The Cold War and the Economic Decline of the USSR

Apart from the two great wars, the Cold War was the most remarkable feature of twentieth century, a period of extreme hostility without actual war. By the end of the Great War, Soviet Union emerged as a powerful revolutionary state that gradually evolved into an empire over the course of following decades. It served as an ideological model for one third of the world and was considered as a secure and stable society by the rest. During this period the world was divided into two distinct blocs, the proponents of democracy led by United States of America (USA) and the Socialist regimes headed by the Soviet Union. Having almost equal military parity, the hostilities between the two superpower was so great that many feared dooms day scenario in case war broke out. Although, the effort by both sides to undermine and damage the interest of each other was no hidden secret, yet the military parity resulted mostly in a stalemate. This sudden and peaceful conclusion of Cold War and breakdown of Soviet Union therefore came as a surprise to all. The past two decades has witnessed countless argument in the academia regarding the surprisingly abrupt end of Cold War. Scholars of various theoretical perspectives have come up with different evidences explaining the sudden collapse of Soviet Union. However, there are still disagreement on the core issues which contributed most. While some argue regarding the material reasons such as stagnation of economy, others focus on the personalitiesShow MoreRelatedThe World Of A Totalitarian Communist Post War World1352 Words   |  6 PagesWWII Europe was a dystopian world razed by the chaos of the war. In the aftermath, the only two countries in the world left standing that were still considered superpowers were Soviet Russia and the United States. Tension between the two countries was thick. The US saw Russia as the main obstacle in the way of a democratic capitalistic post war world, and Russia saw the US as the main obstacle in the way of a totalitarian communist post war world. The on ly similarity between the views of the two countriesRead MoreThe Legacy of the Cold War1083 Words   |  5 Pages The legacy of the cold war and the struggle between the USSR and the United States continued to flourish in large portions in developing countries. The two world powers had different ideologies and were in a battle for supremacy. The Cold War pitted an American led alliance against the Soviet Union divided the economical and political world into two major blocs. The cold war involved a contest of ideologies that intensified after the two great powers, America and the Soviet Union started competingRead MoreCauses Of The Cold War1716 Words   |  7 PagesThe Cold War, a conflict between the United States and Soviet Union, the two global superpowers at the time. Given the name â€Å"Cold War† only for the fact that neither the Soviet Union nor the United States fought directly with one another, instead the war was waged through allies in the form of proxy wars and through increased use of intensive espionage, a never-ending arms race, immense technological competition and on a p olitical forefront as both sides tried to gain the upper hand. The Cold WarRead MorePolitical Changes in Europe Following WWII1251 Words   |  6 Pagessaw greater political changes than continuities following the 2nd World War. World War II (WWII) was a pivotal event that reshaped the Europe very much in terms of international politics. I agree to a large extent that Europe did see greater political changes than continuities following WWII. The most evident changes of which were that the United States of America (USA) and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) gained international dominance in the world arena and that the United NationsRead MoreThe United States And The Cold War Essay1614 Words   |  7 Pagesideological, political and economic interest, true coalitions between powers do not subsist, in the cessation, one endeavors to impose itself on the other regardless of the arguments and strategies that they utilize and the time that they involve them. This was a conflict between the United States of America, and the Soviet Union Socialist Republicans, and the countries that allied themselves to one side or the other. Although for most the cold war commences after the terminus of World War I I, it is liableRead MoreContributions to the End of the Cold War1389 Words   |  6 PagesArrived, at the End of the War On Christmas Day 1991, at 7:35 p.m., the Soviet flag flying over the Kremlin was lowered and replaced by the new Russian Federation flag. The USSR officially ceased