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Lecture #3
The Impact of WWI on the Periphery
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Prelude
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Beginning of 20th c world becomes more interrelated
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Connected in many ways
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Colonial holdings of European countries
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Heavily dependent on US or Europe without being colonies
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Colonial power--Britain
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constant military presence
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runs country
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Dependent power -- US
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not constant military presence
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interfere in internal affairs -- Mexico
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economic ties supersede political and military ties
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Colonies also have economic bond with great powers
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Core countries export expensive manufactured good and import cheap natural
reasources.
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Psycological ties bond countries together
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Relationship between upper classes in dependent countries and core countries
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Core countries impose their educational system on dependent countries
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Attempt to convert to Christianity
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Europeans argue that colonialsim OK beacause they export superior culture
to colonies
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Gave peripheral countries the sense that htey had to imitate Europe to
order to progress
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Upper classes in peripheral countries spoke core languages--French, Spanish,
English not native languages.
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Imported symbols of power from Europe-crowns
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Colonials adopt ceremonial garb of colonized areas in order to legitimize
rule
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Colonies resent subordinate status
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WWI
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Center of conflict in Europe
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Destorys much economic and military power of dominant countries
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Ripple effect throughout the world
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Tensions before the war:
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gender and class
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patched up for war
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pick up again after war
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As colonial armies enter war European mystique of infallibility was shaken
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colonials fight alonside Europeans and see common soldiers
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Colonials fight and die for a war they didn't care about
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Feel they deserve something in return
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Powers owe them concession after war
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Us and Russia rise in importance during and after the war
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US turns tide against Germany--can influence postwar settlement
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Bolsheviks represent forces for change in world system
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Lenin and Wilson argue that should be no more secret treaties after war
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Both argue that goal of war was to promote a broader based world politcal
system--didn't agree on means
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Both argue for self-determination among people
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Forces for order
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French, Italian and British people don't like self-determination
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Don't want to lose their colonies
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Don't want mass participation--rule of the elite is traditional
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Two groups collide at Versailles
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Lenin not invited
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Wilson very popular in 1918 with colonies
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Wilson has little diplomatic experience
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Has no sympathy for aims and aspiration of colonial countries
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wants slow change for colonies in Africa, Mideast, Asia, and Mexico
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Sent mixed signals
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Two biggest proponents for change were silent at Versailles.
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Peripheral countries were politically and economically weak
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Couldn't push for their interests
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Versailles didn't transform traditional order
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Tried to contain change and restructure existing order
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Some European countries receiced independence but no colonial countries
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No concessions were made to colonies
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Former colonies of Germany placed under control of League of Nations
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Mandate System
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protectorate over a given area given to one of the principle European powers
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Have virtual colonial control
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Supposed to be temporary--preparation for self-rule
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League was active in containing change
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Hed to unrest in the periphery
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Palestine
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British mandate was met by resistance from Arab and Jewish groups
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Egypt--revolt in 1919 to demand concessions from Britain
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China--1920-1930--series of revolts against foreign domination and rule
of local elites
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Mexico--1917 constitution
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limited foreign ownership of natural resources
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demanded foreign owners have to follow Mexican law
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emphasizes Indian cultural roots
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Attempts to break psychological and cultural ties with developed world.
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