Chapter 29: Asian Nations
Struggled to Gain Stability
(1945 to the present)
Introduction
• Look at the maps on pgs. 615 and 795 and compare them
• How many nations that were former colonies have gained
independence?
• Which nations were never colonies?
• What are some challenges that might arise in the new
Asian nations?
Building an economy, establish a government and resist
outside forces
• How might these new nations affect the west?
They might exert cultural influence, provide economic
competition and serve as pawns in the cold war
Chapter Overview
• Great change occurred after WWII
• In China, Communist led by Mao Zedong
overthrew the nationalist government
• The communist dramatically change the nature of
China’s economy
• Disputes among party leaders led to the Great
cultural Revolution of 1966
• China broke off relations with the Soviet Union
• Later China resumed diplomatic relations with
the US
Korea
• Was divided after WWII
• Northern Korea (Communist) invaded S. Korea in
1950
• The attack was condemned by the UN
• An armistice was signed in 1953
Japan
• Lost territorial gains
• Underwent agricultural and industrial changes
• In the 1980s Japan was Asia’s leading industrial
power
Indian Subcontinent
• Was divided into India and Pakistan
• India, under Nehru, adopted a mixed
economy
• Foreign relations were marked by
conflicts with Pakistan and China
• After a civil war, East Pakistan
became the nation of Bangladesh
Philippines/Indonesia
• The Philippines gained independence in 1946 but
retained close ties with the US
• After years of authoritarian rule under Ferdinand
Marcos, the Philippines returned to democracy in the
1980s
Indonesia
• Under Sukarno and Suharto Indonesia suffered from
economic misstatement
• The new federation of Malaysia was endangered by
cultural and economic differences
• After gaining independence, Burma tries to remain
neutral in the ongoing East-West conflict
Indochina
• France fought a long war and was defeated by communist
led Viet Minh
• In the 1960s the US became heavily involved in Vietnam
but with drew in 1973
• N. Vietnam defeated S. Vietnam in 1975
• Other countries in S. Asia were also affected by border
disputes and refugee problems
• Asian countries encouraged industrialization with various
approaches such as authoritarian measures to international
cooperation
• Some countries enjoyed success but throughout the region
economic development proceeded at a slow pace
Objectives
1. Discuss the changes in Chinese economic and foreign
policy instituted by the communist government
2. Explain the causes and effects of the Great Proletarian
Cultural revolution
3. Outline the causes and results of the Korean war
4. ID the aims of the American occupation of Japan
5. Describe the social and economic changes that
occurred in postwar Japan
6. Trace the development of the US-Japanese relations
since 1945
7. ID the major social and economic problems facing
India
8. Describe the events that led to the establishment of
Bangladesh and Pakistan
Objectives
9. Compare the movement toward independence of the
countries of SE Asia
10. Discuss the challenges facing the countries of SE Asia
today
11. Trace the US involvement in the Vietnamese conflict
12. Explain how the Vietnamese War affected the
countries of Indochina
13. Discuss the trend toward authoritarian governments
in Asia
14. Describe the economic development in Asia
15. Give examples of Asia’s influence on the West