Scholarly record

BIPOLARITY BETWEEN CRISES AND ATTEMPTS AT DIALOGUE. INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS FROM THE 1950s TO THE EARLY 1970s

M. A. Napolitano

Abstract

Without being exhaustive, the present paper aims to analyse the complex developments that involved international conflicts between the Fifties and the early Seventies. At that time, the international relations were strongly marked by the bipolarism and by the opposition between both the Superpowers, United States and Soviet Union, and their respective fields of influence. In the time frame considered, the dynamics included not only the European equilibrium – the most visible theatre of dispute between US and USSR –, but also recorded the global nature of the competition: for example, this paper takes into account the Khrushchev’s interest for the Indian Ocean area – which, however, was in contrast with the Anglo-American objectives – or the issue of the political placement of the newly independent Countries after decolonisation. In fact, the former colonisers seemed to be interested in keeping strong economic contacts with the new States, but the real issue of uncertainty was the political placement of Third World Countries.

Publication details

Back to publication list