Modern History Unit 2: The Changing World Order

Elective Unit

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this unit.

Course Description

In this unit students investigate the nature and impact of the Cold War and challenges and changes to social, political and economic structures and systems of power in the second half of the twentieth century and the first decade of the twenty-first century.

The establishment of the United Nations (UN) in 1945 was intended to take an internationalist approach to avoiding warfare, resolving political tensions and addressing threats to human life and safety. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1948 was the first global expression of human rights. However, despite internationalist moves, the second half of the twentieth century was dominated by the Cold War, competing ideologies of democracy and communism and proxy wars. By 1989 the USSR began to collapse. Beginning with Poland, Eastern European communist dictatorships fell one by one. The fall of the Berlin Wall was a significant turning point in modern history.

The second half of the twentieth century also saw the rise of social movements that challenged existing values and traditions, such as the civil rights movement, feminism and environmental movements, as well as new political partnerships, such as the UN, European Union, APEC, OPEC, ASEAN and the British Commonwealth of Nations.

The beginning of the twenty-first century heralded both a changing world order and further advancements in technology and social mobility on a global scale. However, terrorism remained a major threat, influencing politics, social dynamics and the migration of people across the world. The attack on the World Trade Centre on 11 September, 2001 was a significant turning point for what became known as the war on global terror and shaped the first decade of the twenty-first century, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Global Financial Crisis challenged and contributed to some change in the social, political and economic features and structures; however, many continuities remained. Technology also played a key role in shaping social and political change in different contexts. The internet significantly changed everyday life and revolutionised communication and the sharing of information and ideas, some of which challenged authority, most notably the Arab Spring.

Areas of Study

Causes, course and consequences of the Cold War

What were the causes of the Cold War?
How did Cold War ideology contribute to increased tensions and conflict?
What were the consequences of the Cold War on nations and peoples?
What caused the end of the Cold War?
How did the social, political, economic and cultural conditions influence and change the post-Cold War world?

In this area of study students focus on the causes and consequences of the Cold War; the competing ideologies that underpinned events, the consequences on people, groups and nations, and the causes of the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the USSR.

Students investigate the causes of the Cold War in the decades that followed World War Two. They analyse the significant contribution of events, ideologies and individuals, and the consequences for nations and people in the period 1945–1991. While the USA and the USSR never engaged in direct armed conflict, they opposed each other in a range of international conflicts and proxy wars such as those in Berlin, Korea, Angola, Cuba and Vietnam. They both tried to exert their influence through aid and propaganda in Africa, Asia and the Americas and engaged in an arms race and a space race, with competition also extending to sport and the arts.

Students consider the reasons for the end of this long-running period of ideological conflict and the collapse of the USSR in 1991, as well as exploring the legacy of communism and/or socialism in the post-Soviet era and the emergence of democracy in new nations.

Challenge and Change

What caused the challenges to existing political and/or social structures and conditions?
How did the actions and ideas of popular movements and individuals contribute to continuity and change?
To what extent did change occur?
What were the perspectives and experiences of those who demanded and/or resisted change?

In this area of study students focus on the ways in which traditional ideas, values and political systems were challenged and changed by individuals and groups in a range of contexts during the second half of the twentieth century and first decade of the twenty-first century. Students also consider the extent to which ideas, values and political systems remained the same and/or change was resisted. Students explore the causes of significant political and social events and movements, and their consequences for nations and people.

While the Cold War dominated the second half of the twentieth century, social and political challenges, continuities and changes occurred within and between nations based on religion, nationalism, race, gender and human rights. Nations were challenged by internal struggles over ideology such as the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979. Independence movements led to the emergence of new nations. Nations such as Algeria and Timor-Leste achieved sovereignty through armed struggle, while Papua New Guinea and other Pacific nations achieved independence through diplomatic means. Regional conflicts continued and emerged, including the Arab–Israeli conflict, the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa and civil and sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland, the Horn of Africa, Rwanda, Kashmir, and the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. Although, terrorism was not a new phenomenon, it took on new dimensions and became increasingly global, such as the attack in the USA on 11 September, 2001, and the Bali Bombings in 2002, particularly with the rise of prominent groups such as Al Qaeda.

This area of study focusses on challenge and change in relation to at least one of the following themes: Decolonisation and self-determination movements, Terrorism campaigns, Regional conflicts, and/or Social and political movements.

Assessment

Outcomes	Assessment Tasks
Outcomes	(school-assessed coursework)
On completion of this unit the student should be able to explain the causes of the Cold War and analyse its consequences on nations and people.	a historical inquiry an essay a multimedia presentation
On completion of this unit the student should be able to explain the challenges to social, political and/or economic structures of power and evaluate the extent to which continuity and change occurred.	evaluation of historical sources short-answer questions extended responses

Overall Final Assessment

End of Semester Examination – 1.5 hours.