Topic 5: The Cold War (Compiled from 10 Topic and 6 Topic Format) Revised 2012 [Since 1998, the pattern is: two subject specific questions, two questions allowing a choice of examples, and one question on social, cultural, or intellectual issues.) 1. "It is evident that the conflict after 1947 between the United States and the Soviet Union was not simply a clash of ideologies but a struggle of competing interests.... the forces bringing the two countries into collision as world powers would have operated in much the same way if the Bolshevik revolution had never occurred." How far do you agree with this claim? (1985) (HL/SL) 2. Analyze the successes and failures in the attempts to control the arms race since the end of the Second World War. (1985) (HL/SL)\ 3. How true is it to claim that the emergence of communist China has strengthened rather than weakened the position of the West in its confrontation with the Soviet bloc? (1985) (HL/SL) 4. Show in what ways, and for what reasons, the Cuban crisis of 1962 may be regarded as a turning point in relations between the U.S.A. and the Soviet Union. (1985) (HL/SL) 5. How was East/West rivalry illustrated and affected by: (A) the division of Germany (B) the founding of NATO (C) the Korean War? (1987). 6. Show how and why the "non-aligned movement" began. To what extent has the movement remained faithful to the principles and aims of its founders and remained genuinely "non-aligned"? (1987). 7. Explain the importance role played by Cuba in East/West relations since 1945. (1987). 8. How and why have the arms race and attempts to control it affected the emergence and the intensity of the Cold War? (1987). 9. To what extent did the powers attending the Yalta Conference abide by the decisions reached there in their policies in Europe between 1945 and 1950? (1988)
Topic 5 The Cold War Page 2 10. Why have some European powers followed a policy of neutrality since the Second World War, and what factors have enabled them to do so? (1988) 11. When, and how widely, did the "Cold War" spread beyond Europe? (1988) 12. The Soviet Union faced challenges to its influence and control in Hungary (1956), Czechoslovakia (1968) and Poland (early 1980s). Consider (A) the nature of the challenge; (B) the Soviet response; and (C) the reaction of the Western powers. (1988) 13. "Paradoxically the emergence of Communist China in 1949 has worked to the advantage rather than to the disadvantage of the West in its confrontation with the Soviet bloc." How far do you agree? (1989) 14. Analyze the main stages of the build-up of the Cold War between 1945 and 1955. (1989) 15. How far has recognition of "spheres of influence" played a vital part in preventing the "Cold War" from becoming a "Hot War"? Your answer should use evidence from THREE of the following areas: (A) Europe; (B) Asia; (C) the Middle-East; (D) Latin America; (E) Africa. (1989) 16. In what ways and with what success have the Eastern and Western blocs attempted to control the arms race since the start of the Cold War? (1989) 17. Assess the significance of each of the following in the intensification and spread of the Cold War: (A) the Truman Doctrine (B) the Marshall Plan (C) the Korean War (D) the construction of the Berlin Wall (D) the Cuban Missile Crisis and (F) changes in political leadership in the USA and USSR. (1990) 18. Why, how, and with what results did the USA establish a "sphere of influence" in Europe after 1945? (1990) 19. Why and with what success have some counties adopted a policy of non-alignment in the period since the Second World War? (1990) 20. Assess the effectiveness of the USA policy of "containment" in Asia. (1990) 21. Explain the origins of the "non-aligned movement". How far were its members able to resist pressures caused by the power bloc relationships during the Cold War period? (Nov. 1990)
Topic 5 The Cold War Page 3 22. To what extent did the holding of summit meetings between the USSR and the USA lead to improvements in East/West relations? Answers should include references to (A) origins; (B) aims; (C) individual leaders involved, and (D) outcome of the meetings. (Nov. 1990) 23. Analyze the main stages in the development of the Cold War between 1945 and 1959. (Nov. 1990) 24. Explain China's relations, since 1949, with (A) the USSR and (B) the USA. Show how changes in these relations affected those between the USSR and the USA. (Nov. 1990) 25. Explain the attitudes of Russia and the Western Allies towards Germany in general and Berlin in particular after the Second World War and show how these differences affect East/West relations to 1960. (1991) 26. How was the Soviet Union able (A) to establish control over Eastern Europe between 1945 and 1950, and (B) how far was she able to maintain that control over the next twenty years. (1991) 27. In what respects and with what justification can the Cuban Crisis of 1962 be claimed to have marked a turning point in East/West relations? (1991) 28. How did East/West relations affect, and how were they affected