The Impact of the Cold War on Developing Nations

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Introduction

Third world countries became the perfect battleground for cold war proxy battles during the early 1940’s to late 1990’s. United States wanted to flex its political muscle and try to curtail the spread of Soviet Communism in the developing nations. Most of the nations in developed world had already made their political and socio-economic stand regarding the form of governance and leadership pursued. Underdeveloped nations in Asia, Latin America and Africa were still vulnerable and easily influenced in terms of ideologies and political direction. Most nations in Latin America like Chile were recovering from colonialism and thus logistic, economic and political aid from powerful nations to propel their economies which made it easy for Americans and Russians to act as their “saviors’”. The quest for global dominance had intensified between United States and USSR and the shift was focused to developing nations like Chile. Both Americans and Russians used different mechanisms to enhance their propaganda and support the regimes which were friendly to them and used any means necessary to topple hostile regimes. CIA used covert operations in Chile and most of the Latin nations to plant their puppet leaders in order to safeguard their foreign policy interests and maintain dominance. Military coups and social unrests were planned, orchestrated and executed with the assistance of CIA. The research paper tries to critical analyze the impact of the cold war on Chile and influence of United States.

Contradiction of US policies of Capitalism and Democracy and covert operations in Chile

American foreign policy directed and influenced its activities in Chile. United States although contradicted its firm belief of democr...

... middle of paper ...

...ment and assistance. As witnessed in Chile popular regimes were toppled using brutal means to sustain the stooges of the American regime which helped them in sustaining their dominance and war against Russians. Poverty and suffering brought about by dictators like Augustino Pinochet and others supported by Americans were ignored simply because of their support to Americans. It was sheer hypocrisy and shameful when the concepts which Americans believed (Democracy and Capitalism) were meant to safeguard their interests but not practiced ideologies.

Works Cited

1. Larres Klaus, Ann Lane. (2001) The Cold War: the essential readings. United Kingdom. Blackwell Publishers

2. Ruud Van Dijk. (2008).Encyclopedia of Cold War, Volume 1.New York. MTM Publishing Inc

3. Webel Charles, Johan Galtung. (2007) Handbook of peace and conflict studies. United States. Routledge

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