Download Direct and Indirect Conflict

Direct and Indirect Conflict
American and Soviet Conflict by Proxy
OVERVIEW
This lesson examines:
• The definition of proxy conflict
• Superpower involvement in the Korean War
• Long-term patterns
Conflict by Proxy
Context Question:
The US and the USSR rarely came close to
direct confrontation. Why?
Conflict by Proxy
• The USA and USSR did
not border each other the buildup of nuclear
weapons was the major
form of competition.
• Direct confrontation
could lead to nuclear war
– this possibility acted as a
limiting factor
Conflict by Proxy
• “Proxy” conflict is when one or both superpowers
were indirectly involved in conflict;
• The superpowers fought against each other in
alternate ways or supported forces which were loyal
to their side, even though
• Such conflicts did not appear to have an influence on
the superpowers’ immediate security.
• In what other ways might the superpowers compete with
each other without using military means?
The Korean War
MAPS
• In the United States, the war was initially described by President
Truman as a “police action”
• It has been referred to in the United States as The Forgotten War
or The Unknown War because the issues concerned were much
less clear than in previous and subsequent conflicts, such as World
War II and the Vietnam War
• In South Korea the war is usually referred to as "625" or the 6–2–5
Upheaval, reflecting the date of its commencement on 25 June.
• In North Korea the war is officially referred to as the Fatherland
Liberation War
• In the People's Republic of China the war is called the War to
Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea
The Korean War
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•
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The superpowers left Korea in a
situation that would lead to future
conflict:
The USSR disagreed with the UN’s
plan for elections
Syngman Rhee became president of
the Republic of Korea (ROK)
Kim Il Sung became leader of the
Democratic People’s Republic of
Koreas (DPRK)
Both leaders claimed jurisdiction over
the whole peninsula
Background
• The Korean peninsula was ruled by the
Empire of Japan from 1910 until the end of
World War II.
• Following the surrender of Japan in 1945,
American administrators divided the
peninsula along the 38th parallel at the
Potsdam Conference, without consulting
the Koreans, with US military forces
occupying the southern half and Soviet
military forces occupying the northern half.
• The Soviet Union withdrew as agreed from
Korea in 1948. U.S. troops withdrew from
Korea in 1949, leaving the South Korean
army relatively ill-equipped.
The Korean War
•With Stalin’s support, North
Korea launched an invasion of
South Korea on June 25,
1950 with the goal of
unification.
•The US gained support of
the UN Security Council in
the USSR’s absence
•Sent soldiers and supplies
to South Korea
• It was the first significant armed conflict of the
Cold War. In 1950 the Soviet Union boycotted the
UN’s Security Council, in protest at representation
of China by the Kuomintang / Republic of China
government, which had taken refuge in Taiwan
following defeat in the Chinese Civil War.
• In the absence of a dissenting voice from the
Soviet Union, who could have vetoed it, USA and
other countries passed a security council
resolution authorizing military intervention in
Korea.
The Korean War
By September 1950, the US and UN forces
had pushed the DPRK out of South Korea.
The US and UN forces wanted to unify
Korea under a friendly government.
In what way might the Soviets and the Chinese
have responded and how did they justify their
involvement?
The Korean War
Context Question:
During WWII, when faced with the possibility
of large casualties in the attempt to invade
Japan, what option did the US choose and
why?
The Korean War
In early 1950, China had pushed the US and
UN below the 38th parallel. In danger of
losing the war, what options did the US have?
What would have been the consequences of
these choices?
To launch a
tactical nuclear
strike
To fight and
gain as much
territory as
possible
To retreat and
give up South
Korea
The likely result?
The likely result?
The likely result?
Nuclear war
with the Soviet
Union
Maintenance of
a divided Korea
Loss of face and
confidence in
American
leadership
• 1945
– Korea controlled by Japan
• Soviets occupied the NORTH, America the SOUTH
•The two halves were divided by the 38th Parallel
•1947 – elections held in the South supported by the
US; The North had its own govt. backed by the
Soviets
• Each government claimed to be the rightful rulers
of Korea
• Each side was supported by the respective
superpower even though they withdrew troops in
1948.
•1949 – China became Communist – supported N Korea
• 1950 – N Korea invaded S Korea
• Sept 1950 – UN troops into S Korea at INCHON
• N Koreans pushed back into N Korea
• Oct 1950 Chinese invaded N Korea
• UN troops pushed back to S Korea
• 1950-51 – STALEMATE around 38th Parallel
• April 1951 – MacArthur removed from position – replaced
by General Omar Bradley
• Fighting continued until 1952
•1952 – Truman replaced by Eisenhower
• 1953 – Stalin died
• July 1953 - Armistice signed
The Key Players
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•
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•
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Truman
Syngman Rhee – SK
UN
MacArthur
Bradley
• Kim Il Sung - NK
• Mao Tse Tung
• Stalin
• The United States of America provided 88% of the 341,000
international soldiers which aided South Korean forces in repelling
the invasion, with twenty other countries of the United Nation
offering assistance. Suffering severe casualties, within two months
the defenders were pushed back to a small area in the south of the
Korean Penisula known as the Pusan perimeter.
• A rapid U.N. counter-offensive then drove the North Koreans past
the 38th Parallel and almost to the Yalu River, when the People’s
Republic of China (PRC) entered the war on the side of North
Korea. Chinese intervention forced the Southern-allied forces to
retreat behind the 38th Parallel.
• While not directly committing forces to the conflict, the Soviet Union
provided material aid to both the North Korean and Chinese armies.
• The active stage of the war ended on 27 July 1953, when the
armistice agreement was signed. The agreement restored the
border between the Koreas near the 38th Parallel and created the
Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a 2.5-mile (4.0 km)-wide fortified
buffer zone between the two Korean nations.
• Minor outbreaks of fighting continue to the present day.
The Korean War
The removal of General MacArthur resulted in
the search for negotiations.
By Oct 1963:
• Around 4 million Koreans had died
• The North and South Korea border was near
its original 38th parallel
• The UN, North Korea and China signed an
armistice
Long-term patterns
Context Question:
When the US was faced with communist
aggression, how did it respond in Greece, the
Berlin blockade and the invasion of South
Korea?
Long-term patterns
After the Korean War, the US
had an established goal for its
foreign policy:
“Containment”
The use of economic,
diplomatic and/or military
means to prevent the
spread of communism to
other countries
Long-term patterns
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•
•
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How would the US
achieve “containment”?
Economic
Would
thesesupport
policies of
friendly governments
encourage
or discourage
Sponsorship
rebel
peace
betweenofthe
movements Explain.
superpowers?
Use of international
support
Military buildup and
intervention
SUMMARY QUESTIONS
• How were the Berlin Airlift and the Korean War
examples of “proxy conflict”?
• Why did the US consider the use of atomic
weapons in the Korean War?
• How was the Korean conflict resolved and what
pattern of US foreign policy was established
afterwards?