Imperial Powers and Decolonization: Cold War Politics March 22

Cold War Politics and Africa

Cold War Politics and Africa From Allies to Enemies: - United States and Soviet Union ‘Allies’ in WWII - part ‘Big Three’ (including Britain) Britain economically, physically devastated by war US and USSR emerged as ‘super-powers’, controlling most significant post-war decisions, agreements ` ` 3

Cold War Politics and Africa Atlee (UK), Truman (US), Stalin (USSR) at Potsdam (1945)

Cold War Politics and Africa Apparent that Soviet Union was ‘Winner’ in Europe: Stalin did not achieve all he wished at Potsdam: clear that Soviet Union gained most from war soon established control over much Eastern Europe: ‘liberated’ territories from Fascism, offered them Soviet ‘socialist’ assistance - in coming year solidified control

Cold War Politics and Africa Differences Between former Allies: Capitalism-Socialism: opposing concepts of how economy should function ‘West’ looked to market (supply-demand) to shape economy 1944: created International World Monetary system based on US$ -- fixed exchange rate, backed by International Monetary Fund and World Bank .

Cold War Politics and Africa Soviet Union: saw this as ‘capitalist’ more than ‘internationalist’ enterprise - 1945: Stalin refused to join IMF -- feared control by US, now recognized as ‘the’ ascendant power - USSR established closed monetary system for Soviet Union and Communist allies in Europe

Cold War Politics and Africa Differences Between former Allies: Democracy-Communism: opposing concepts of how government should function ‘West’ (including Britain, European allies) followed forms of elected government systems different but most tending to forms of welfare state, reflecting post-war destruction and poverty in Europe

Cold War Politics and Africa ‘East’ : Communism as developed by authoritarian leadership Soviet Union just beginning experience of Empire in central Europe: ‘buffer states’ to be managed from Moscow had acknowledged 1941 Atlantic Charter but had no intention of participating

Cold War Politics and Africa Soviet Union Communism American Democracy

Cold War Politics and Africa ‘The Iron Curtain’: ideological boundary dividing Europe America’s economic, political vision for the post-war world was in direct conflict a with the Soviet Union’s - March 1946, Churchill characterized Europe as facing a new challenge: the symbolic emergence of an ‘iron curtain’ dividing the West from the East:

Cold War Politics and Africa AND IRON CURTAIN

Cold War Politics and Africa North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Agreement Signed, 1949 - Washington White House Warsaw Treaty Organization (Warsaw Pact) Signed, 1955 – Warsaw Presidential Palace

Cold War Politics and Africa ‘Non-Alignment’: search for neutrality non-alignment movement grew beyond this bi-polar world: in part challenge, in part escape - given formal legitimacy at Bandung Conference, 1955 - meeting of Asian and African former colonies, spoke for those still seeking independence especially in Africa

Cold War Politics and Africa Bandung Conference: - goal to establish path reducing dependence on former colonial powers and new ‘super powers’: - called for: protection human rights principle of self-determination end to racial discrimination importance of peaceful coexistence - Resulted in Non-Aligned Movement (1961)

Cold War Politics and Africa Regarded with suspicion by US: many African colonies still fighting for independence, being supported by Soviet Union: non-aligned movement seen as ‘leaning left’ Underscored: US supporting colonial forces needed as part of NATO, bulwark against USSR - statements about ‘racial equality’: sensitive issue in 1950s US – Civil Rights movement

Cold War Politics and Africa ‘Ideological’ commitment of Asian, African leaders at Bandung was real: Shared, developed by those engaged in struggles for independence 1950s -- 1970s - creation NAM (1961): voice for those seeking ‘middle road’ in the Cold War: India's Nehru; Burma's U Nu; Indonesia's  Sukarno; Egypt’s Abdel Nasser; Ghana’s Nkrumah

Cold War Politics and Africa 1946 1934

Cold War Politics and Africa 1961 1963 1968

Cold War Politics and Africa 1955

Cold War Politics and Africa Decolonization intertwined with Cold War Sometimes colonial powers resisted nationalist demands – e.g. settler colonies in Africa led to wars, often long (as in Mozambique) US generally supported NATO allies* with military equipment, sometimes troops *including Portugal: Portugal Fascist but remained ‘neutral’ in WWII. Post-War was founding member NATO

Cold War Politics and Africa Decolonization intertwined with Cold War Soviet Union often supported nationalists who embraced (or leaned towards) Communism or Socialism (e.g. Mozambique, ZANU – Rhodesia, FLN- Algeria, ANC – South Africa)

Cold War Politics and Africa No matter how ‘independence’ gained (negotiation or battle) throughout Africa: - new states were ‘prizes’ in competition for economic, political and ideological influence between US and USSR Decolonization did not bring ‘democracy and freedom’: ‘neo-colonialism’ was new enemy – a very dangerous one in the context of the Cold War!

Cold War Politics and Africa VIDEO: Katanga: the Untold Story (of UN Betrayal) [Excerpts: 4:27 – 25:30; 52:36– 58:36]