Final Exam HIS 204Q1: Evaluate the significance of Mikhail Gorbachev. How was Gorbachev different to his
predecessors? How did his actions and policies contribute to ending the Cold War?
ANS: Gorbachev is a Russian politician and leader who is the last leader of the Soviet Union.
The most significant work of Gorbachev in 1985 was the end of the Cold War. He worked
differently from his successors and focused on the demilitarization of policies. He was
mainly objected to using more resources to stabilize the economic conditions of Augean in
comparison to having military powers. He was the one who formulated policies of
perestroika and glasnost to create a sluggish economy. this sluggish economy gradually
sparks the revolution of freedom and the Cold War ended.
These are the well-thought policies that end the tension of the Cold War. According to the
policy of Glasnost, more Western product and ideas were welcomed in USSR by Soviet
Officials that give economic advantages to citizens of Soviet. On the other hand, Perestroika
is a policy that allows local citizens to get benefit from the limited market. His effort was
successful and the demand for freedom spread through boundaries and the rise of
communisms controls the violence of the Cold War.
Q2: What are the root causes of imperialism/colonialism in Africa? What were the
mechanisms of imperialism/colonialism in Africa and what are some of the consequences
that resulted from British/French rule in the continent of Africa? How does the case of
South Africa stand out?
ANS:European imperialism has sparked by three main factors that are economic, political
and social that come in form of a decrease in profitability and usage of the slave trade,
abolition of slavery on a large scale and historic Industrial Revolution that was initiated by
European Capitalist and offered good working conditions to labor class.
The mechanism of imperialism in Africa is based on the objective of controlling and
exploiting the resources of areas between colonial authorities and the capitalist. It sparked a
struggle to gain a balance of power between metropolises in colonies and the communist
group.
Colonial rule in Africa brings practices of great violence with political pressure and threat or
control through military invasions. These activities bring long-lasting effects on African
societies, for example, the separation of African local ethnicities into groups. Moreover, it
sparks acts of resistance from African especially through the military in the form of Guerilla
invasion and direct military attacks. Moreover, new political orders initiated in West Africa
for example “Samory Toure” that fought to take control of new political powers in the area.
In South Africa, the development of settler-colonies was the major influence of French rule.
Q3: What was the Bush administration’s response to the attacks on 9/11? How would you
characterize the US strategy/policies in response to these attacks? Was this approach
successful or not? Briefly explain
ANS: In response to the attack of 9/11, President George W. Bush focused on controlling
terrorist activities by starting their military operation in Afghanistan and passed the disaster
bill worth $40 billion. After this, Bush established the USA Patriot Act and started an
investigation. The investigation was also focused on domestic surveillance and changes in
immigration laws.
To deal with terrorist acts like 9/11, the USA tool some immediate steps by calling another
world for support. President Bush declared that it is time to decide for the rest of the world
and over 30 nations pledges to stand by the United States in this war. NATO took steps and
sent five airplanes to keep an eye on American airspace. However, the major part of counter
policies was a military invasion in many Muslim countries like Iraq, Afghanistan to eliminate
Al-Qaeda and its leader Osama Bin Laden. However, these policies did not work at targeted
because thousand of innocent people in these countries face the music. The US stands as a
country that has no concern in using military powers and ultimately sparked a non-ending
fight between citizens and the military.