Elliott Zornitsky

IB History: Non-Aligned Movement Notes

2/21/17
Origins
Bandung Conference: April 1955, 29 countries join forces to create a new bloc distinct from
East and West. Results in the creation of the Non-Aligned Movementgroup of mostly Asian
and African countries committed to resisting colonialism and promoting cooperation.
Non-Alignment: Characterized by idealism and pragmatism. Idealism evident in Non-Aligned
Movement principlesnon-intervention or non-inference in the internal affairs of another
country, refrain from aggression against the political independence of another country etc.
o Pragmatism: Evident in actions. Had some power over superpowers which courted
them an attempt to remain on the favorable side of the balance of power.
o Often times leader rose to power through military ranks + authoritarianism.
*Concurrent with Non-Aligned Movement is Soviet decision to court developing
world by brokering arms agreements with the developing world.
o Primary leader: Abdel Nasser, leader of Egypt in 1954. Father of Arab Nationalism.
Put in conflict with France over Pan-Arabism (Egyptians support Algerian
independence movement), wanted to eject British from Suez Canal, supports
Palestine, refuses to recognize state of Israel.

Khrushchev: Rises to power after the death of Stalin. Gives a secret speech called On the
personality cult and its consequences. Condemns Stalins actions against the people of the
Soviet Union, makes Mao angry (Mao accuses Khrushchev of revisionism). Determined to
check perceived US expansion/would not tolerate deviation from socialist line. Far more
active in international affairs.
Polish revolt: Deeply nationalistic + catholic. Reject collectivization of agriculture. Support of
socialism in a manner that was complementary to Polish history and culture. Communist
party appeases to Moscow with this proclamation, Soviet troops recalled.
Hungarian Revolution: Much different from Polish revolt. Demand freedom and rights, as
well as departure of soviet troops from Hungary. Misinterpreted American containment,
and did not realize that Americans would not support them. (Eisenhower not living up to his
policy of rollback). Nagy begins revolution as a communist seeking reform, but becomes
much more revolutionary and calls for democracy and neutrality. Abolishes oneparty state,
prompting swift response from Soviets (crush revolution).

Suez Crisis:

Moves the cold war to the middle east. More focus on middle east than eastern European
countries like Hungary. Prime causes: Anglo-French actions and those of Egyptian leader
Gamal Nasser.
Nasser: Anti-Israel + anti-colonialism. Expels royal family, nationalizes business, redistributes
land to peasants.
Nationalizes the Suez Canal. Israeli army, under recommendation of British, invades the
Sinai Peninsula. Backed up by British and French forces. Nuclear bluff USSR says there
would be soviet military retaliation against the aggressors in Egypt.
 US uses sanctions and International Monetary fund to make Britain, France, and Israel pull
out.
Significance: Sets the precedent for UN peacekeeping blue helmets. Shows Britain and
France that their power and influence was in decline. Egypt (oil, population, location) more
important than Eastern European countries.
Soviets move in to secure another sphere, sets in motion another cold war confrontation
with US.

Congo Crisis (1960-1964):

Congo demonstrates to the world the effect of colonial boundaries on the newly created
states that emerged after the Second World War.
Given independence from Belgium in 1960, first government barely lasts two weeks.
Belgium sends in troops to protect roughly 100,000 Europeans. South region of Katanga
secedes from Congo in 1961, further complicating matters as it was rich in resources (60%
of worlds uranium and 80% of industrial diamonds came from this region).
Lumumba (democratically elected prime minister of the Congo) appeals to UN for
assistance, hoping to defeat Tshombe in the south. UN direct military engagement not a
part of its policy. Refuse, prompting Lumumba to see support from the USSR + gets
weapons. Scares the US, who prompt President Kasavubu to remove him as prime minister.
Later to prevent civil war Colonel Joseph Mobutu overthrows government, arrests and kills
Lumumba after publically shamming him. Support of US.
UN finally agrees to aid in an attack against Katanga. Operation Grand Slam under
Secretary General Tshombe. Congo united in 1963.
Significance: Showed that the UN could use force in a civil disturbance if asked to do so by a
legitimate government of that country. Role of secretary General defined: no simply a public
face, but instrumental in pushing though policies. (Ex. Hammarskjld)
Hard to tell what the Soviet Union felt, as they destroyed all of their documents when
Mobutu ordered soviets to leave the embassy in the Congo. Delayed responses when
contacted by secessionist government in the east. Tried to introduce new positions in UN to
represent soviet, western and Afro-Asian blocs but failed. Ultimately recognized the new
government.
USA: Supported Belgian interference and the ousting of Lumumba. Provided air support to
lift UN troops to Katanga. Helped Mobutu seize power from Kasavubu in 1965 (assistance of
CIA); US sees him as pro-western and anti-communist.

