iGCSE History CAIE

This subject offers 318 topics in 11 modules:

  1. China, c.1930–c.1990 26 topics
  2. Core Content: Option A 46 topics
  3. Core Content: Option B 48 topics
  4. Germany, 1918–45 29 topics
  5. Israelis and Palestinians Since 1945 23 topics
  6. Korean War 10 topics
  7. Russia, 1905–41 30 topics
  8. South Africa, c.1940–c.1994 37 topics
  9. The Cold War 15 topics
  10. The First World War, 1914–18 26 topics
  11. The United States, 1919–41 28 topics
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  • 11
    modules
  • 318
    topics
  • 117,514
    words of revision content
  • 15+
    hours of audio lessons

This page was last modified on 28 September 2024.

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History

China, c.1930–c.1990

Why did the Communists undertake the Long March in 1934?

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Why did the Communists undertake the Long March in 1934?

Context of the Long March

  • The Long March marks a significant episode in the Chinese Civil War between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Nationalist Party, or the Kuomintang (KMT).
  • The Communist forces had established a Jiangxi Soviet in Jiangxi province, but by 1934 faced encirclement campaigns by the Nationalists led by Chiang Kai-shek.
  • These campaigns posed a major threat to the survival and influence of the CPC. The decision was made to evacuate their bases and personnel in what became known as the Long March.

Strategic Retreat

  • The Long March was an orchestrated retreat to evade the series of encirclement campaigns by the KMT forces. This allowed the CPC to escape complete eradication and regroup.
  • The retreat enabled the CPC to consolidate their forces, move to a safer area, and continue efforts to expand their influence among the Chinese population.

China-wide Propaganda

  • The Long March provided a platform for the CPC to engage with communities across a large expanse of China and garnered public support by spreading their political message of agrarian reform and resistance against Japanese aggression.
  • This propaganda opportunity was used effectively to recruit new members and lay the infrastructure for future resistance against the KMT.

Leadership Solidification

  • The course of the Long March played a crucial part in highlighting the leadership skills of Mao Zedong. His military strategy and political acumen were influential in the CPC's survival and subsequent success.
  • The event also aided in solidifying Mao's ideological position within the party, establishing Maoism as the guiding principle of the CPC.

Survival and Resurgence

  • The Long March was also a strategic necessity for the CPC's long-term survival, as it averted the immediate threat of annihilation and allowed them to build a strong power base in Yan'an in northwestern China.
  • This re-establishment in Yan'an set the stage for the crucial resurgence of the communists in the late 1940s, leading up to their ultimate victory in the civil war in 1949.

Course material for History, module China, c.1930–c.1990, topic Why did the Communists undertake the Long March in 1934?

History

Israelis and Palestinians Since 1945

Why did Arab states not always support the Palestinian cause?

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Why did Arab states not always support the Palestinian cause?

Political Distrust and Rivalries

  • The Arab world was not a monolith and individual states had their own regional aspirations and rivalries. This led to a lack of unity in their approach towards the Palestinian cause.
  • There was significant political distrust and rivalry between key Arab states such as Egypt, Jordan, and Syria which often hindered collaboration on the Palestinian issue.
  • Many Arab leaders were more concerned with consolidating their own power domestically, thus their support for the Palestinian cause was often secondary and at times merely rhetorical.

Different Interpretations of Pan-Arabism

  • Some Arab states endorsed Pan-Arabism, a movement advocating for the unification of all Arab states. However, interpretations of Pan-Arabism differed and the Palestinian issue was often at the centre of these disagreements.
  • Leaders like Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser championed Pan-Arabism primarily to extend their own regional influence rather than genuinely support the Palestinians.

Strategic and Security Considerations

  • Some Arab states prioritised their strategic relations with Western powers, especially during the Cold War, which often dictated their stance towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
  • States like Jordan and Egypt sought peace treaties with Israel due to security and economic considerations, despite criticism from other Arab states and Palestinians.
  • Arab states hosting large Palestinian refugee populations often faced internal security issues, which led to a more cautious stance towards the Palestinian cause.

The Influence of Oil

  • Oil-rich Gulf states often used their wealth to support the Palestinians financially, but their strategic relationship with the U.S., a key ally of Israel, limited their diplomatic support.
  • These states often prioritised stability in global oil markets and their bilateral relationships over the Palestinian cause.

Understanding these factors provides a nuanced perspective on why Arab states did not always fully support the Palestinian cause despite shared linguistic, cultural, and religious ties. The complexities of regional politics, national interests, and external influences all played their part in shaping individual Arab states' positions.

Course material for History, module Israelis and Palestinians Since 1945, topic Why did Arab states not always support the Palestinian cause?

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