US Foreign Policy during the Cold War - Term Paper Example

Exam II: History No: Examine US foreign policy during the Cold War. Select any region (Latin America, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa) and examine major actors and events. US foreign policy during the Cold War in Africa appeared to be unbeneficial for the people of the land. Africa was not threatening for America because the people were themselves very poor and faced hardships like economic struggles and internal wars at their home ground. Even then, America failed in its many policies towards Africa and its countries. US supported dictatorship in most of the African countries and disregarded governance of democratic or national leaders due to which, the states suffered at the hands of dictators who got US support and were mostly cruel, corrupt and repressive1. The foreign policy for African region allowed financial support for the region, but US aimed at getting benefits during the Cold War from the region. This made the region suffer more. Their financial state worsened and poverty increased with much turmoil and terrorism in the whole region. The Republic of Congo faced a desolated failure because of failure of American foreign policy in the land. US got involved in Congo’s domestic political affairs as it approved the governance of the leader Mobutu and disapproved that of Lumumba due to which, Lumumba got killed and Mobutu governed the country for thirty two years. US backed a dictator and did not allow a democratic government in Congo. US involvement in domestic affairs of Congo and its backing of Mobutu resulted in destruction of the highly resourced Congo’s economy and after ending of Mobutu’s governance, Congo was bankrupt and economically deprived state. In addition, poor not face poor conditions of living, but there are also many domestics political conflicts due to which, the life expectancy in Congo is still very low.2 US intruded in the domestic political affairs of Angola and Angola was victimized during Cold War. In Angola, there were many insurgent groups who were against US policies, but with the passage of time, US backed one after another against a powerful and nation building group due to which, Angola had to undergo a civil war for twenty seven years. US backed UNITA leader John Savimbi who employed guerrilla tactics against Angola’s government resulting in economical deprivation of the land. US sole motive in backing UNITA was anti-Cuban approach. Angola was able to prosper and advance in many fields of economical development after disappearance of Savimbi from political scene with no more backing from US.3 US supported Somalia in gaining charitable and militarily supervision and Somalia allowed US navy to establish its base at Berbera during the Cold War. The then leader of Somalia was Barre who proved to be corrupt and repressive for the people and ruled for whole twenty two years. To remove Barre from administration, an armed opposition was arranged and this rivalry resulted in societal collapse due to which, Somalia had to face famines. US support was inefficient and when Somalia faced famine, US was unable to provide them the needful, instead they searched for individuals having weapons killing many people underway. The interference in Somalia government and US foreign policy regarding Somalia ranging to twenty years resulted in lawlessness, losing resources and death of Somali and American people. With US involvement in the region, there are threats of Taliban like governance in Somalia. Ethiopia also participated in creating anarchy in Somalia and all that was done with the assistance of US. Somalia was troubled because of its internal affairs and strife between rival forces and American involvement did no better to the state, but it worsened the Somali financial and political state by supporting dictatorship and anarchy.4 US showed opposition for Qadhafi and all their actions were against him. US agreed to the revolutionary Libya, but it kept aggressive foreign policy against Libya due to which, the confrontation between the two states continued to many years. The policies that US structured were to remove Qadhafi from power and restrict Libya to contribute towards terrorism. US involvement in the state’s affairs was not in the interest of the state as they were for their own economic and other interests. Libyan Liberation groups kept busy in protesting against US policies by damaging US embassies in African region and other Muslim states like Iran. US armed forces—naval as well as air—targeted civilian locations killing many innocent people. Libya was accused of many terrorist attacks in US and US agencies. US failed in its policies against Libya.5 The overall foreign policy of US for African region during the Cold War was based on their own interests. Africa was already a poor region and US involvement and interference in political, economical and social lifestyle of people deprived them more. US tried to provide them with financial assistance, but this financial assistance was not enough for the countries who were going through internal wars and rivalry. US backed dictatorship in African lands due to which, African people suffered largely. How did the Cold War affect popular culture? American popular culture was greatly affected by the Cold War. Media attained a lot of freedom and talked about issues that were not allowed to be discussed openly. There were movies, music, cinema, advertisements, talk, shows and news that talked about cultural freedom. During the Cold War, the authors, musicians and artists put forward the notions of freedom. The social issues regarding Civil War, feminism, women rights, equal rights for everyone, alcoholism, abortion, drugs, gay and lesbian sexual rights and many other suppressed topics were discussed and used in media freely. There were teen movies like “Sixteen Candles”, “Fast Times” and “Breakfast Clubs”, which discussed serious issues like abortion, spousal violence, divorce, alcoholism, economy and war. There were movies like “The Wild Ones”, “Easy Rider” and others that talked about individual liberty. There were also movies about foreign policy such as “Rambo”, “Stripes” and “Missing in Action”. Music albums of Madonna, Rocking Stones, Cindy Lauper and Michael Jackson were there.6 Media prioritized anti-war movement and Hippie movement in terms of cultural vigor and tumult. The Rock music that became popular in the US during the Cold War became the music of masses not only in America, but other European states as well. Not only in Europe and America, but also in Soviet Union, American popular culture gained reputation. Boys adopted rock and roll music, kept long hair and blue jeans in America, Europe and even in Soviet Union because of adopting rock music and culture with all its freedom. Previously, as per media, cultural freedom was suppressed and there was a fear of the uncertain that haunted American culture, but with the Cold War, this fear itself got suppressed giving utmost freedom to media and people. Canada appeared to be off shoot of America in following and depicting American pop culture. Black music also got acknowledged and got immense reputation with their gospel and Jazz. The cinema was highly affected because of Cold War and was employed largely to influence public views. In US, the cinema was controlled by the administration and most of the movies were anticommunist. There were spy movies and propaganda movies by Hollywood in collaboration with FBI. Walter E. Disney when asked about creating propaganda films during the Cold War accepted the accusation and informed that he made some of them. Some movies were anti-Hitler that was of course for propaganda during the Cold War7. The anti-communist movies were supported by Ronald Reagan. Reagan and Disney, both fought against communism and helped in creation of motion pictures that were anti-communist and having propaganda. During the Cold War, such stuff and form of American pop culture appeared essential, but afterwards, it was categorized as un-American. Hollywood was encouraged to make anticommunist movies. 