Sino-Soviet Tensions, the Taiwan Strait and the split.

After death of Stalin.

Soviets send economic and military assistance to the PRC, along with technicians to help
China develop an atomic bomb.
Dulles: Creates SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization) a collective security agreement
in the region. Clear that objective is to limit the spread of communism.
Mao orders the shelling of the islands of Quemoy and Matsu in 1954 (held by Nationalists).
 Khrushchev counsels Mao on restraint and peaceful reconciliation (seen as beginning of split
as Mao sees crisis as a domestic issue rather than on concerning the entire communist
world).
1955 Mao negotiates with the USA, ending the first Taiwan Strait crisis. Crisis often shown
as an example of US policy of brinkmanship.

Effect of Peaceful coexistence on Sino-Soviet relations and the second Taiwan Strait crisis.

Khrushchev speech to the 20th party in 1956: Workers would create revolutions in their own
countries without the help of the USSR. Criticizes Stalins cult of personality and Stalins
regime for imposing a monolithic culture. (Mao sees this as an attack on his own
governance of the PRC).
Stalin, on the other hand, used extreme methods and mass repression at a time when the
revolution was already victorious, when the Soviet state was strengthened, when the
exploiting classes were already liquidated and Socialist relations were rooted solidly in all
phases of national economy, when our Party was politically consolidated and had
strengthened itself both numerically and ideologically.
Mao: goal is to destabilize US-Soviet relations and establish his own global equilibrium.
Launches the Great Leap Forward to mobilize China, and says that China would achieve
communism before the USSR.
Second Taiwan Strait crisis. 1958, without informing Khrushchev, Mao begins shelling
Quemoy. US responds with a blockade on the Taiwan Strait. Mao: gave a speech in 1957
saying that he was unafraid of nuclear war and willing to sustain the loss of half of his
population for the success of communism. Wanted to mobilize China militarily and
economically.
Mao feels that the crisis was a success: had a clear sense of the American position on
nationalists, mobilized the opposition, and effectively challenged the Soviets and asserted
their independence in the communist world. Expressed contempt for Khrushchevs polices
of peaceful coexistence.
China agrees to shell the islands only on odd days, allowing supplies to be delivered on even
days, a policy it would continue until 1979.

The Split.

USSR refuses to support China in their border class with India. Infuriates Mao. *India
geopolitically important to the USSRdid not want to see region destabilized by Mao.
Mao advocates that communist satellite states adopt Mao Zedong thought. Begins to
challenge soviet authority aggressively with the communist world. Example: Offers
assistance to Albania in the form of $ and wheat (does this while China is experiencing one
of the worst famines)
Mao gives a speech called Long Live Leninism presenting the idea that a peaceful road to
socialism is not possible. Indirectly accuses Khrushchev of revisionism + suggests that he is
gaining status and stature in the communist world.
U-2 spy plane incident shifts struggle in Khrushchevs favor briefly. Does not last long, as he
later states that: No world war is needed for the triumph of socialist ideas throughout the
world.
 Soviets order the withdrawal of advisors from China and end financial assistance on 155
industrial projects. Criticize the chinses as splittists.
Final blows to Sino-Soviet relations came in 1962 and 1963. 1962 Mao publicly criticizes
Khrushchev for backing down during the Cuban missile crisis. 1963, with the signing of the
Test Ban Treaty, Soviets made it explicitly clear that they would not share nuclear
technology with any other country. Split is complete.