by, developments in ONE of the following regions: (A) the Middle East (B) Africa (C) Latin America? (1991) 29. Account for the emergence after the Second World War of the two superpowers and explain why they had become enemies by 1948. (1992) 30. Discuss the view that the tension between the superpowers led to the support of undemocratic regimes by the United States. Give evidence from at least TWO countries. (1992) 31. What were the advantages of (a) neutrality and (b) non-alignment during periods of tension between the power blocs? Refer to at least TWO regions. (1992) 32. Assess the relative importance of the following for raising the temperature of the Cold War: (a) the arrival of Chinese volunteers to support the North Koreans, 1950/51; (b) the building of the Berlin Wall, 1961; (c) the Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962. (1992) 33. "No area illustrates more vividly than Germany the differences that emerged between the
Topic 5 The Cold War Page 4 former wartime allies." How far is this a valid assertion for the years 1945 to 1962? (1993) 34. Assess the implications for the course of the Cold War of THREE of the following: (a) the proclamation of the Korean People's Democratic Republic, 1948; (b) the expulsion of Yugoslavia from the Soviet bloc, 1948; (c) the entry of Greece and Turkey into NATO, 1952; (d) the battle of Dien Bien Phu, 1954; (e) events in Hungary, 1956. (1993) 35. Explain the significance of the Sino-Soviet split with respect to relations between East and West. (1993) 36. "The last crusade"--how useful is it to emphasize ideology when studying the United States' policy of containment after 1945? (1993) 37. What were the principle features of East/West relations, 1953 to 1960? 39 "No area illustrates more vividly than Germany the differences that emerged between the former wartime allies." How far is this a valid assertion for the years 1945 to 1962? (1994) 38. It has been argued that the head-to-head confrontation of the super powers during the Cuban Missile Crisis was the result of serious miscalculation on the part of Nikita Khrushchev and recklessness on the part of John F. Kennedy. To what degree can you support this assertion? (1994) 39. To what extent did war in East Asia influence East/West relations, 1950 to 1975? (1994) 40. In what ways could Stalin be held responsible for the origin and development of the Cold War? (1995) 41. Explain the circumstances in which NATO and the Warsaw Pact were formed. What contribution did each make to the intensification of the Cold War? (1995) 42. Assess John F. Kennedy's handling of Cold War problems during his presidency. (1995) 43. Explain how relations between the United States and the Soviet Union were affected by the relations of each with China. (1995)
Topic 5 The Cold War Page 5 44. When and why was Germany the focus of Cold War hostility in the fifteen years after the Second World War? (1996) 45. Why have attempts to achieve disarmament by the super powers had such limited success for most of the period since 1945? (1996) 46. Détente defined, not friendship, but a strategy for relationships among enemies. What brought about détente and what changes, if any, did it cause in East/West relations? (1996) 47. Examine the impact of events in Asia on East/West relations, 1949 to 1975. (1996) 48. How did fear contribute to the origin and development of the Cold War? [1997] [HL] 49. In what ways was Korea a typical example of Cold War conflict? [1997] [HL] 50. Examine the role of Fidel Castro in East/West relations. [1997] [HL] 51. Define spheres of influence and assess their role in Cold War politics. [1997] [HL] 52. Assess the significance for the development of the Cold War between 1945 and 1950 of three of the following: a. The Yalta Conference, 1945 b. The Iron Curtain Speech, 1946 c. The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, 1947 d. The expulsion of Yugoslavia from the Soviet block, 1948 e. The Berlin Blockade and Airlift, 1948-1949 f. The formation of NATO, 1949 [Specimen] [1998] 53. A different kind of Cold War. To what extent is this a valid statement about the Cold War after 1953? [Specimen] [1998] 54. Explain how East/West relations a) affected and b) how they were affected by one of the following areas: the middle East; Latin America; Asia; Africa. [Specimen] [1998] 55. Using specific examples, evaluate the successes and / or failures of Détente. [Specimen] [1998] 56. What role did economic issues play in ending the Cold War? [Specimen] [1998] 57. Examine the conflicting aims and policies of rival powers which caused the Cold War. [HL] [1998]