8 Television got reputed during the Cold War. It showed many programs and started game shows like “Queen for a Day”, “American Bandstand” and many others that attracted massive audience towards television. In addition, it also showed many other programs attracting youngsters and well as elders.9 Boys studying at schools and colleges had major distractions during the Cold War, which were pointed by critics. American popular culture dealing with drugs, alcoholism, teenage and war were regarded as distractions for the boys and their growth, but Collier informs that boys should be aware of the present, which circulates around them and they should also be aware of their past as well.10 The American children watching television and using other media were doubted to develop more delinquent behavior because of freedom and openness of media. The subject areas that were employed during the Cold War were serious stuff and also highlighted delinquent features such as alcoholism, drug usage, crime and all these inspired children and youngsters. Initially authorities used media for propaganda and afterwards, war, crime, drugs and other subjects highlighted during the Cold War became a part of the television and haunted youngsters to adopt certain adverse behaviors. Violence as a whole became known to people and juvenile crime increased. 11So, the overall popular culture in America was affected by Cold War immensely. Did the US become more conservative since World War II? Defend your response. In the aftermath of World War II, conservatism started as a movement in the US. Conservatism in US can be noticed after World War II and after arrival of elected president Ronald Reagan who was a strict conservative. With Reagan’s government, conservatism as a movement became part of the governance. Eisenhower also showed signs of conservatism as he preferred a middle way in place of full liberalism. He followed some of the policies of Truman considering them valuable for the country. His approach was conservative as he restricted any political party to take any step against governmental laws or policies regarding labor laws, social security and unemployment insurance programs. He worked towards less spending due to which, he dismissed twenty thousand government employees from their jobs. Conservatives believed in free market capitalism, controlled parameters of economy, liberty and morality. However, till how far, they get their objectives is not fully known12 The conservatives thought that everything in the world after World War II is under the effect of communism and needs to be corrected. Whatever West termed right, conservatives regarded it wrong. The conservatives produced articles, books and lectures informing others about their thoughts. They became much more influential after World War II in terms of politics. US considered its intervention in all the economies of the world and Americanism and Americans as nationals of the state became their preference. The American governments saw no issue in attacking other states for bringing in democracy in their lands and removing their leaders by calling them dictators. The conservatives were anticommunists. The conservatives worked under the principle of “force of reaction” that pushed them to get involved in world politics and other issues of the world.13 Ronald Reagan openly declared in his 1983, “Evil Empire” speech that Soviet motives towards worldly revolution were not based on moral values, but their struggle towards power acquirement showing his disgust for communism and communist ideas. As a conservative, he announces communism as a bizarre chapter in human history. He calls Soviet Union as an evil empire with wrong motives.14 In another speech by President Bush, the war that was imposed on Panama was regarded right as it was fought for the security of Americans residing in Panama. Bush informs about his action that he took by sending military forces to Panama for bringing down the dictator’s rule and to safeguard American nationals. Because of conservatism, US regards itself self-righteous in fighting for the cause of democracy, anti-communism and against terrorism. Considering itself responsible to rectify all ills found in any place or region, US intervenes in the governance of other countries with the support of armed forces or with negotiation. It adopts every method in intervening in the issues of other states.15 Conservatism in UDS has grown manifold after World War II and Americans who follow conservatism consider that they have no other solution, but to fight against whatever they consider wrong as per their consideration. According to them, whatever appears to be wrong must be corrected such as increasing crime rate, sexual allowances, progress of communism, augmenting strength of labor unions and much more. Everything that is wrong as per conservatives, they have to correct that wrong by fighting against it. They have to maintain American values, culture and freedom and if they consider that anything regarding being American is at stake, that should be annihilated. Therefore, overall, the conservatism appeared to be a strong movement after the ending of World War II and the followers of conservatism worked towards making America a global leader, which considers its responsibility in intervening in the affairs of other nations in order to make their democratic or righteous as per American norms and values.16 The first conservatives were against the use of power or military for solving the issues and worked towards peace missions. However, after 1970, neoconservatives were there who were in favor of use of military power for meeting the interests of US. The strategies adopted in attacking states like Iran, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan inform about the presence of neoconservatives in the government of US who prefer military action against peace negotiations.17 Therefore, American conservatism is a movement that gained rise after World War II and this rise effected not only America, but also other states in which, US government intervened for safeguarding US interests. Bibliography 24-Cold War at Home PowerPoint Presentation (1983) “Evil Empire” Speech, Ronald Reagan (1989) Operation Just Cause, George H. W. Bush Berkin, Carol. Making America. 1st ed. (Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2013). “Boy Studying,” Collier’s, 28 January 1950, 82. Congress, House, Committee on Un-American Activities, Hearings Regarding the Communist Infiltration of the Motion Picture Industry, 80th Congress, 1st Session, October 23–24, 1947 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1947). Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency, Television and Juvenile Delinquency, interim report, 1955, Committee Print. The 1980s PowerPoint Presentation Read More