United States & the Developing World

1. United States & the Developing World

2. Questions… • Defining the Developing World • The African continent • Asia • East Asia (China, Japan, Korea) • Southeast Asia (Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Burma, …) • South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan) • The Middle East • Latin America • How was the developing world important to the US? • Their pol & economic choices impact US security.

3. Developing World … • Post-war independence movements • UN membership • 55 in 1946 • 76 in 1955 • 127 in 1970 • 160 in 1980 • 185 in 2000Majority of today’s developing nations became independent after end of WWII. • Development Challenges • Population explosion • 80% of world’s pop in the developing world • Economic growth cannot keep pace with pop growth

4. Developing World … • Social & Economic Backwardness • Widespread poverty (per capita income less than $100) • High literacy rate • Short life expectancy • Subsistence economy (agriculture, raw-materials) • Internal Tensions • Cultural, linguistic, ethnic & regional diversity • Prevalence of regionalism or localism • Lack of loyalty to the newly built state • Weak central authority • Authoritarianism • One-Party dictatorship • Military regimes

5. Developing World … • Attraction of Competing Economic Models • Western capitalist development model • A reasonably strong central state • Private ownership • Free market • Soviet Stalinist model • A powerful central state • A command economy • State ownership • Attractions of the Stalinist Model • A powerful and highly interventionist state • Forceful nationalization and collectivization • Centralizing means of production in state’s hands • Eliminating the power of former propertied class

6. Developing World … • Attractions of the Stalinist Model • State plan • Production plan (favoring heavy industry) • Investment plan (favoring heavy & defense industries) • Consumption plan (rationing system) • Results • Primitive feudal society changed to an industrial state • National strength increase • Self-sufficiency and political independence

7. Regional Conflicts & US Policy • Why US attracted to regional conflicts? • Regional conflicts could bring to power a group that opposes US interest • Regional conflicts could result in regional expansion that could hurt the US interest. • If US did not take appropriate actions, its opponent the USSR would. • Cases of US Involvement • The Congo Crisis in the 1960s • UN peace-keeping seen as assisting Belgium and sealing Congo division • Congolese premier Lumumba turned to the USSR for help. • In 1962, Mabutu Sese Seko supported by the US for his anti-Communist policies

8. Regional Conflicts & US Policy • Cases of US Involvement • The Congo Crisis in the 1960s • The Taiwan Straits Crisis (1954-1958) • Military & economic assistance to Taiwan • Alliance with the Chinese Government in Taipei (1954) • Assistance of Nationalist Chinese forces withdrawing to Taiwan island • Assisting Taipei’s defensive posture towards the mainland to prevent Chinese Communist invasion. • The Suez Canal Crisis • 1955 Egypt arms trade with Czechoslovakia to build up military against Israel • With Syria, SA & Yemen, Nasser ready to attack Israel

9. Regional Conflicts & US Policy • Cases of US Involvement • The Suez Canal Crisis • US rejection of Egyptian move by retracting funding for the Aswan High Dam • In response, Nasser aimed to nationalize the Suez Canal • Israel struck assisted by Britain & France • US opposed Israeli invasion and foreign intervention in the Middle East • USSR the beneficiary of the crisis • Eisenhower requested Congressional support for greater US role in Middle East • US resolute support of Israel • US relations with anti-Communist Arab nations

10. US & Latin America • Political Objectives of Latin American Nations • Economic development & better life for the people • Political independence & national self-determination • US traditional ties with Latin America • Monroe Doctrine • Infiltration of American capital into Latin America • No need for US to stage colonial rule • US actively supporting military rulers • US Perception of Latin America’s Challenges • Threat of Communist revolution the top security concern • The appeal of Marxism

11. US & Latin America US Policy • Communism would not take hold in the region without a fight • US would assist governments against Communist insurgence in the hemisphere Cases of US Involvement • Guatemala • Jacobo Arbenz Guzman’s Plans • Vowed to initiate sweeping reforms • Supported by Guatemala Communist Party • Aimed at nationalizing US-owned plantations and giving the land to the peasants • Arms deal with Czechoslovakia (the last straw)

12. US & Latin America Cases of US Involvement • Guatemala • American Concerns & Response • Guzman’s actions could trigger a domino effect in neighboring countries • The incurred regional chaos could threaten US control of the Panama Canal • US decided that the Guzman government should be overthrown • The CIA was directly involved in a military coup • Within days, Guzman was removed.

13. US & Latin America Cases of US Involvement • Cuba • January 1, 1959, Castro-led rebels overthrew US-backed Fulgencio Batista • Castro’s adoption of a pro-Soviet policy • 75% of Cuban trade with Soviet bloc countries • Soviet arms sales to Cuba • US Response • 1961, severance of US-Cuba relations • April 1961, Bay of Pigs invasion

14. US & Latin America Cuban Missile Crisis • U-2 Spy Plane & Discovery • 70 short & medium range ballistic missiles • Soviet strategic projection to the Caribbean area • US Response • Naval blockade of Cuba • End of Confrontation • Khrushchev’s decision to withdraw all missiles • US pledge of no invasion of Cuba • US withdraw of missiles from Turkey • Significance • The developing world closely tied to the bipolar politics & superpower strategic competition