Topic 5 The Cold War Page 6 58. Assess the importance of two of the following in influencing the development of the Cold War: Marshall Aid; Warsaw Pact; arms control; détente. [HL] [1998] 59. Examine the impact of the Cold War on two countries (excluding the superpowers), each chosen from a different region. [HL] [1998] 60. The build up of missiles in Cuba in 1962 was a deliberate, provocative and unjustified action. To what extent do you agree with this statement? [HL] [1998] 61. What were the main social and cultural consequences of the Cold War? [HL] [1998] 62. Ideological differences played only a minor role in the origin and development of the Cold War. How far do you agree with this statement? [HL] [1999] 63. In what ways and for what reasons did the Cold War affect the Middle East? [HL] [1999]\ 64. Analyze the importance of spheres of influence for one of the superpowers in the Cold War. [HL] [1999] 65. Assess the importance in the development of the Cold War of two of the following: the Yalta Conference; Berlin; the Arms Race; non-alignment; South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). [HL] [1999] 66. Examine the impact of the Cold War on the social life and culture of two countries each chosen from a different region. [HL] [1999] 67. Ideological differences played little part in the origin of the Cold War. How far do you agree with this judgement? [HL] [2000] 68. To what extent was Germany the cause of East / West disagreements between 1943 and 1963? [HL] [2000] 69. Define superpower rivalry and assess its importance in international politics since 1945. [HL] [2000] 70. Analyze the role of either Cuba or Vietnam in the development of the Cold War. [HL] [2000] 71. Compare and contrast the economic and social impact of the Cold War on two countries each chosen from a different region. [HL] [2000]
Topic 5 The Cold War Page 7 72. The Cold War was caused by fear, not aggression. To what extent does this view explain how the Cold War developed between 1945 and 1949? [HL] [2001] 73. Examine the impact of the Cold War on educational developments in two countries, each chosen from a different region. [HL] [2001] 74. Compare and contrast the aims and policies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Warsaw Pact up to 1970. [HL] [2001] 75. For what reasons, and with what results, up to 1963, did the United States adopt the policy known as containment? [HL] [2001] 76. Excluding the superpowers, assess the role of two countries in the development of the Cold War after 1950. [HL] [2001] 77. In what ways, and for what reasons, did super-power rivalry dominate international politics between 1945 and 1961? [HL] [2002] 78. Analyse the role of Germany in the origin and development of the Cold War. [HL] [2002] 79. Explain and evaluate the impact of the Cold War on developing countries. [HL] [2002] 80. A product of the Cold War, and a reason for the prolonging of Cold War tension. To what extent do you agree with this statement about the Vietnam War? [HL] [2002] 81. For what reasons, and with what effects, did social and cultural differences affect the origin and development of the Cold War? [HL] [2002] 82. How, and to what extent, did the conferences at Yalta and Potsdam (1945) contribute to the origin of the Cold War? [HL] [2003] 83. Although it began in Europe the spread of the Cold War to other regions was a much more dangerous development. To what extent do you agree with this judgement? [HL] [2003] 84. How and why did the policies of either the USA or the USSR affect superpower rivalry between 1950 and 1970? [HL] [2003 85. In what ways were gender and social issues affected by the Cold War? [HL] [2003]
Topic 5 The Cold War Page 8 86. Assess the importance of détente and internal opposition to Communist rule in Communist countries, in ending the Cold War. [HL] [2003] 87. To what extent did events in the final year of the Second World War turn wartime allies into Cold War enemies? [HL] [2004] 88. Compare and contrast the policies of the USA and the USSR towards Korea between 1945 and 1955. [HL] [2004] 89. Assess the impact of the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan on the development of the Cold War between 1947 and 1961. [HL] [2004] 90. In what ways, and to what extent, did the Cold War become less confrontational after 1970? [HL] [2004] 91. Assess the importance of social and economic issues in causing opposition to communist regimes. [HL] [2004] 92. Assess the part played by differing ideologies in the origin of the Cold War. (2005) 93. In what ways, and with what results, was Germany the key focus of the early stages of the Cold War? (2005) 94. Analyse the part played by Cuba in the development of the Cold War. (2005) 95. Evaluate the role of one superpower in the Cold War after 1970. (2005) 96. To what extent did economic problems in the Communist bloc bring about the end of the Cold War? (2005) 97. "An unnatural alliance that was bound to fall apart after the defeat of the common enemy." To what extent does this statement explain the origin of the Cold War? [HL] [2006] 98. In what ways, and with what results, did the United States' Cold War policy of containment affect Cuba after 1959?? [HL] [2006] 99. Compare and contrast the roles of China and Germany in the Cold War.? [HL] [2006] 100. Analyse the importance of detente in ending the Cold War.? [HL] [2006] 101. Examine the part played by economic issues in the development of the Cold War.?
