“After 1945, the foreign policy of countries in the Americas was largely shaped by the Cold War.” Discuss with reference to either Canada or one Latin American country.

Candidates may choose to discuss the foreign policy of either Canada or one specific Latin American country during the Cold War and they should offer a considered and balanced review of the extent to which Cold War issues shaped their foreign policy.

Note: Some countries’ foreign policies became clearly anti-US as a response to US interventionism, for example, Cuba. Others openly supported the US in the Cold War in exchange for trade benefits and weapons (for example military dictatorships) or due to similar ideology, (for example Canada).

Indicative content

Latin America

• The fact that the US was involved in conflicts in other regions led Latin American countries to diversify their foreign policies, for example, instituting economic exchange and cooperation with the Soviet Union, Japan and Western Europe.
• The aims and impact of the Rio Pact or TIAR (1947) and the hemispheric defence doctrine could be considered, as could the Non Aligned movement.
• The creation of the Organization of American States (1948), aimed at regional solidarity and cooperation among members. It was also founded in an attempt to contain the spread of communism.
• Several regional institutions, such as the Inter-American Development Bank and the Latin American Free Trade Association, were aimed at fostering regional economic integration and reducing dependency on the US. Candidates may argue that these were attempts by countries to detach themselves from Cold War issues, but they could also claim that these institutions
  were formed as a response to Cold War tensions.
• Events in Cuba—such as the Cuban Revolution, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the economic boycott and Cuba’s relations with the East, as well as Castro’s support for leftist movements both within and outside the region—could be discussed.

Canada

• Canada joined the US in its commitment to containing the spread of communism. It became a member of NATO, sent troops to defend South Korea and joined with the US in NORAD.
• Canada, however, disagreed with US over the Berlin Airlift and its treatment of Cuba and Vietnam.
• It sent forces as part of UN peacekeeping actions in several conflicts, such as Cyprus, Congo, Israel and Egypt, in order to restore peace in the area and Cold War tensions were largely irrelevant.
• By the late 1960s, Canada had distanced itself from the US, but by the mid-1980s had re-established closer ties.

The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.

Examiners are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.

[20 marks]