10.7: Chapter Summary and Key Terms

Chapter Summary

After World War II, the peoples of the world created the United Nations. An international organization built to keep global peace and promote prosperity, the UN drew support from powerful nations like the United States and newly independent states across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa like the Philippines. As a tide of nationalism swept across the world, European empires decolonized and in Asia for India and Pakistan the struggles of partition and border disputes slowed but did not stop the rise of democracy and economic development. In the Middle East, Egypt and Saudi Arabia championed rival ideologies of Pan-Arabism and Islamic Solidarity, the Suez Crisis showed the decline of British and French power and as Israel became a state and clashed with its Arab neighbors the Palestinians dreamed of establishing their own. Across Africa, states like Ghana and Nigeria achieved independence peacefully yet struggled later in the face of authoritarianism and military rule. France stubbornly sought to maintain its influence across the African continent especially in Algeria where the French to sought hold the country by military force leading to guerilla war that ended in Algeria's independence. Regardless of how it was achieved, for all African, Middle Eastern, and Asian nations independence presented both the challenges and opportunities of rapid population growth and governance in a new international world order.

Key Terms

United Nations:

An international organization to promote peace and cooperation between nations. Established in 1945, all member states are represented in the General Assembly while a Security Council with 5 permanent members mediates conflict. Headed by the Secretary-General, the UN provides development and humanitarian aid to the benefit of all humanity.

Decolonization:

The process by which colonies become independent or when a power relinquishes control of a territory. This term is used to describe the mid-20th century withdrawal of European empires from Asia, the Middle East and Africa and the creation of new self-governing or independent states.   

Partition:

The separation or physical division of a territory into distinct parts. In global affairs partition may refer to the dividing of a country by great powers yet also describes the division of a region on along ethnic or religious lines. Ex: Partition of India, UN Israel-Palestine Partition.  

Nonalignment:

To be not part of or unaligned with any power bloc. During the Cold War, many new nations formed the Non-aligned Movement abstaining from alliances with either the United States or the Soviet Union. While this often meant neutrality, in practice nonaligned countries could also collaborate with the superpowers through ways like economic development and military aid. Notable members include India, Egypt, and Indonesia.

Nasser:

President of Egypt. During the 1950’s and 60’s Nasser would seek to modernize Egypt promoting secularism and socialism. He became a champion of the Arab world and supported Arab unity and nonalignment. He came to power from a military coup and came to be widely admired by many Egyptians.

Nationalization:

To transfer property, often a big business such as a factory, bank, or company from private to government ownership. This policy was adopted by many newly independent nations in the mid-20th century to assert sovereignty and promote greater profit-sharing. In practice such state-run companies often struggled with efficiency and corruption.

Zionism:

A nationalist movement encouraging Jews to return to their ancestral homeland to establish statehood for the Jewish people. By the mid-20th century this led to the creation of the nation of Israel, a new Israeli nationality, and the revival of the Hebrew language.

Suez Crisis:

An international crisis which began when Egypt seized the Suez Canal in 1956. In response France, Britain and Israel launched a joint invasion of Egypt and were forced to withdraw due to international pressure. The Suez Crisis represented a shift in world power away from France and Britain and emboldened independence movements.

Pan-Arabism:

A nationalist movement seeking to unite the Arab people into a single super state.  In the 1950’s and 1960’s Pan-Arabist or Ba’ath parties formed across the Middle East yet failed to unite the Arab states. Pan-Arabism stresses kinship and the Arabic language bind together Arabs and while secular sees Islam as an expression of Arab genius.

Secession:

When a people seek to withdraw or secede from a state and form their own nation-state. Numerous secessionist movements were active across the world in the mid-20th century yet few succeeded in achieving independence and United Nations membership. Ex: Bangladesh