Choosing a first topic was always going to be the hardest. Its always good to start with a bang, something that may take note, or something that may have a greater meaning. Do i start with one of my favourite topics, such as sport, or food? or perhaps i should start with something a bit more controversial like politics, or religion?
I have decided to take my influence today from the prolix topics of world news, which at the moment (as always) is the USA. Perfect for me i guess with my degree in American history & politics. So here it is, the first of many on the absolute archive, and it is.......
The top 10 world changing actions of the US since the 20th century
The reason i have chosen since the 20th century is mostly due to the fact that US foreign policy was practically non existent during the 19th century, baring the Monroe doctrine, and some activities in Latin America, the US' influence on the world stage was pretty minimal, whilst the colonial nations of Europe were pillaging around the continents of Africa, Asia, Australia and South America, the US was still settling in the likes of Utah, Texas and California.
10. The Vietnam War.
The Vietnam War is perhaps the most infamous US campaign. Most repercussions of the Vietnam War were seen in domestically in the US. However to the world it showed the US in a new light, far from the heroic saviours in WWII, and the bastion of free market liberalism and democracy against the Soviets. It showed the US a bullies, tyrants, the horrors of what napalm and agent orange did to the innocent civilians. Moreover it showed the US had weaknesses, that their military strength and prowess could be beaten.
9. The CIA
Heralded for discovering some of the greatest espionage cases in history, and has accusations of human rights violations, the CIA can be seen as both beneficial to world safety, and an organisation based on torture and assassination. Good or Bad? That's your decision.
8. Bretton Woods System and collapse
Designed as a basis for monetary rules between trading nations, it set about establishing and controlling exchange rates. Active between 1945-71 its collapse lead to the US terminating the convertibility of the US $ to gold (the reserve currency of most nations) and subsequently created the US $ to be the reserve currency for most nations.
7. Operation Condor
Operation Condor was a controversial foreign policy plan from the US, designed to infiltrate nations of the Southern Cone in South America with pro American Governments. The operation consisted of funding pro US dictators, supplying arms to revolutionaries, and reducing the control of drug cartels on governments.
6. START
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. Signed in 1991 between the US and USSR, START negotiated the largest and most complex arms control treaty in history, resulting in the removal of about 80 percent of all strategic nuclear weapons then in existence.
5. War on Terror
A consequence of 9/11, it has sent the US into Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as Africa, The Philippines and areas of the Middle East. The US has now largely succeeded in its missions of overthrowing Iraqi Dictator Suddam Hussain, the assassination of Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and the control of piracy off the Horn of Africa. However these missions are not with out their controversy, and legality issues. The invasion of Iraq was largely criticised by many governing bodies and was considered illegal in the eyes of the UN. The continued occupation of Afghanistan has lead to disillusion in the war, with increasing occurrences of Afghan soldiers turning on the US soldiers training them. Since 9/11 there have been bombings in countries such as UK. Spain and Indonesia, which targeted Australian tourists. As well as foiled plots for more bombings of the US.
4. Start of Cold War
The start of the Cold War began a new period in history. The colonial powers had died and it was now the time of the super powers. Civilians lived in fear of Nuclear War, propaganda lead to a world spread fear of Communism, many smaller nations became the scenarios of proxy wars. The 45 years of Soviet-US tensions ultimately defined the later part of the 20th century.
3. Support of Israel
The US' continued support of the state of Israel is a large catalyst in the hostility towards them from Islamic nations. Israel's nuclear capability can be largely linked to the US. The ongoing conflicts between Israel and the states around it has lead the US into numerous military conflicts, most notably the 1983 bombing of army barracks in Lebanon killing 241 US marines and 58 French servicemen.
2. Joining WWII
Sparing pro British rhetoric (because the Battle of Britain did win the war) The US joining the allies after the attack on pearl harbour was a major turning point in world history. It altered Hitler's plans, where he concentrated troops, his emphasis on theatres of war. In another scenario had the Soviets liberated more of Europe, could communism have spread further? One thing for sure it was perhaps the greatest decision on foreign policy they have made.
1. The economic collapses of 29,70's and now
The Great Depression lead to one of the greatest chapters in modern history, the rise of the NAZI party. Germany was perhaps the hardest hit country from the GD due to the Treaty of Versailles, the consequential collapse of the Wiemar Republic lead to disillusion in Germany and built a platform for the rise of national socialism, and we all know what happened from there.
Whilst the recession of the1970s was not on the same scale as the GD it had some underlying effects on US foreign relations. It's not surprising that during the worst economic period of US it was the period of lowest tensions (detente) during the Cold War. In the US and UK the move out of the recession can largely linked to the new conservative governments of Thatcher and Reagan, two infamous leaders.
The current recession is largely down to the ignorance of US leading companies as well as many fuck ups by banks and monetary regulations that govern them. Now on the verge of a double dip recession the economic climate has been stagnant for the last 4 years and shows little signs of recovering soon.....