to exist on December 31, 1991. The fall of the Soviet Union signified the end of the Cold War (Nye 2). Obviously, this was a huge moment in our world’s history; a 44-year-old tension between two of the most powerful countries in the world, which almost brought us to a combative war, was destroyed. But howRead MoreAmerican Foreign Policy Since World War 21395 Words   |  6 Pagesbook American Foreign Policy since World War 2, Steven W. Hook, and John Spanier take a historical look at American foreign policy. Since its independence, all through to the start of the 20th century, the United States had a policy of detachment. This was rooted in the believe that Europe, the only other meaningful powerful in the world in the 18th and 19th century, had intrinsic issues related to feudism that kept the continent in a constant state of war (Hook Spanier, 2015). The U.S on its partRead MoreThe End Of Cold War2804 Words   |  12 PagesThe End of Cold War: An Analysis Cold War should be considered as one of the most important events that stirred the global political world and it should be considered as an event the end of which reshaped the socio-economic and political structure of myriads of nations across the globe. The end of the Cold War ensured the demise of the Soviet instigated communism and the rise of democracy once again. But it should be noted that just like the emergence of the Cold War the end of the Cold War was notRead MoreMikhail Gorbachev ´s Glasnost and Perestroika Policies Contribution to the Collapse of the USSR1681 Words   |  7 Pagescontribute to the collapse of the USSR. In order to understand how significant of a factor Gorbachev policies were to the collapse of the USSR, we will investigate from how significant were the reforms emplaced by Gorbachev, to how the USSR was doing economically from the time Gorbachev came into power. The main sources for this investigation range from an Excerpt from The cold war: The Unite d States and the Soviet union by Ronald Powaski who states facts about both the economic and political issues of theRead MoreThe Alliance of Britain, USSR, and the United States During WWII was a Marriage of Convenience1684 Words   |  7 PagesThe alliance between Britain, the USSR and the USA during the Second World War has often been viewed as a marriage of convenience. They unified to defeat one common enemy, Nazi Germany. At the beginning of the Second World War the USA remained neutral, although they acted sympathetically towards the British cause against Nazi Germany. In 1941, the then president of the United States Franklin Roosevelt and the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arranged a meeting at the sea off the coast of

Analysis Of Descartes s First Attempt - 981 Words

In his first attempt, Descartes attempts to use the metaphor of weight to explain the relation, such that we can apply weight in terms relating to the body and other times relating to the soul, and just as we have the innate notion that an immaterial force â€Å"pushes† weighted objects towards the earth, so too does the immaterial soul/mind act on the body . However, this explanation proves unsatisfactory both to the modern reader and to Elisabeth herself; as this analogy fails to bridge the gap as to how something immaterial can enter into a causal relationship with something that is distinctly material. Elizabeth agrees that the senses (and the passions) demonstrate that the soul can move the body, but that falls far short of determining the mechanism by which this can happen (without of course sacrificing the integrity of his immaterial/material substance divide.) In a second attempt (following Elisabeth’s dissatisfaction with the weight analogy) Descartes provides his most extensive response, explaining the three factors necessary for causal functioning, and tying them to the specific example of thought and action . This exposition is problematic for a number of reasons. Firstly, Jonathon Dennett notes Descartes’ switches between using soul as the core subject of investigation to using the word â€Å"thought† which is actually an entirely separate argument; while thoughts are a necessary part of the soul/mind, they are not sufficient to explain all the processes. Secondly, inShow MoreRelatedDescartes’ Cogito Argument Successfully Shows the Evil Demon Argument is Unsound888 Words   |  4 PagesDoes Descartes’ Cogito argument successfully show that the Evil Demon Argument is unsound? In this essay I will attempt to show that the philosopher, Renà ¨ Descartes’ Cogito Argument successfully proves the Evil Demon Argument to be unsound. By an analysis of the structure of the arguments and what they prove, I