Topic Outline
This HL topic focuses on the impact of the Cold War and communism on Asia after the Second World War. It examines the reasons for the outbreak of conflict in Malaya, the Korean peninsula, Vietnam, Cambodia and Afghanistan, as well as the nature of these conflicts and the significance of foreign involvement. The impact of these conflicts in the following 10 years will also be examined.
1. The Malayan Emergency (1948-1960)
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The Malayan Emergency is often cited as one of the most successful counter-insurgency operations of the Cold War. British Commonwealth forces were able to prevent forces of the Malayan Communist Party for overthrowing the state. But does that tell the whole story?
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2. The Korean War
(1950-1953)
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The Korean War was the first conventional war of the Cold War and was highly significant not just for East Asia but also the global Cold War. Studying the importance of the war is essential in understanding US containment policies in Asia for the rest of the Cold War.
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3. The French Indochina War (1946-1954)
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Today, the inequities and impact of European colonialism are readily apparent. It is therefore hard to understand why France failed to support the will of the people in Indochina by going against the Vietminh. Was it this lack of political legitimacy that led to their downfall?
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4. The Vietnam War
(1956-1975)
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The Vietnam War continues to be an event of immense historical significance, not only for the US. As such, discussions and debates still insight passionate argument. This is apparent when considering the causation of the conflict. Could the war have been avoided?
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5. The Cambodian Civil War (1967-1975)
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Perhaps more than any other nation, Cambodia was torn about by Cold War tensions, which exacerbated conflict within society and the region. The unit examines how the Cambodian Civil War was fought, and the impact of the victorious Khmer Rouge regime.
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6. The Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989)
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Coming late in the Cold War, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan is often described as their 'Vietnam'. Despite witnessing US mistakes in Vietnam, the USSR willingly risked armed intervention in Afghanistan. Were the reasons for Soviet defeat also similar?
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