Lecture 12: The Lecture 12: The Third World in Third World in the Cold Warthe Cold War

April 23, 2010April 23, 2010

Background to Background to InterventionsInterventions

DecolonizationDecolonization

Background to Background to InterventionsInterventions

DecolonizationDecolonization Third world as conceptual entityThird world as conceptual entity Non-alignment (Bandung Non-alignment (Bandung

Conference, 1955)Conference, 1955)

Bandung Conference, Bandung Conference, 19551955

Background to Background to InterventionsInterventions

DecolonizationDecolonization Third world as conceptual entityThird world as conceptual entity Non-alignment (Bandung Non-alignment (Bandung

Conference, 1955)Conference, 1955) Competing economic modelsCompeting economic models ContainmentContainmentNSC-68NSC-68

How to Implement How to Implement Containment?Containment?

Cumulativity of resources: Does Cumulativity of resources: Does (informal) empire increase power?(informal) empire increase power?

Domino TheoryDomino Theory Invasion/aidInvasion/aid InspirationInspiration Intimidation Intimidation

CredibilityCredibility US as reliable protectorUS as reliable protector Soviets emboldenedSoviets emboldened

EmboldeningEmboldening

““Now, when so much progress is being Now, when so much progress is being made, is no time to turn tail and leave made, is no time to turn tail and leave Vietnam... It is a dangerous illusion to Vietnam... It is a dangerous illusion to suppose that another retreat by the civilized suppose that another retreat by the civilized world would satisfy the appetite of the world would satisfy the appetite of the communists and get them to leave us alone…communists and get them to leave us alone…In fact, such a move would only In fact, such a move would only embolden embolden the communiststhe communists...A precipitous withdrawal ...A precipitous withdrawal from Vietnam would be a victory for the from Vietnam would be a victory for the communists, an invitation to further violence communists, an invitation to further violence against free nations and a terrible blow to against free nations and a terrible blow to the future security of the United States of the future security of the United States of America.” America.”

The real quote: Dick The real quote: Dick Cheney, 2006Cheney, 2006

““Now, when so much progress is being Now, when so much progress is being made, is no time to turn tail and leave made, is no time to turn tail and leave IraqIraq... It is a dangerous illusion to suppose ... It is a dangerous illusion to suppose that another retreat by the civilized world that another retreat by the civilized world would satisfy the appetite of the terrorists would satisfy the appetite of the terrorists and get them to leave us alone…In fact, and get them to leave us alone…In fact, such a move would only embolden thesuch a move would only embolden the terroriststerrorists...A precipitous withdrawal from ...A precipitous withdrawal from IraqIraq would be a victory for the would be a victory for the terroriststerrorists, , an invitation to further violence against free an invitation to further violence against free nations and a terrible blow to the future nations and a terrible blow to the future security of the United States of America.” security of the United States of America.”

Means of InterventionMeans of Intervention

OccupationOccupation Military aidMilitary aid Coups/assassinationsCoups/assassinations Money/armsMoney/arms DisinformationDisinformation

Problems with US Problems with US InterventionsInterventions

Anti-Communists not necessarily Anti-Communists not necessarily democraticdemocratic

Exacerbated local conflictExacerbated local conflict Leftist insurgencies rooted in Leftist insurgencies rooted in

economicseconomics

Unintended consequencesUnintended consequences

US InterventionsUS InterventionsChina 1945 (anti-communist)China 1945 (anti-communist)Greece 1947, 64 (anti-Greece 1947, 64 (anti-

communist)communist)Philippines 1945 (nationalism)Philippines 1945 (nationalism)S Korea 1945 (anti-communist)S Korea 1945 (anti-communist)Albania 1949-53 (anti-Albania 1949-53 (anti-

communist)communist)S Korea 1950 (anti-communist)S Korea 1950 (anti-communist)Iran 1953 (oil, nationalism)Iran 1953 (oil, nationalism)Guatemala 1954 (fruit, Guatemala 1954 (fruit,

nationalism)nationalism)Indonesia 1957 (nationalism)Indonesia 1957 (nationalism)Guyana 1953 (leftist president)Guyana 1953 (leftist president)Vietnam 1954 (anti-communist)Vietnam 1954 (anti-communist)Cambodia 1955 (nationalism)Cambodia 1955 (nationalism)Congo 1960 (mining)Congo 1960 (mining)Cuba 1961 (sugar & nationalism)Cuba 1961 (sugar & nationalism)Brazil 1961 (nationalism)Brazil 1961 (nationalism)Dominican Rep 1963 Dominican Rep 1963

(nationalism)(nationalism)Vietnam 1964-75 (anti-Vietnam 1964-75 (anti-

communist)communist)

Indonesia 1965 (nationalism)Cambodia 1969 (anti-communism) Chile 1973 (mining - nationalism)Angola 1975-80 (anti-communism)E Timor 1975 (nationalism)Afghanistan 1979 (anti-USSR)El Salvador 1980-89 (nationalism)Libya 1981 (anti-terrorism?)Grenada 1983 (anti-communism)Nicaragua 1987 (anti-socialist)Panama 1989 (canal & anti-drugs)Iraq 1991 (oil)Somalia 1993 (humanitarian)Bosnia 1999 (humanitarian)Afghanistan 2002 (anti-terrorism)Iraq 2003 (?)

Coup in Iran, 1953: Coup in Iran, 1953: “successful”“successful”

Bay of Pigs (Cuba), 1961: Bay of Pigs (Cuba), 1961: failedfailed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShiHS3ZtGRw&feature=relatedv=ShiHS3ZtGRw&feature=related