will show the evil demon argument to be unsound. An argument is unsound when the premises as false and the argument is invalid. This analysis of both structure and content will eventuateRead MoreThe Dream Inside Of A Dream By Christopher Nolan1683 Words   |  7 PagesFinal Paper: Descartes The possibility of having a dream inside of a dream is an idea that has been discussed far and wide. However, before Inception came out in 2010 by director Christopher Nolan, many people in the modern world may not have ever considered this idea. Nonetheless, this idea of â€Å"a dream inside a dream† has been around since 1640, when Rene Descartes published Meditations. In Inception, Christopher Nolan uses Descartes ideas to enhance the storyline of his film. In this paperRead MoreThe On First Philosophy By Rene Descartes1699 Words   |  7 PagesIn his work Meditations on First Philosophy, published in 1641, Renà © Descartes sets out to establish a set of indubitable truths for the sciences. He begins by discarding all of his beliefs, then works to rebuild his beliefs based on careful thought. Descartes clearly states this goal, saying in the First Meditation, â€Å"I will work my way up†¦ I will accomplish this by putting aside everything that admits of the least doubt† (I, 17). He is able to establish his own existence, but struggles to move beyondRead MoreThe Mind Body Problem, By Rene Descartes Essay1331 Words   |  6 PagesThe Mind-body problem dates back to Plato and was well received by the scholastic philosophers. However, it was Rene Descartes the famous French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist. 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The ancientRead MoreExploring the Different Theories Involved in the Mind and Body Problem1654 Words   |  7 PagesExploring the Different Theories Involved in the Mind and Body Problem I will attempt to do this by firstly defining what the mind and body is secondly discussing what the mind and body problem is. Thirdly discussing the existing approaches to the problem and finally discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the approaches. The body is that which we perceive ourselves to be with our senses. It usually includes arms, legs a head and so on. The mind is that whichRead More Nelson on Descartess Theory of Perception and Judgment3058 Words   |  13 PagesNelson on Descartes?s Theory of Perception and Judgment ABSTRACT: One tension in Descartes?s account of human error stems from the idea that we may be faulted for our acts of will, despite the fact that God is our omnipotent and omniscient creator. In the present essay, I describe a second tension in Descartes?s account of human error. After describing the tension, I consider Alan Nelson?s characterization of the means by which Descartes?s intended to relieve it. Although Nelsons interpretationRead MoreAnalysis Of Descartes Meditations On First Philosophy Essay1758 Words   |  8 Pages The Role of God in Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy In his work Meditations on First Philosophy, published in 1641, Renà © Descartes sets out to establish a set of indubitable truths for the sciences. He begins by discarding all of his beliefs, then works to rebuild his beliefs based on careful thought. Descartes clearly states this goal, saying in the First Meditation, â€Å"I will work my way up†¦ I will accomplish this by putting aside everything that admits of the least doubt† (I, 17). HeRead MoreUsing Material From Smart And Armstrong1378 Words   |  6 PagesIn order to answer this question on an ad hoc basis I will attempt first, explain what â€Å"Mental states are identical to physical brain states† means in philosophical context. Second, I will explain the motivations of the type-identity thesis (Occam s Razor, and explanation of the casual efficiency of mental states) using material from Smart and Armstrong. Third, I will go onto examining type-identity thesis merits (how it solves Descartes problem of mind and body and how it allows us to derive theRead MoreEssay on The Philosophy of Cognitive Science2158 Words   |  9 Pagesdualism and the referred-to problem has been insistently discussed in the philosophical tradition and several solutions have been proposed. Such solutions are properly philosophical or require a scientific approach. First, I will expound the philosophical solution to the MBP proposed by Descartes, to be followed by an exposition of Ryles criticisms to the solution. Second, from Ryles criticism, I will deduce a scientific solution to the MBP related to the neural framework model of mind in cognitive science

Economic Sanctions And International Institutions With An...

