Global Resistance to
Established Order

Explore how peoples across the world challenged empires, colonial systems, and authoritarian regimes after 1900, reshaping political boundaries and power structures.

AP World History

What Is the "Established Order"?

In world history, the "established order" refers to the dominant political, economic, and social systems that maintained power over large populations. After 1900, this meant colonial empires, autocratic monarchies, racial hierarchies, and economic exploitation systems that had been entrenched for centuries.

Key Terms in Global Resistance

Nationalism

The belief that a people with shared identity deserve self-governance and sovereignty

Decolonization

The process by which colonies gained independence from imperial powers

Revolution

A fundamental and often violent change in political power or organizational structures

Civil Disobedience

Nonviolent refusal to obey laws or demands of a government, used as a form of protest

Pan-Africanism

A movement encouraging solidarity among all people of African descent against colonialism

Why Resistance Erupted After 1900

Patterns of Resistance: A Framework

Historians identify recurring patterns in how peoples challenged established orders. These patterns help us compare movements across regions and time periods.

1

Ideological Foundation: Every movement adopted a unifying ideology: nationalism, socialism, Pan-Africanism, or religious identity.

2

Charismatic Leadership: Key figures articulated grievances and mobilized populations: Gandhi, Ho Chi Minh, Mandela, Mao.

3

Mass Mobilization: Movements succeeded when they expanded beyond elites to include peasants, workers, women, and students.

4

External Support or Pressure: International alliances, Cold War dynamics, or global public opinion often tipped the balance.

Violent vs. Nonviolent Resistance

	Violent Resistance	Nonviolent Resistance
Methods	Armed rebellion, guerrilla warfare, terrorism	Boycotts, strikes, civil disobedience, marches
Examples	Chinese Revolution, Algerian War, Cuban Revolution	Indian Independence, U.S. Civil Rights, Solidarity (Poland)
Key Leaders	Mao Zedong, Fidel Castro, FLN leaders	Gandhi, MLK Jr., Lech Wałęsa
Outcome Pattern	Rapid regime change, often authoritarian successor	Gradual reform, more democratic transitions
Risks	Mass casualties, international condemnation	Slow progress, vulnerability to state repression

Timeline: Major Movements

1910

Mexican Revolution

Overthrew the Diaz dictatorship; land reform and constitutional change

1917

Russian Revolution

Bolsheviks seized power; established first communist state

1947

Indian Independence

Nonviolent resistance led by Gandhi ended British colonial rule

1949

Chinese Communist Revolution

Mao's forces defeated Nationalists; People's Republic established

1960s

African Decolonization Wave

17 African nations gained independence in 1960 alone ("Year of Africa")

1989-91

Fall of Communism in Europe

Solidarity, Velvet Revolution, fall of Berlin Wall, Soviet collapse

How to Analyze a Resistance Movement

1

Identify the established order: What system was being challenged? Colonial rule? Monarchy? Racial segregation?

2

Examine root causes: What economic, social, or political grievances fueled the movement?

3

Analyze methods: Was resistance violent, nonviolent, or a combination? Why did leaders choose that approach?

4

Assess ideology: What ideas (nationalism, Marxism, liberalism, Pan-Africanism) unified supporters?

5

Evaluate outcomes: Did the movement achieve its goals? What new order replaced the old one?

Example: Indian Independence

Example: Chinese Revolution

Established Order

Nationalist (GMD) government under Chiang Kai-shek; foreign concessions; landlord exploitation of peasants

Key Strategy

Mao mobilized the peasantry through land reform promises and guerrilla warfare, especially during the Long March

Ideology

Marxism-Leninism adapted for China: peasant revolution rather than urban proletariat; "Mass Line" strategy

Outcome (1949)

People's Republic of China established; GMD fled to Taiwan; radical land redistribution and collectivization

Example: African Decolonization

The Role of Ideology

Resistance movements drew on a range of ideologies to justify their cause and attract followers. Understanding which ideology a movement embraced is essential for AP analysis.

