The world after 1945
Although the pages of history are filled with details of numerous wars fought in India and around the world in ancient times, the two great wars of the modern era (World War I and World War II) with a global impact that will always be remembered in this war can mostly be included. At the end of World War I, the League of Nations was established with the aim of establishing permanent peace in the world; but due to some of its limitations, it failed and World War II broke out in 1939. The dark mood and horror of the wartime of World War II made mankind realize once again the need for efforts to protect peace and freedom, resulting in the establishment of the United Nations (October 24, 1945).
Thus, it can be concluded from the letter that the abolition of war and the pursuit of eternal peace are the main goals of the United Nations.
“Cold War” (1945-1962) – Causes and Consequences
The important result of the Second World War was that America and Russia took over the world leadership from the superpowers like England and France. During the war, England, France, Russia, and America remained together; but after the war, America and England separated from Russia due to the different ideology of the Russian system of government. In the post-war period, these two superpowers remained at the center of world politics and both made active efforts to increase their dominance in the world. During this period, the world was divided into two power groups and military groups.
Since power was centralized in two poles (America and Russia), this period is known as the bipolar world order period. After the world war, the relations between these two superpowers were not harmonious. An atmosphere of dissatisfaction was created between the two groups. Due to the tension for power and the creation of an extremely tense situation, this phase is also known as the Cold War phase.
After World War II, there were changes in the power relations between the world's major powers. The United States and Russia, which had fought together as allies against Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy and emerged victorious, became opposing power-groups. Both became powerful nations and a cold war began between them. Although Britain and France were victorious, both lost their status as superpowers due to the terrible devastation caused in the war. Germany, Italy and Japan, which were defeated in the war, were destroyed in all ways, economically, politically and militarily.
During the latter stages of the war, the Soviet Union (Russia) annexed the eastern part of Germany as well as other Eastern European countries such as Austria, Albania, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania,Bulgaria and the Baltic states were taken over by the military. Power was transferred to communist parties in these countries, so that Russia remained dominant over them. During this period, Russia challenged the dominant power of the United States, which had the only atomic bomb, by carrying out the atomic bomb test (1949). Democratic rule was gradually established in the countries of Western Europe that were liberated by British and American forces.
A world divided into military factions
After World War II, as countries in Europe and the world aligned with other power groups, the process of polarization in two directions emerged and accelerated. An atmosphere of distrust arose between the two power groups, leading to the formation of several military groups. Another military group was formed to protect the countries of South and East Asia. This group was known as SEATO (SouthEast Asia Treaty Organization 1945).
In response to this military organization, Russia formed a military organization called the “Warsaw Pact”. Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Russia were members of this organization. In the Middle East, a group called “CENTO” (Central East North Treaty Organization) (Baghdad Pact) was formed with the inspiration of England; but it separated from the group due to the revolution in Iraq. Later, the leadership of this group was taken by America.
Armament, disarmament, creation and use of nuclear weapons
The United States achieved its supremacy by dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945). In the following four years, the Soviet Union (Russia) achieved its supremacy by developing nuclear weapons.
The US blockaded Cuba, a communist country located in the southwest of the US, in 1961-62. To protect Cuba from the threat of an American invasion, the Soviet Union sent nuclear-armed missile ships to the Caribbean Sea. The two superpowers threatened each other with nuclear weapons. Finally, the leaders of the US and the Soviet Union spoke for the first time on the "hot line". As a result, the Soviet Union decided to turn back its ships and turned back, and a war between the two was averted. This incident is known as the "Cuban Crisis".
This led to the exchange of messages between the two superpowers. The way was paved for the removal of misunderstandings between the two superpowers. Both superpowers did not use nuclear weapons and worked for human welfare. That is why the Cuban crisis is known as the beginning of the end of the Cold War.
The treaty prohibited one country from using nuclear weapons against another. Four, except China, were permanent (veto-power) members of the United Nations Security Council.
These five nations possessed the advanced technology to produce nuclear weapons, chemical and biological weapons, and long-range missiles. The world was gripped by the fear of nations capable of destroying not only the human race but also the entire planet, many times over.
As the Cold War between the two superpowers has eased and relations have begun to improve, the superpowers have signed treaties limiting and reducing nuclear weapons.The world will not be free from the threat of nuclear weapons until there is complete disarmament.
The rise of independent nations in Asia
During World War II, independence movements had already begun in the dependent countries of Asia. Due to the discriminatory policy of the British in India, India was divided into two parts with independence and two independent nations, India and Pakistan, came into existence. After a long struggle for independence, India became independent (1947). Similarly, several nations became independent after struggling with Britain, including Myanmar and Sri Lanka (1948), and Indonesia (1949), in which the United Nations played an important role. Asian countries like Laos and Cambodia also became independent nations.
