The Cold War started after WWII when tensions grew between the United States and the Soviet Union, who had been allies during WWII. The main reason for the tension was their different beliefs. The USA liked capitalism and democracy where people could choose their government, while the Soviet Union believed in communism where the government controlled everything. After the war, both countries tried to increase their influence around the world, which led to a lot of distrust and competition between them. This set the stage for the Cold War, a long period where they competed for power in different ways without actually fighting each other directly. The Cold War significantly shaped the process of decolonization after 1945, as newly independent
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Zhou Enlai's speech at the conference underscores the shared experience of oppression and the collective pursuit of sovereignty without superpower domination. The purpose of Zhou's speech was to drive for a unified stance among decolonizing nations against external pressures. This gathering marked a crucial step for non-aligned movements, advocating for a block-free progression toward development, highlighting their desire to avoid becoming puppets in the Cold War. In Document 5, Nelson Mandela's article for Liberation magazine vehemently criticizes American imperialism in Africa. Mandela, speaking from a point of view as a South African revolutionary, expresses the pervasive form of imperialism represented by American interests. He accuses the U.S. of undermining the sovereignty of African nations under the likeness of anti-communism, depicting a new phase of colonialism masked as economic and military assistance. This perspective reveals how Cold War dynamics facilitated continued Western influence in Africa, challenging the autonomy of decolonizing states under the pretext of protecting them from communist
Zhou Enlai's speech at the conference underscores the shared experience of oppression and the collective pursuit of sovereignty without superpower domination. The purpose of Zhou's speech was to drive for a unified stance among decolonizing nations against external pressures. This gathering marked a crucial step for non-aligned movements, advocating for a block-free progression toward development, highlighting their desire to avoid becoming puppets in the Cold War. In Document 5, Nelson Mandela's article for Liberation magazine vehemently criticizes American imperialism in Africa. Mandela, speaking from a point of view as a South African revolutionary, expresses the pervasive form of imperialism represented by American interests. He accuses the U.S. of undermining the sovereignty of African nations under the likeness of anti-communism, depicting a new phase of colonialism masked as economic and military assistance. This perspective reveals how Cold War dynamics facilitated continued Western influence in Africa, challenging the autonomy of decolonizing states under the pretext of protecting them from communist