Topic 1 – Causes, practices and effects of war
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Compare and contrast the causes of the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
Examine the role of warfare either at sea or in the air in two wars each chosen from a
different region.
Analyse the results of one twentieth century treaty or peace settlement.
For what reasons, and in what ways, did one twentieth century war affect the social and
economic conditions of two countries fighting in it?
Compare and contrast the causes of the First World War and the Second World War.
“Even in the twentieth century the term ‘total war’ could not be applied to any war.” To
what extent do you agree with this judgement?
Discuss the economic causes of one 20th - century war.
Define guerrilla warfare, and discuss its significance in two wars, each chosen from a
different region.
Compare and contrast the causes of two twentieth century civil wars.
Analyse the causes of either the Malvinas/Falklands War (1982) or the Iran-Iraq War
(1980-88)
Assess the social results of two wars, each chosen from a different region.
Analyse the political results of either the Algerian War (1954-62) or the Chinese Civil
War (1946-49)
Assess the impact of technological developments in two wars, each chosen from a
different region.
The Cold War
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How important was mutual suspicion and fear in the origin of the Cold War?
“Ideology played a small part in the origin of the Cold War.” To what extent do you
agree with this assertion?
Assess the importance of two of the following Soviet policies in the origin and
development of the Cold War: Sovietization of Eastern and Central Europe; Comecon;
Warsaw Pact.
Compare and contrast the parts played by Korea and Vietnam in the Cold War.
In what ways and to what extent did containment affect the development of the Cold War
up to 1970?
Analyse the part played by either Kennedy or Reagan in the Cold War.
“The non-aligned movement had little impact on Cold War policies and development.”
To what extent do you agree with this assertion?
Explain the role and importance of internal problems and external pressures, in causing
the break-up of the Soviet Union.
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For what reasons, and with what results, were there disagreements between participants at
the conferences of Yalta and Potsdam in 1945?
Why did the Cold War spread from Europe to other parts of the world after 1950?
In what ways did developments in Germany affect the Cold War between 1945 and
1961?
Define and analyse the importance of two of the following:
a) The formation of NATO
b) The Warsaw Pact
c) Non-alignment
d) Détente
For what reasons and with what results, did the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan
affect Cold War development?
Explain the role of two of the following and show how each affected the development of
the Cold War: containment; brinkmanship; non-alignment; détente.
When and why did the Cold War end?