The rise of independent nations in Africa
World War II had a happy outcome for the dependent countries of Africa. As a result, in the sixteen-year period from 1951 to 1966, about 40 small and large countries in Africa gained independence. The imperialist powers were not willing to give up their dominance in the world, so they also tried to maintain their power, but some countries did not join these two superpower groups or military groups and wanted to remain independent and develop their own nations independently.
Non-Aligned Movement
The world was divided into two superpowers. Some nations aligned with the two opposing superpowers and military groups (America and Russia) and some nations did not align, meaning the nations that were not aligned with any power group or military group in the world were non-aligned and the foreign policy they adopted was known as the "non-aligned" policy.
Neutral nations wanted to develop all-roundly without joining any of the ideologies of the two superpowers of the world, with cooperation from each other; but with their own separate existence. At this time, the policy of non-alignment received strong support from Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Indonesian President Sukarno, Egyptian President Colonel Nasser and Yugoslav President Marshal Tito. At the end of the discussions, a conference of neutral nations was held in Badung, Indonesia (1955).
Representatives from 23 Asian and 6 African countries attended this conference. The conference declared the goal of increasing cultural and economic cooperation among the poor countries of the world and opposing imperialism. The framework and future work of the organization of neutral nations were decided in this conference. Under the leadership of its first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India adopted a foreign policy of non-alignment.
He provided valuable leadership to the non-aligned movement. Nehru believed that national interests could be better protected by remaining neutral rather than joining any power bloc or military group. India has always believed that the division of the world into two rival power blocs into military alliances is a threat to world peace and detrimental to international cooperation.
Many events have taken place globally in the last four decades. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia's dominance has declined. America is becoming stronger as the sole superpower. Of course, the imperialist policy of the countries of the world has waned. In this situation, the influence of the Non-Aligned Movement has been increasing.
Neutral nations have been successful in making a worthy contribution to world politics by adopting the new approach of non-alignment. Non-alignment has been successful in exerting a moral influence to ensure that peace is maintained throughout the world, that war incidents do not occur, that the spirit of human society and nation is preserved, and that the great powers cultivate an attitude of disarmament.
The division and unification of Germany
Germany, which is believed to have started the First and Second World Wars, was also destroyed in the Second World War, thus itsThe economic, social and political backbone was broken. There was no leader who could restore Germany.This was arranged as follows. The Red Army of the Soviet Union had occupied the eastern part, so that the administration of East Germany was handed over to the Soviet Union.
The administration of the southwestern part of Germany was given to the United States, the administration of the regions near France to France, and the administration of the German area adjacent to Belgium to Britain. The capital of Germany, Berlin, was also divided between Russia and the Coordination Committee. A Coordination Committee was also formed between them for administrative unity.
In this way, the administration of four countries was established over Germany. As an atmosphere of distrust arose between the power groups, the Soviet Union feared that its power would be lost over East Germany, so it set up a puppet government in East Germany that would remain within its control.
Just as the three sections of West Germany were unified, the three sections of Berlin were also unified. In protest against this process, the Soviet Union declared a blockade of Berlin (April 1948).During this time, a 42 km long wall was built separating West Berlin and East Berlin.
Germans living in East Berlin were eager to escape from the oppressive and harsh environment to the free and spacious environment of West Berlin, and there were numerous incidents of reaching their families, loved ones, and friends in that section. People made desperate attempts to reach West Berlin by scaling the wall or swimming across the water.
The communist government of East Germany took brutal measures such as shooting people who tried to escape. In this Many people lost their lives. In the four and a half decades that followed, West Germany experienced tremendous growth. It achieved economic and other achievements, which became known as the "German Miracle."
By 1990, important and far-reaching changes had taken place in international politics, due to which the currents of the Cold War had subsided. The gap between the communist countries of Eastern Europe and the democratic countries of Western Europe began to narrow. The iron curtain that had been the barrier between them began to disappear.
As a result, the Soviet Union disintegrated (we will discuss it later). There were no issues left that could cause bitterness between East Germany and West Germany, so negotiations were held between the two countries, resulting in the unification of the two Germanys (October 3, 1990). The Berlin Wall, which was a symbol of sorrow, separation, sorrow, compassion and cruel oppression for the German people, was torn down with joy and happiness, and the German people expressed their joy from the bottom of their hearts. The united Germany made very rapid progress in the decade after 1990, making progress in the political, economic, trade, commerce, social, etc. fields, and has become a prosperous nation in Europe.
Disintegration of Soviet Russia
During the last decade of the twentieth century, the ideological changes in the Soviet Union due to the liberal policies of Soviet President Gorbachev led to the division of the Soviet Union (Russia). The peaceful dissolution of the Soviet Union can be considered a turning point in world politics. He had liberal tendencies. Russia made great progress in the field of science and technology. It was powerful against superpowers like America.
Gradually, the grip of the Communist Party, bureaucracy, and Red Army on the administration of the Soviet Union began to loosen.
Eventually, the process of disintegration was completed (December 1991) when 14 of the country's 15 states became independent.
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