Topic 5 The Cold War Page 9 [HL] [2006] 102. Assess the part played by differing ideologies in the origin of the Cold War. [HL] [2007] 103. In what ways, and with what results, was Germany the key focus of the early stages of the cold War?. [HL] [2007] 104. Analyse the part played by cuba in the development of the Cold War.. [HL] [2007] 105. Evaluate the role of one superpower in the cold War after 1970.\. [HL] [2007] 106. To what extent did economic problems in the Communist bloc bring about the end of the Cold War?. [HL] [2007] 107. Analyse the origin of East-West rivalry and explain why it developed into the Cold War. (2008A) 108. For what reasons, and with what results, did the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan affect Cold War development? (2008A) 109. Compare and contrast the roles of Korea and Vietnam in the Cold War. 110. Explain the meaning of two of the following and show how each affected the development of the Cold War: containment; brinkmanship; non-alignment; détente. (2008A) 111. When and why did the Cold War end? (2008A) 112. For what reasons, and with what results, did the Second World War allies become postwar enemies?(2008b) 113. In what ways did developments in Germany affect the Cold War between 1945 and 1961? (2008B) 114. Compare and contrast the roles of China and Cuba in the Cold War. (2008B) 115. Gender issues played no part in the Cold War. To what extent do you agree with this statement? (2008B) 116. Assess the economic and social effects of the Cold War on one superpower. (2008B) 117. For what reasons, and with what results, were there disagreements between participants at
Topic 5 The Cold War Page 10 the conferences of Yalta and Potsdam in 1945? (2009 A) 118. Define and analyse the importance of two of the following: a. The formation of NATO b. The Warsaw Pact c. Non-alignment d. Détente (2009 A) 119. Examine the role and importance of fear and suspicion in the development of the Cold War between 1953 and 1975. (2009 A) 120. In what ways were social and gender issues affected by the Cold War in two countries, each chosen from a different region? (2009 A) 121. Why did the Cold War spread from Europe to other parts of the world after 1950? (2009 A) 122. What were the reasons for, and results of, the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan? 123. Define, and analyse the importance of, two of the following: a. Containment b. COMECON c. Détente d. East European States (2009 B) 124. Assess the social and economic impact of the Cold War on two countries, each chosen from a different region. (2009 B) 125. Analyse the role of mutual distrust in the development of the Cold War between 1953 and 1975. (2009 B) 126. Why did the Cold War begin and end in Europe? (2009 B) 127. Evaluate the role of the olicies of the United States in the origins of the Cold War between 1945 and 1949. (2010A) 128. Compare and contrast the role of two leaders, each chosen from a different region, in the development of the Cold War between 1953 and 1964. (2010A) 129. Why did détente develop between 1969 and 1979? (2010A) 130. Analyse the impact of Afghanistan (1979-1988) on the development of the Cold War. (2010A)
Topic 5 The Cold War Page 11 131. "The Cold War came to an end primarily because of Gorbachev's changes in Soviet policies." To what extent do you agree with this statement? (2010A) 132. Evaluate the impact of the Cold War on the culture of two countries, each chosen from a different region. (2010A) 133. For what reasons, and to what extent, did the ~ Conference of February 1945 contribute to the origins of the Cold War? (2011A) 134. Compare and contrast the effects of peaceful coexistence during the 1950s and 1960s in any two countries. (2011A) 135. The events in Cuba during 1962 were the most evident display of brinksmanship. To what extent do you agree with this statement? (2011A) 136. Analyze the role of Vietnam in the development of the Cold War between 1964 and 1975? (2011A) 137. To what extent did events in Eastern European countries contribute to the end of the Cold War? 138. With reference to ONE country, discuss the social impact of the Cold War between 1953 and 1964? (2011A) 139. Assess the role of Truman and Stalin in the origins and development of the Cold War. (2012A) 140. "The sovietization of Eastern and Central Europe after the Second World War was undertaken as a defensive measure by the Soviet Union." To what extent do you agree with this statement? (2012A) 141. Analyse the reasons for, and consequences of, the breakdown of Sino-Soviet relations in the 1950s and 1960s. (2012A) 142. Assess the economic and social impact of superpower involvement III one of the following: Cuba (after 1959); Congo (after 1960); Afghanistan (after 1979). (2012A) 143. In what ways, and with what significance, did either Kennedy or Reagan influence the development of the Cold War? (2012A) 144. For what reasons, and in what ways, did Cold War tensions hinder the work of the United
Topic 5 The Cold War Page 12 Nations? (2012A)