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The Suez Crisis of 1956

The Suez Crisis of 1956. Context. Egyptian President, Gamel Abdel Nasser had initially received American backing for his ambitious Aswan Dam, which harnessed hydroelectric power from the Nile to power Egypt's Industrial Revolution.

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The Suez Crisis of 1956

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  1. The Suez Crisis of 1956

  2. Context • Egyptian President, Gamel Abdel Nasser had initially received American backing for his ambitious Aswan Dam, which harnessed hydroelectric power from the Nile to power Egypt's Industrial Revolution. • However he provoked hostility with the US after receiving arms for Czechoslovakia. • The United States withheld funding, which prompted Nasser to nationalize the Suez Canal.

  3. The UN elected Dag Hammarskjöld as the new Secretary-General in 1953. • Many saw Hammarskjold as more independent than his predecessor, Trygve Lie, who was more pro-western. • Dag had a vision for the UN to act before a military collective security response was needed.

  4. Development • Israel attacked Egypt, with the backing of the Britain and France. The United States immediately called a Security Council meeting • The U.S’s draft resolution called for an Israeli withdrawal and on other UN members not to intervene. • Britain vetoed this.

  5. The General Assembly • The issue was then passed onto the General Assembly • On the 4th of November the Assembly passed a resolution creating the first UN peacekeeping force, the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF)

  6. Arrival • UNEF forces arrived in Egypt on the 15th of November 1956 • Before the end of December, Britain and France had withdrawn.

  7. Impact • In terms of aims, the first peacekeeping mission was successful. • However in the context of the cold war, it was not USSR against America, and therefore their success was negligible.

  8. Case Study 1 Somalia

  9. During the Cold War • Somalia had a good strategic position; so was a point of interest between the superpowers • War broke out between Somalia and Ethiopia • US backed Somalia (a former communist country) • Soviets backed Ethiopia and her ‘revolutionary regime’ • The superpowers provided aid and military assistance

  10. After the Cold War • The superpowers lost interest in these African states as they had internal affairs to deal with • With no support from the superpowers, these unstable and unpopular governments fell apart

  11. Response • 1991 witnessed SiyadBarre’s regime in Somalia collapse • The UN only became involved in 1992 when it became obvious that over 1 million people were starvingand were in desperate need of aid

  12. UNISOM I • ‘Operation Provide Relief’ began in August 1992 • Organized by the UN • However they did not manage to protect aid workers • They had security and survival problems • They introduced an air lift for supplies to famine victims • The UN did not have an appropriate strength of military and power • The situation worsened

  13. The US • The mission was called ‘Operation Restore Hope’ and began in December 1992 • They sent 30,000 troops to crush the resistance and stop the civil war to help the UN • They supported the air lift • However they were unable to improve the situation • The US decided to withdraw their troops Therefore, the UN took control of the increasingly hostile situation

  14. UNOSOM II • The US withdrew the majority of their troops and in May 1993 they officially handed the situation over to the UN • UNOSOM II aimed to: rebuild Somali’s economy, social and political life • However in November 1994 the US suffered many violent attacks and eventually withdrew their troops in 1995

  15. Success or Failure for the UN? • It illustrated the flaws of the UN; they were reliant on the US for support as they were the most powerful nation • This could mean that the US could use the UN as an extension of their power • The US have too much control over the UN and in future could potentially ignore their authority

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