. Meanwhile, the influence of the Chinese Communist Party, led by Mao Zedong, grew despite being persecuted by Chiang Kai-shek. After World War II, a civil war erupted between the Communists and Nationalists, culminating in the Communist victory in 1949. The People’s Republic of China was born. Initially, China followed the Soviet model but later developed its own unique path.
The Cuban Revolution
During the Cold War, a fundamental historical event in Latin America was the Cuban Revolution. Fidel Castro and the M-26 guerrillas seized Havana after several years of guerrilla warfare, leading to the fall of dictator Fulgencio Batista. The new regime was considered an enemy by the USA. Wealthy Cubans emigrated to the U.S. with the establishment of the Castro dictatorship. These exiles, with the support of the American government, attempted to overthrow the Castro regime by invading the island but failed. Cuba drew closer to the USSR, allowing the installation of nuclear missiles on the island. This triggered the Cuban Missile Crisis with the Americans, and the Soviet Union eventually withdrew the missiles. Since then, the U.S. has imposed a strict trade embargo on Cuba to try to weaken the Cuban regime economically.
The New Cold War (1953-1989)
After Stalin’s death, a change in Soviet strategy was deemed necessary. The new leadership, headed by Nikita Khrushchev, declared at the 20th Congress of the CPSU that capitalism and communism would compete peacefully. The arrival of John F. Kennedy to the presidency in 1960 also facilitated a rapprochement between the two superpowers.
American Political Developments
American political life was dominated by two major parties: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, which alternated in power. From 1953 to 1961, there was a conservative period under Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower. During this decade, the African American community began its fight to end segregation. In the late 1960s, the Democrats held the government with Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. During this time, equal rights for African Americans were established, and laws against discrimination against women were approved. It was also a time of the Vietnam War. In the 1970s, there was an economic crisis due to oil prices and a political crisis that led to President Nixon’s resignation following the Watergate scandal. Communism spread to some Latin American, African, and Asian countries. In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan came to power with the goal of revitalizing American power.
The Rise of the European Economic Community (EEC)
The first steps towards European integration were the creation of Benelux and the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). In 1957, following the Treaty of Rome, the European Economic Community (EEC) was born. Its goals were the creation of a common market, the development of common economic policies, and the establishment of common institutions. In Western Europe, democracy and the welfare state were developing. In Mediterranean Europe, particularly in Spain under Franco, Portugal under Salazar, and Greece, there were dictatorships. Democracy did not arrive in these countries until the 1970s.
Japan’s Post-War Transformation
The United States defeated Japan in 1945 and occupied the islands. A democracy was established, and Emperor Hirohito was forced to renounce the special attributes that tradition attributed to him as a deity. After signing a treaty of alliance with the United States, Japan became part of the Western bloc.