Economic sanctions provide states and international institutions with an invaluable instrument of coercion. Without having to resort to violence, at least in the traditional sense, states can gain concessions and compliance from the target state. Economic sanctions are, however, not always successful. An analysis of 204 cases of implemented economic sanctions, from the start of the Cold War to 2000, revealed that economic sanctions were â€Å"at least partially successful† a mere 34% of the time (Hufbauer). While all economic sanctions have financial implications, there is a distinction to be drawn between economic sanctions—which include both trade and financial sanctions—and financial sanctions, as a standalone term. Financial sanctions can be defined as â€Å"restrictions that limit the provision of certain financial services or restrict access to financial markets, funds and economic resources in order to achieve a specific foreign policy or national securit y objective† (Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation HM Treasury). As the international financial system has become more globalized, and as a result more difficult to avoid while engaging in practically any form of economic transaction, the efficacy of financial sanctions has increased over more traditional forms of economic sanctions. Modern financial sanctions also have the added benefit of being more precise than their alternatives. This enables initiator states to institute sanctions in a more stylized manner andShow MoreRelatedForeign Policy of Pakistan from 1947 to 201210146 Words   |  41 Pages Department of International Relations FUUAST Introduction Foreign policies generally are designed to help protect a country’s national interest—national security, ideological goals, and economic prosperity. Owing to the anarchic nature of the international political system and the absence of a worldRead MoreCorrectional Administration Reviewer18383 Words   |  74 Pagesfollowing significant events: ï  ± 1870- the National prisons Association organized in Cincinnati, Ohio. ï  ± 1872- the First International Congress was held at London w/c established the International Penal and Penitentiary Commission; 1875- its headquarters was established at Hague, Netherlands. ï  ± 1876- the Elmira Reformatory was established in New York. ï  ± the First separate institution for women were established in Indiana and Massachusetts. 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Kaplan Higher Education and individual contributors are not responsible for the results of any action taken on the basis of information in these materials, nor forRead MoreBackground Inditex, One of the Worlds Largest Fashion Distributors, Has Eight Major Sales Formats - Zara, Pull and Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home Y Kiddys Class- with 3.147 Stores in 70100262 Words   |  402 Pagestextile sector Doctoral dissertation the international institute for industrial environmental economics Lund University, Sweden  IIIEE DISSERTATIONS 2009:2  Responsibility in the Supply Chain Interorganisational management of environmental and social aspects in the supply chain Case studies from the textile sector Beatrice KOGG Doctoral Dissertation May 2009 The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics  Internationella miljà ¶institutet  Read MoreChange Management49917 Words   |  200 Pagesorganizations must adopt strategies that realistically reflect their ability to manage multiple future scenarios. 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Imperialism and Colonization free essay sample

Colonization and imperialism are inherently associated with an economic model that is meant to boost the economy of the colonizing power (herein referred to as benefactor state) by providing target market for manufactured goods and source of raw materials. During the twentieth century most colonies gained independence or autonomy resulting in a disruption of the economic model associated with colonization and imperialism. A current trend is globalization which necessitates a complete reversal of the economic role of states. The role has changed from serving as a market for the benefactor state to manufacturing products using inexpensive labor that are then sold back to the benefactor state. Many states (particularly in Africa) have not been able to adjust to this change and have, thus, been caught between colonization and globalization without strong economic ties to other nations. To minimize conflict within a state and between states, the respective nations must have ties that are strong enough to transcend national boundaries. We will write a custom essay sample on Imperialism and Colonization or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This is evident when examining global trends such as colonization and globalization which tend to focus nations that would normally be at odds on a common goal. In the case of colonization, natives of occupied territories are inclined to unite against the occupying power. A current trend towards globalization has forced nations to unite because of an increased economic dependence between states. The claim (albeit untrue) that there has never been a war between two countries having McDonalds underscores the importance of economic ties that can transcend national boundaries. A History of Imperialism and Colonization During the height of colonialism, Britain controlled over a quarter of the land and one third of the population. Combined, Britain and eight other European countries controlled approximately 84% of the earth’s surface. (Conklin: 1) What factors allowed Europeans to