Routledge

Chapter Resources

Chapter 10: Asia in Turmoil Nationalism, revolution and the rise of the Cold War, 1945–53

Debates

Debating PRC-American relations and the ‘lost chance’ thesis

Maps

Decolonization in South and South-East Asia

The Korean War

Discussion Questions

  1. What effect did the years of Japanese occupation have on the future of the European colonial empires in Asia?
  2. Account for the outbreak of the Chinese Civil War in 1946?
  3. Why did the British withdrawal from South Asia in 1948 lead to the foundation of India and Pakistan?
  4. Why did two Korean regimes emerge in 1948?
  5. “The American need to contain the Soviet Union led to the ‘reverse course’ in the occupation of Japan.” Discuss.
  6. Account for the rise of Cold War tensions in Southeast Asia from 1948–50.
  7. Account for the rise of Sino-American antagonism between 1949 and 1953.
  8. Why did the People's Republic of China sign an alliance with the Soviet Union in February 1950?
  9. Why did North Korea attack South Korea in 1950?
  10. Why did the Korean War become an international conflict?

Weblinks

This chapter does not lend itself to weblinks — please refer to the recommended reading in the textbook for additional support material.