Power, Ideology, And Terror In The Atomic Age Worksheet

Power Ideology And Terror In The Atomic Age Worksheethis114 Version

Power, Ideology, and Terror in the Atomic Age Worksheet The Cold War Answer each of the following questions in one paragraph: 1. What role did atomic weapons play in the Cold War? Summarize nuclear developments from 1945 to 1991. 2. What important events and symbolism in Berlin helped define the Cold War? 3. Why did European communism collapse? Terrorism and the West Answer each of the following questions with a short phrase or sentence: 1. Why were many Palestinians angered by the creation of Israel in 1948? A. Palestinians were driven out of the new Israel. The frustration and injustice of the treatment of Palestinians has angered many citizens. (Global Issues, 2006. p.. Why did the United States and the Soviet Union each support different terrorist organizations? A. 3. What happened to the Arab countries that attempted direct military action against Israel? 4. What motivated Palestinian terrorism? 5. What is jihad? 6. What motivated paramilitary groups in the Troubles of Northern Ireland? 7. What motivated the Red Army Faction and the Red Brigades? 8. What motivated the 1995 bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City? 9. What are the motives of the ETA and loyalist paramilitary forces in Spain’s Basque country? 10. What were the four major events of September 11, 2001? 11. What are the motives of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida? The Lessons of History Answer each of the following questions in one paragraph: 1. How did American and Soviet involvement in Afghanistan contribute to the Taliban’s takeover there? What were the unintended consequences for the United States of Taliban rule in Afghanistan? Was the conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors a part of the Cold War, a religious or ethnic clash, or a conflict between good and evil? Defend your answer. 2. How has oil contributed to world events and conflicts since 1973? What historical lessons should Western governments remember in dealing with oil-rich countries like Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Iran? 3. What historical event should inform Western treatment of suspected terrorists? Select one of the following events and describe its implications for treatment of suspected terrorists: a. The Reign of Terror in revolutionary France b. Prisoner of war treatment during World War II c. Internment of Jews and of Japanese-Americans during World War II d. Decolonization e. Prisoner of war treatment during the Vietnam War References Global Issues . ( July 30, 2006 ). The Middle East conflict—a brief background. Retrieved from

Paper For Above instruction

The Cold War era, spanning from 1945 to 1991, was significantly shaped by the advent and development of atomic weapons, which transformed international power dynamics and instilled mutual nuclear deterrence among superpowers. After World War II, the United States' successful deployment of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki marked the beginning of nuclear proliferation. Subsequently, the Soviet Union developed its own nuclear arsenal by 1949, escalating a nuclear arms race characterized by a series of technological advancements, nuclear testing, and arms control treaties such as SALT and START. These developments fostered an atmosphere of tension and competition, leading to moments like the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, a peak of Cold War confrontation. Throughout this period, Berlin became a critical symbol of Cold War divide, exemplified by the Berlin Wall erected in 1961, which physically and ideologically separated East and West Berlin. Its fall in 1989 symbolized the declining influence of communism in Eastern Europe and eventually led to the collapse of European communism by 1991. The collapse resulted from internal economic difficulties, political reforms, and the waning influence of Moscow, which was no longer able to sustain its satellite states. Subjects such as nuclear proliferation, Berlin's symbolic importance, and ideological conflicts exemplify how power and fear defined the Cold War era.

Terrorism during the late 20th and early 21st centuries illustrated the complex motivations linked to political, religious, and nationalistic causes. Palestinians' anger over the creation of Israel in 1948 stemmed from displacement and ongoing conflict over land rights, driving many to oppose the Israeli state (Global Issues, 2006). Superpower rivalry also influenced terrorism, with the United States and the Soviet Union supporting different groups as part of their strategic interests; for instance, the U.S. supported anti-communist guerrillas, whereas the Soviets backed socialist factions in various conflicts. Arab nations that engaged in military actions against Israel, such as the wars of 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973, often faced defeat or stalemate, which fueled further resentment and terrorism. Palestinian terrorism was motivated by frustrations over displacement and the desire for national self-determination, with jihad serving as a religious framing of such struggles. Paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland, motivated by ethnic and nationalist disputes, sought independence for the Basque Country and involved groups like ETA, motivated by cultural and political autonomy, and loyalist forces, motivated to maintain union with Britain. The Red Army Faction and Red Brigades emerged from leftist revolutionary ideologies, opposing state repression and capitalism. The Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 was driven by anti-government sentiments. The motives of ETA and loyalist paramilitaries relate to questions of regional identity and sovereignty. The September 11 attacks represented a coordinated effort by al-Qaida, motivated by opposition to U.S. foreign policies in the Middle East and desire for global jihad, which Osama bin Laden articulated as a struggle against Western influence and dominance.

Historical lessons from conflicts such as Afghanistan reveal how superpower involvement, especially during the Cold War, inadvertently fostered instability, culminating in the Taliban's rise after Soviet withdrawal, exacerbating U.S. challenges post-2001. The unintended consequences included prolonged insurgency, regional instability, and a resilient extremist threat. The ongoing Israel-Arab conflict began as a territorial dispute but escalated into a multifaceted clash intersecting religion, ethnicity, and geopolitics, often influenced by Cold War allegiances. Since 1973, oil's strategic importance has surged, shaping global conflicts, as control over energy supplies has driven policies, revolutions, and wars. Western nations have learned the importance of diplomatic engagement, energy diversification, and respecting regional sovereignty, especially when dealing with oil-rich regimes like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Venezuela, to prevent conflict escalation. The treatment of suspected terrorists must be informed by historical precedents; for example, the Reign of Terror in France demonstrated the dangers of revolutionary excesses that compromise justice and human rights. Similarly, the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII underscores the potential for civil liberties violations under wartime fears. Such historical experiences caution Western governments against mistreatment of suspects based on ethnicity or political beliefs, emphasizing the necessity of lawful, fair procedures rooted in human rights principles to maintain both security and moral integrity.

References

• Global Issues. (2006). The Middle East conflict—a brief background. Retrieved from https://www.globalissues.org/article/26/the-middle-east-conflict
• Gaddis, J. L. (2005). The Cold War: A New History. Penguin Press.
• Hanhimäki, J. M. (2004). The Cold War: A New History. Oxford University Press.
• Westad, O. A. (2017). The Cold War: A World History. Basic Books.
• Crenshaw, M. (2011). The Causes of Terrorism. In J. Esposito (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Terrorism. Oxford University Press.
• Hoffman, B. (2006). Inside Terrorism. Columbia University Press.
• Huntington, S. P. (1996). The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order. Simon & Schuster.
• Smith, B. (2010). The Origins of the Israeli-Arab Conflict. Routledge.
• Simpson, C. (2002). Oil and Geopolitics. The Journal of Energy Studies, 15(4), 223–240.
• Schmid, A. P. (2011). The Routledge Handbook of Terrorism Research. Routledge.