In the assignment Week 5 Discussion, Cold War the Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
- Textbook: Chapter 7
- Lesson
- Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook)
Instructions
Select one of the following smaller nations:
- Korea
- Vietnam
- Cambodia
- Cuba
- Another smaller nation of your choice with instructor approval
For the initial post, address the following in relation to your selection:
- Examine how Cold War policy by the main players affected the smaller nation.
- Examine why democracy was not successful in that nation.
- Describe the loss of personal liberties that were a result of democracy failing.
- Has the nation’s political system changed since the Cold War? Explain.
Follow-Up Post Instructions
Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. At least one of your responses should be to a peer who chose an option different from yours. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification.
Writing Requirements
- Minimum of 3 posts (1 initial & 2 follow-up)
- Minimum of 2 sources cited (assigned readings/online lessons and an outside source)
- APA format for in-text citations and list of references
Based on Week 5 Discussion, Cold War answer1
After World War II there was a jockeying for power between countries. Britain and the United States wanted to keep the Soviet Union from taking over more countries and spreading communism. The Soviet Union wanted to strengthen their position as well as protect themselves. At this time nuclear weapons were being developed and both the United States and the Soviet Union were the super powers with this capability.
Cuba became involved in this struggle when the the “Soviets began secretly installing missiles in Cuba that could be used to launch nuclear attacks on U.S. cities. This sparked the Cuban missile crisis (1962)”. (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2021)
Before we go further we must look at what was going on at this time in Cuba. Cuba was just taken over Fidel Castro who enforced a more totalitarian type government. This of course was supported by the Soviet Union. The United States would not support this type of regime. President Kennedy was looking to overthrow this government so in looking for help, Castro turned to the Soviets. In return, the Soviets placed missiles there because they were close to the United States and this enabled the Soviet Union to be able to cause serious damage to the US.
In answer to how the policies of the main players of the Cold War affected Cuba, the Soviet Union protected them against the United States because they supported this type of government. The US responded by imposing trade restrictions until they reformed their government which did not happen.
Cuba was never a democracy. When examining the history of this small country I see many variations of authoritarian rule with various leaders overthrown by another restrictive authoritative leader.
The loss of liberties of the people of Cuba were great. Like other governments with totalitarian characters, Castro used force to stop opposing positions from cropping up. They censored the media just like we have seen in other governments of this type. ” Fidel Castro forbade the sale of automobiles in revolutionary Cuba,” (Duiker, 2015) which impaired mobility of both business as well as personal transport. He would imprison people unjustly and keep them under harsh conditions, forcing labor, even preforming experimental medical procedures without consent or even warranting diagnoses. The general population lived in poverty and under strict rule.
Today, Cuba is still has a communist type of government. Having said this, there have been two leaders since Castro. In the past number of years, restrictions have eased a small amount. For example, people can have cell phones and cars. The government still censures all forms of media.