Marxism-Leninism

Class struggle against capitalist/imperial exploitation: China, Cuba, Vietnam, Soviet-aligned movements

Liberal Nationalism

Self-determination and democratic governance: India, many post-colonial states, Eastern Europe (1989)

Pan-Africanism / Négritude

African cultural pride and continental solidarity against European colonialism: Nkrumah, Sénghor, Fanon

Cold War and Global Resistance

Resistance to Communism (1989-1991)

By the late 1980s, resistance turned against communist established orders in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Economic stagnation, political repression, and nationalist aspirations fueled a wave of revolutions.

Poland

Solidarity trade union (Wałęsa) used strikes and negotiations to force free elections in 1989

Czechoslovakia

Velvet Revolution: peaceful protests and general strikes ended one-party rule in weeks

Germany

Fall of the Berlin Wall (Nov. 1989) symbolized the collapse of the Iron Curtain

Common Mistakes on the AP Exam

✕ Treating All Revolutions as Identical

Each movement had unique causes, methods, and outcomes. Always specify regional context and ideology.

✕ Ignoring the Cold War Context

Many movements were shaped by superpower rivalry. Failing to mention this loses analysis points.

✕ Confusing Decolonization with Democratization

Independence did not always mean democracy. Many post-colonial states became authoritarian or one-party regimes.

Summary: Comparing Movements

Movement	Method	Ideology	Outcome
Indian Independence	Nonviolent	Nationalism	Democracy + Partition
Chinese Revolution	Violent	Marxism	One-party communist state
Algerian War	Violent	Nationalism	Authoritarian republic
Cuban Revolution	Violent	Marxism	Communist state
Solidarity (Poland)	Nonviolent	Liberalism	Democratic transition
Anti-Apartheid (S. Africa)	Mixed	Pan-Africanism	Multiracial democracy

Question 1 of 5

Which of the following best explains why World War II accelerated decolonization in Asia and Africa?

World War II devastated European economies and militaries. Britain, France, and the Netherlands could no longer afford to maintain overseas empires, and colonial peoples who had fought in the war demanded self-determination.

Question 2 of 5

Speaker A: "We must use every means at our disposal, including armed resistance, to throw off the yoke of colonial oppression. The colonizers understand only force."

Speaker B: "Nonviolence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction. Through suffering and sacrifice, we will win our freedom and transform the conscience of the oppressor."

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Which pair of leaders most closely represents the views of Speaker A and Speaker B, respectively?

Frantz Fanon, in The Wretched of the Earth, argued that violence was a necessary tool of decolonization. Gandhi championed nonviolent civil disobedience (satyagraha) as the most powerful means of resistance.

Question 3 of 5

The 1989 revolutions in Eastern Europe are best characterized as resistance against which established order?

The 1989 revolutions in Poland, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, and Romania all targeted Soviet-backed communist governments that had been imposed after World War II. The "established order" in this case was the communist system, not colonial or monarchical rule.

Question 4 of 5

How did the Cold War most significantly influence resistance movements in the developing world?

Both superpowers intervened in local conflicts to expand their spheres of influence. The USSR supported communist movements (Vietnam, Cuba, Angola), while the USA backed anti-communist forces, often regardless of whether those forces were democratic.

Question 5 of 5

Which statement best explains why decolonization did not always lead to democracy in newly independent states?

Artificial colonial borders, weak institutions, ethnic tensions, and Cold War interference all contributed to authoritarian outcomes in many post-colonial states. Independence leaders often argued that strong central authority was needed to hold diverse nations together.

Global Resistance toEstablished Order

What Is the "Established Order"?

Key Terms in Global Resistance

Why Resistance Erupted After 1900

Patterns of Resistance: A Framework

Violent vs. Nonviolent Resistance

Timeline: Major Movements

How to Analyze a Resistance Movement

Example: Indian Independence

Example: Chinese Revolution

Example: African Decolonization

The Role of Ideology

Cold War and Global Resistance

Resistance to Communism (1989-1991)

Common Mistakes on the AP Exam

Summary: Comparing Movements

Question 1 of 5

Question 2 of 5

Question 3 of 5

Question 4 of 5

Question 5 of 5

Global Resistance to
Established Order