Cold War Ideologies & Global Conflicts

• Cycle 5 Meeting 4 relates to the prevailing ideologies and the Cold War.
• Understanding that ideological developments affect people's lives and the environment in societies is key.
• Understanding that conflict and violence have long-term societal effects is key.
• Understanding that military and nuclear power has affected worldwide conflict and cooperation patterns is key.
• Understanding that conflict resolution can involve aggression, compromise, cooperation, and change is key.
• Essential questions address how political and economic ideologies have shaped world events.
• Essential questions address when conflict becomes global.
• Essential questions address whether the USA has become a dominant force in the 20th century.

Trade or Share Activity

• Divide the class into two groups to complete the following tasks.
• The Trading Group would give each student a few candies to trade or sell to other students in their group.
• The Trading Group would have to decide the value and rules for trading.
• The Sharing Group would collect all the candies from the group into a common bowl.
• The Sharing Group would distribute the candies equally among all members of the group.
• Processing questions examine feelings about trading or sharing and preference.
• Processing questions ask how these concepts apply in the real world.
• Processing questions address how these systems might impact motivation to work or contribute.

Economic Systems

• An economic system involves the production and exchange of goods and services and allocating societal resources.
• Communism and Capitalism are two major economic systems.

Capitalism

• Capitalism believes in individual ownership and competition.
• The capitalist theory states that if everyone is selfish and seeking personal profit, everyone will benefit.
• Adam Smith was a capitalist who stated that humans are self-serving by nature.
• Smith says that as long as every individual seeks the fulfillment of their own self-interest, the material needs of society will be met.
• Smith wrote Wealth of Nations and thought Capitalism was good for society and the best economic system.

Pros of Capitalism

• Freedom and choice are pros of capitalism.
• Individuals can work wherever, buy whatever, and do whatever.
• There is opportunity to be very successful, such as Bill Gates-level success.
• “Survival of the fittest” only applies to Capitalism.

Cons of Capitalism

• No safety net.
• Failure results in not being rescued by the government.
• Individuals can be very unsuccessful.
• There is typically a big gap between rich and poor.

Communism

• Communism believes in collective ownership and a planned economy.
• In a planned economy, the government makes the decisions.
• The communist theory states that everyone pools their resources and distributes everything evenly.
• Everyone gets an equal amount of everything, regardless of effort.
• Karl Marx was a communist who condemned capitalism as a system that alienates the masses.
• He wrote The Communist Manifesto with Engels about class struggle and the problems of capitalism.

Pros of Communism

• Security and basic needs are met.
• Everyone would ideally have a job, house, health care, etc.
• No survival of the fittest issue applies in communism.
• In communist regimes, people are treated equally by the government regardless of education, financial standing, etc.
• Economic boundaries do not categorize people, helping mitigate crime and violence.

Cons of Communism

• Lack of choice.
• No reward for being a better worker.
• Those who are slackers get no punishment.
• There is a lack of incentives and consequences.
• Everyone is expected to be the same.
• There is a lack of focus on individual growth.

Explore how ideologies shaped world events during the Cold War. Understand the long-term societal effects of conflict and the impact of military and nuclear power on global cooperation. Learn about conflict resolution strategies, including aggression, compromise, and cooperation.