exert such a strong influence on other parts of the world? More importantly, what were the motivations for subjugating the rest of the world that have made such a profound impact even in the modern world? J. A. Hobson describes the driving force behind olonization as â€Å"the investor who cannot find at home the profitable use he seeks for his capital, and insists that his Government should help him to profitable and secure investments abroad. † (Hobson: 15) On the practical side of colonization, armies are needed and colonization can’t occur until an industrial revolution begins. Industrialization requires cheap labor, a navy, a target market to buy surplus p roducts and raw materials. Without a large enough target audience for selling goods, the industrial revolution would have been stymied and Britain’s economy and industry could not have advanced as rapidly. Essentially, raw materials are shipped out of colonies to the colonizing country, manufactured into a finished product using cheap labor and then sold back to the colonies at profit. (Kollenbroich) Undoubtedly, there are other factors that motivated European powers to colonize; Christianity, national pride and civilizing those perceived as savages to name some. However, there is no denying that most colonies became economically dependent on the colonizing country. This implies that economic reasons, regardless of other motivating factors for colonization, were a driving force in colonization. In fact, the factors such as Christianity, national pride and the mission to civilize would often go hand in hand with the economic motivation and serve to conceal the economic reasons from the general public. (Kollenbroich) M. K. Ghandi agrees with that statement, â€Å"England is a nation of shopkeepers,† (attributed to Napoleon) and goes on to describe how the British, â€Å"hold whatever dominions they have for the sake of their commerce. † (Ghandi: 25) Continuing on the same note, Ghandi explains that the British view the world as a vast market for their goods. According to Ghandi, the British didn’t conquer India per se; rather the acceptance of British commerce, lifestyle and law allowed the British to govern India. For this very reason, Ghandi promotes a lifestyle lacking in machinery. â€Å"What did India do before these articles were introduced? Precisely the same should be done today. † (Ghandi 28-29) In Ghandi’s opinion, removing economic ties to Britain and rest of Europe, India would eventually attain sovereignty. Clearly, the economy plays a vital role in colonization and is a strong motivation by providing raw materials and markets to sell finished goods. The question that begs to be asked is: How were Europeans able to convince or force other parts of the world to accept colonization? The answer has everything to do with image. If natives didn’t believe that the Europeans were superior, revolts would have been much more widespread. In turn, European militaries would have been spread too thin and outnumbered. The key to preventing this lies in creating the illusion for natives that the Europeans are superior in every way and resistance is futile. The style of rule is as important as the fact the Europeans are in control of the colony. Typically the French would use a divide and conquer strategy. They would bring in French administrators and subject the natives to French culture. This was effective because the French often grouped tribes or groups of natives that didn’t get along. Instead of fighting the French, the natives would fight amongst themselves. On the other hand, the British would preserve parts of the local system and choose natives leaders. This was effective for the British because it gave the natives the illusion of a certain level of autonomy while the British remained in control. Kollenbroich) The socio-economic model in most colonies was noticeably lacking a middle class. On one hand there are the natives who are often dirt poor by European standards and on the other hand there are the business and elite classes that are continually sucking profit out of the colonies. This is somewhat true of even Europe because of industrialization which left a large lower class working in the factories fo r minimal wages. The Trend of Globalization The push towards a more global economy has several important consequences. Many states that were once colonizing powers have seen their role shift to that of economic powerhouses with global cities that serve as command and control centers for the economy. (Sassen, 4) In the wake of globalization, an increasing number of firms have centralized their business presence in the downtown areas of global cities and placed numerous factories in foreign states to take advantage of lower labor prices. The placement or acquisition of factories in other states is known as foreign direct investment (FDI). The five major exporters of capital (United States, United Kingdom, Japan, France and Germany) account for 70 percent of FDI (Sassen 11). According to Sassen, â€Å"the growth in FDI has been embedded in the internationalization of production of goods and services. † (Sassen: 10) This is readily evident when considering the number of factories being built in Latin American and Southeast Asian. The semiconductor explosion coupled with other industries choosing to locate in Asia has led to an â€Å"emergence of Southeast Asia as a crucial transnational space for production. (Sassen: 11) Prominent American companies have increasingly moved the manufacturing of products offshore to take advantage of more lax labor laws and significantly lower wages. The transition from colonization