International Relations: the changing international order 1918–1975 with South Africa 1960–1994 — OCR GCSE History

This topic explores the dramatic shifts in international relations from the aftermath of World War I to the end of the Cold War era, focusing on the changing international order between 1918 and 1975. It examines the failure of the League of Nations, the causes and consequences of World War II, the emergence of the Cold War, and the process of decolonisation. Within this global context, the specific case study of South Africa from 1960 to 1994 provides a detailed lens to understand how international pressures, such as sanctions and diplomatic isolation, combined with internal resistance to end apartheid. Understanding this period is crucial for grasping how international institutions, ideologies, and power struggles shaped the modern world.

The period 1918–1975 saw the rise and fall of great powers, the creation of the United Nations, and the division of Europe into rival blocs. The Cold War rivalry between the USA and USSR influenced conflicts worldwide, from Korea to Vietnam, and also impacted decolonisation in Africa and Asia. South Africa's apartheid regime, established in 1948, became a focal point for international condemnation, especially after the Sharpeville massacre in 1960. The global movement against apartheid, including boycotts and sanctions, eventually contributed to the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990 and the first democratic elections in 1994. This topic therefore connects global power shifts with local struggles for justice.

For OCR GCSE History students, this topic requires analysing causes and consequences, evaluating the role of key individuals and organisations, and understanding different perspectives. You will need to assess the effectiveness of international organisations like the League of Nations and the UN, and examine how events in South Africa were influenced by and influenced global trends. Mastering this topic will help you develop critical thinking skills essential for understanding contemporary international relations.

• →Collective security: The idea that peace can be maintained by states acting together to prevent aggression, as attempted by the League of Nations and later the United Nations.
• →Ideological conflict: The rivalry between capitalism (led by the USA) and communism (led by the USSR) that shaped Cold War alliances and proxy wars.
• →Decolonisation: The process by which colonies gained independence, often influenced by Cold War dynamics and international pressure, as seen in African nations.
• →Apartheid: A system of racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the South African government from 1948 to 1994, which became a global human rights issue.
• →Sanctions and isolation: Economic and diplomatic measures used by the international community to pressure South Africa into ending apartheid, including arms embargoes and cultural boycotts.

• The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962
• Origins of US involvement in Vietnam 1954–1965
• US tactics in the Vietnam War and their consequences
• Vietcong tactics in the Vietnam War and their consequences
• Opposition in the USA to the Vietnam War
• US withdrawal from Vietnam
• The end of the Vietnam War and its impact on international relations

• 💡Focus on how these events contribute to the overall narrative of International Relations: the changing international order 1918–1975.
• 💡Be prepared to analyse and evaluate previously unseen extracts from interpretations.
• 💡Understand second-order historical concepts such as causation, consequence, and change.
• 💡Ensure you can explain how and why different interpretations of Cold War developments have changed over time.
• 💡Use specific examples and dates to support your arguments. For instance, when discussing the League of Nations, mention the Manchurian Crisis (1931) or the Abyssinian Crisis (1935) to illustrate its weaknesses. For South Africa, refer to key events like the Sharpeville massacre (1960) or the Soweto uprising (1976).
• 💡Structure your answers to show causation and consequence. For example, explain how the failure of appeasement led to WWII, and how WWII's aftermath created the conditions for the Cold War. Similarly, link the Sharpeville massacre to increased international condemnation and the subsequent arms embargo.
• 💡Evaluate different interpretations. In essays, consider both the role of individuals (e.g., Mandela, Botha) and broader forces (e.g., economic pressures, global opinion). Show awareness that historians disagree on the relative importance of internal vs. external factors in ending apartheid.

• Misconception: The League of Nations was a complete failure. Correction: While it failed to prevent WWII, it had some successes in the 1920s, such as resolving disputes between Sweden and Finland over the Åland Islands, and its agencies improved global health and labour conditions.
• Misconception: The Cold War was solely caused by the USA and USSR after WWII. Correction: Tensions began earlier, with ideological differences dating back to the Russian Revolution (1917) and mutual suspicion during WWII, though the division of Europe after 1945 escalated it.
• Misconception: Apartheid ended because of international pressure alone. Correction: Internal resistance, including the ANC's armed struggle, mass protests, and economic pressures within South Africa, were equally crucial. International sanctions supported but did not solely cause the end of apartheid.