Aspects of International Relations 1945 – 2004
Exam Questions (updated Summer 2015)
- Unit 3 is 30% of the A Level.
- The exam is 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Three essay questions will be set from which you will have to answer two.
- Each essay question will take 45 minutes to answer.
- Questions will test breadth & depth.
- Your ability to evaluate the debate & make judgments is key.
- One of the three questions will require a response that covers 3 of the 4 content blocks. This is called the ‘breadth’ question.
- The following could be questions in their own right: UN, Cuba, nuclear arms race, etc.
- Themes could include: USA; USSR; Germany, Europe;America’s relationship with Europe including Britain;nuclear weapons; ideological differences etc.
The Emergence of the Superpowers 1945 – 1962
‘NATO, in 1949 & then the Warsaw Pact in 1955 were created for purely defensive reasons.’ Assess the validity of this view. (Specimen paper)
‘In the years 1945 – 1962, the Cold war developed primarily because of America’s commitment to Containment.’ Assess the validity of this view.
‘The actions of the Western Allies were primarily responsible for the division of Europe into two power blocs by 1950.’ Assess the validity of this view.
‘The crises over Berlin in the years 1948 to 1961 were deliberately created by the Soviet Union.’ How valid is this assessment?
To what extent was the ideological divide between the USAUSSR the primary reason for the development of the Cold War in the years 1945 to 1949?
‘Peaceful coexistence failed by 1961 because neither the East nor the West was fully committed to it.’ How valid is this assessment? (Pg. 54)
To what extent was the Soviet Union’s expansion into Eastern Europe the main cause of the intensification of the Cold War in the years 1945 to 1956? (June 2010)
To what extent was the United States responsible for the collapse of the Grand Alliance at the end of the Second World War? (June 2011)
‘In the years 1955 to 1962, Khrushchev was genuinely committed to peaceful co-existence.’ Assess the validity of this view. (June 2012)
‘The policy of containment was pursued by the USA with the sole purpose of protecting democracy.’ Assess the validity of this view with reference to the years 1945 to 1949. (June 2013)
To what extent was the ideological division between the Soviet Union and the West responsible for the development of the Cold War in the years 1945 to 1956? (June 2015)
From Cold War to Détente 1962 – 1981
How far was the dispute over Berlin, in the years 1958 to 1961, the primary cause of the Cuban missile crisis of 1962? (Specimen paper)
‘The Soviet Union must be held responsible for the limited success of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks during the 1970s.’ How valid is this assessment?
‘Ostpolitik was the main cause of Détente.’ How valid is this view?
‘The Soviet Union was aggressively expansionist and showed little real enthusiasm for détente.’ How valid is this assessment? (Pg.98)
‘America emerged from the Cuban Missile Crisis as the unquestioned victor.’ How valid is this view for the years 1962 – 1964?
‘The Cuban Missile Crisis was a triumph for the Soviet Union.’ How valid is this assessment with reference to the years 1962 to 1964? (June 2010)
‘Detente collapsed primarily because of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.’ Assess the validity of this view.
‘America was never fully committed to Détente.’ How valid is this view for the years 1969 – 1979?
To what extent was the collapse of détente by 1980 due to the changing attitudes in the United States? (June 2012)
The Final Years of the Cold War 1981 – 1991
To what extent was Reagan responsible for the ending of the Cold War?
‘A triumph for the politics of Ronald Reagan & Margaret Thatcher.’ Assess the validity of this view of bringing the nuclear arms race to an end.
‘The actions of Ronald Reagan were the main cause of the end of the Cold War.’ How valid is this view?
‘The Cold War came to an end because the Soviet Union was simply unable to continue with it.’ How valid is this view? (Pg. 132)
‘It was Ronald Reagan who brought the Cold War to an end.’ Assess the validity of this view with reference to the years 1985 to 1991. (June 2014)
Post Cold War Relations 1991 – 2004
‘America was the sole victor of the Cold War.’ Assess the validity of this view for the years 1991 – 2004.
How far was the end of the Cold War beneficial to the role of the UN in the years 1991 – 2004?
‘Rather than making the role of the United Nations easier, the end of the Cold War simply deepened its problems.’ Assess the validity of this view. (Pg. 177)
‘The end of the Cold War led to an increase in America’s global power.’ Assess the validity of this view.
‘The United Nations was an effective international peacekeeping organisation in the years 1991 to 2004.’ Assess the validity of this view. (June 2011)
To what extent was the USA’s response to international aggression based solely on protecting its own national interests in the years 1991 to 2004? (June 2013)
‘The end of the Cold War enabled the United Nations to fulfill its role of maintaining international peace and security.’ Assess the validity of this view with reference to the years 1991 to 2004. (June 2014)
‘The USA’s involvement in international affairs in the years 1991 to 2004 was the result of its commitment to the United Nations’. Assess the validity of this view. (June 2015)
Breadth Questions
‘It was the actions of the USA in the years 1947 – 2004, which determined the course of international relations.’ Assess the validity of this view. (Specimen paper)
To what extent did the possession of nuclear weapons effect relations between the superpowers in the years 1945 – 1989?
How far was the USA responsible for the limited success achieved by the attempts to control nuclear arms developments in the years 1963 – 1989?
‘The relationship between Europe & USA remained stable throughout the years 1947 – 1991.’ How valid is this assessment?
‘In the years 1945 to 1991 the Soviet Union consistently ensured that the Cold War continued.’ Assess the validity of this view. (Pg. 177)
‘In the years 1969 to 2004 the United States consistently placed its own global self-interest above any consideration for international co-operation.’ How valid is this assessment of US foreign policy? (June 2010)
‘The Cuban Missile Crisis was a turning point in international relations.’ How valid is this view for the years 1962 – 2004?
‘In the years 1945 – 1991, America was solely responsible for the continuation of the Cold War.’ How valid is this view?
America consistently failed to contribute to international cooperation.’ Assess the validity of this view for the years 1962 – 2004.
‘America remained committed to its objective of being a global superpower.’ Assess the validity of this view for the years 1962 – 2004.
‘In the years 1949 – 1991, the Cold War continued only because of the ideological divisions between America and the Soviet Union.’ Assess the validity of this view. (June 2011)
‘The Cold War lasted for so long because of the United States’ fears for Western European security.’ Assess the validity of this view with reference to the years 1945 to 1991. (June 2012)
‘The Soviet Union’s policies towards the USA were aimed at relaxing the tensions between them. Assess the validity of this view with reference to the years 1956 to 1991. (June 2013)
‘The USA’s policies towards the Soviet Union never changed in the years 1949 to 1985.’ Assess the validity of this view. (June 2014)
To what extent did the USA’s commitment to Western Europe affect relations between the USA and the USSR in the years 1958 to 1989? (June 2015)