to globalization has seen the role of foreign countries move from buying products to creating products cheaply. The economics of intervention has played a more dominant role in foreign policy and will continue to do so in the future. For decades the United States and Soviet Union struggled to see capitalism and communism spread, respectively. The struggle played out both economically and militarily in many countries throughout the world and is important because more often than not decolonized countries would be in need of economic and sometimes military intervention. More recently, the United States and other countries have faced decisions about whether to intervene in situations such as Somalia and other African states. Interventions such as these are often viewed by the much of the public as too little too late and this can be attributed, at least in part, to a lack of economic interest in the conflict. In fact, intervention costs millions and sometimes billions of dollars which, in many politicians’ eyes, is not justified. To make matters worse, politicians are very careful about labeling conflicts as massacres or genocide because as soon as a conflict is labeled as such, it ethically requires intervention. What happens then to a state caught between colonization and globalization that has little or no economical tie to the global economy? If the conflict receives enough attention on the world stage and there is enough bloodshed, then there is a good chance that a peacekeeping force will intervene. However, the chance of intervention in a conflict with little or no bloodshed is much slimmer and may never materialize. Case Study: Zimbabwe According to the International Crisis Group, â€Å"Zimbabwe’s economy is hemorrhaging. † (Zimbabwe: 5) Zimbabwe’s economy has shrunk approximately 25 percent since 1998, inflation is more than 228% percent (Zimbabwe: CIA) and unemployment is higher than 60 percent. Foreign direct investment (FDI) has decreased from 436 million USD in 1998 to 4. 5 million USD. The FDI alone is indicative of an ever increasing gap between today’s global economy and the economy of Zimbabwe. Any economic ties that Zimbabwe has with the rest of the world are slowly wasting away with a decrease in gold production and decreased foreign aid. In fact, reducing hours and production volume is now the norm and has led to a scarcity of basic commodities within the country. To make a poor situation even worse, the government of Zimbabwe has been directing farm seizures that have led to 95 percent of large scale farmers either stopping operations or being severely disrupted. The food production has declined by 40 percent and prompted a United Nations (UN) report that warns of the potential of famine. If predictions hold true, Zimbabwe’s harvests will not be enough to feed the entire population Zimbabwe will be forced to import food. The government has gone as far as deploying army and police units to deal with riots, should they break out. (Zimbabwe) The ruling ZANU-PF party has been systematically eliminating opposition from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). The ZANU-PF has been accused of distributing food to party members rather than equally which means that even children of MDC supporters have food withheld. ZANU-PF supporters, civil servants and traditional leaders are blocking MDC supporters from acquiring maize †¦ It is clear that some schemes have been discriminatory for months without the donor being aware. (Zimbabwe: 7) Thus far, the rest of the world has been passive about the happenings in Zimbabwe. In part, this can be attributed to the need to intervene if a country or countries declare a humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. As noted earlier the FDI has dramatically declined resulting in essentially no economic ties between Zimbabwe and the rest of the world. More than likely, aid or intervention will not take place without a crisis that places Zimbabwe in the center of the world stage. Zimbabwe is just one former colony of many (in Africa and other parts of the world) that gained independence and left behind the imperialistic economy. Unfortunately, Zimbabwe has stepped out of one economic model and failed to step into the global economy. This is evident in the dramatically decreased FDI and production as well as the lack of intervention from other states. Focus on Former African Colonies World War II left the European powers (with the exception of Portugal) scrambling to leave Africa. As alluded to earlier, colonizing is an expensive business that takes enormous resources and ultimately is profitable for a relatively small number people. Most European colonies in Africa were never as profitable as had been hoped for couldn’t be justified like India and some other colonies. The bad name given to imperialism by Hitler helped accelerate the process in Africa as well as other parts of the world. Due to a lack of economic motivation capable of transcending national boundaries, many former colonies have descended into civil wars and other disputes between nations within the state. As demonstrated with Zimbabwe, this conflict is not necessarily militarily (although this is often the case) carried out and may be something as appalling as withholding food or other basic commodities from a portion of the population. Countless other African states such as Somali, Uganda, Liberia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda and the Congo have had or continue to have conflicts between nations. Many countries in Africa are lacking a solid economy that isn’t dominated by a single sector such as agriculture.