Glossary
Anxiety & Uncertainty (Post-WWII)
A widespread feeling of unease and lack of confidence about the future, stemming from the trauma of total war and the new threat of nuclear annihilation.
Example:
Existentialist philosophy, with its focus on individual freedom and responsibility in a meaningless world, reflected the pervasive anxiety and uncertainty of the post-war era.
Arms Race
A competition between two or more parties to have the best armed forces, particularly in terms of nuclear weapons, leading to a rapid increase in military technology and stockpiles.
Example:
The constant development of more powerful atomic bombs and intercontinental ballistic missiles exemplified the nuclear arms race between the US and USSR.
Cold War
A period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, characterized by proxy wars, an arms race, and ideological competition without direct large-scale military conflict.
Example:
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a terrifying moment during the Cold War when the world came close to nuclear confrontation.
Decline of Religion (Post-WWII)
A decrease in the influence of traditional religious beliefs and institutions, as people questioned faith in the face of widespread suffering and moral ambiguity caused by the wars.
Example:
The horrors of the Holocaust and the atomic bombings contributed to a decline of religion for many, as they struggled to reconcile such events with divine providence.
Harry S. Truman
The 33rd President of the United States, who made the decision to use atomic bombs and formulated the policy of containment against communism.
Example:
Harry S. Truman famously declared that the United States would support free peoples resisting attempted subjugation, laying the groundwork for the Truman Doctrine.
Ideological Divide
The fundamental difference in political and economic systems, primarily between capitalist democracy and communism, that fueled global tensions after WWII.
Example:
The ideological divide between the West and the East led to the division of Germany into two separate states, reflecting their opposing systems.
Joseph Stalin
The totalitarian leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953, who oversaw rapid industrialization and the early years of the Cold War.
Example:
Under Joseph Stalin, the Soviet Union developed its own atomic bomb, intensifying the nuclear arms race with the United States.
Nationalism (Post-WWII)
A strong identification with one's own nation and support for its interests, often leading to movements for independence or self-determination after the disruption of war.
Example:
Decolonization movements in Africa and Asia were often driven by intense nationalism, as former colonies sought to govern themselves.
Nikita Khrushchev
The leader of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, known for de-Stalinization, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the construction of the Berlin Wall.
Example:
Nikita Khrushchev engaged in "kitchen debates" with Richard Nixon, showcasing the ideological competition between the US and USSR.
Nuclear Threat
The constant danger of global annihilation due to the massive stockpiles of nuclear weapons held by the US and USSR during the Cold War.
Example:
The concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) emerged from the nuclear threat, ensuring neither superpower would launch a first strike.
Proxy Wars
Conflicts in which opposing powers support opposing sides, rather than fighting each other directly, often in third-world countries.
Example:
The Korean War and the Vietnam War were significant proxy wars where the US and USSR supported opposing factions.
Separatism (Post-WWII)
The advocacy of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender separation from the larger group, often leading to internal conflicts within newly formed or existing states.
Example:
The breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s was fueled by intense ethnic separatism, leading to violent conflicts.
Soviet Union (Post-WWII)
One of the two dominant global superpowers after WWII, promoting communism and a centrally planned economy.
Example:
The Soviet Union established satellite states in Eastern Europe, creating a buffer zone and expanding its communist influence.
Superpowers
Nations possessing immense military, economic, and political influence on a global scale, capable of projecting power worldwide.
Example:
After WWII, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as the world's primary superpowers, shaping international relations for decades.
Truman Doctrine
A US foreign policy established in 1947, stating that the United States would provide political, military, and economic assistance to all democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces.
Example:
The Truman Doctrine was first applied by providing aid to Greece and Turkey to prevent communist takeovers.
United States (Post-WWII)
One of the two dominant global superpowers after WWII, advocating for capitalist democracy and individual liberties.
Example:
The United States launched the Marshall Plan to rebuild Western Europe, aiming to prevent the spread of communism through economic stability.
WWII Aftermath
The period immediately following World War II, characterized by immense physical, economic, and social destruction across Europe and parts of Asia.
Example:
Cities like Berlin and Warsaw were reduced to rubble, symbolizing the widespread WWII aftermath that necessitated massive rebuilding efforts.