After the Second World War, how to rebuild the postwar world, especially how to solve the currency and trade problems in the world economy, has become the key to the recovery and development of the postwar world economy.
For nearly 200 years before World War II, the world economy has been centered on European countries. Due to the influence of the Second World War, the economies of the major capitalist countries in Western Europe have been severely damaged and their strength has been greatly reduced, especially the economic structure of the old world with Britain as the core tends to collapse. On the contrary, in the Second World War, due to the unique geographical location and strong industrial strength of the United States, its economic strength rose sharply in the war, which provided a material basis for the United States to replace Britain to lead the capitalist world economy.
As the beneficiary of the Second World War, the United States took the opportunity to demand the establishment of a capitalist world economic system centered on itself in order to consolidate its hegemonic position.
It is suggested that teachers guide students to read the historical content in textbooks, so that students can understand the rapid rise of America's comprehensive national strength after World War II through specific data, which has become the inevitability of establishing a new capitalist world economic system.
2. General situation
On the eve of the end of World War II, in order to stabilize the post-war international monetary and financial system, the United States, Britain and other western countries held a United Nations monetary and financial conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire on July 1944, and decided to establish an international financial institution to promote international monetary cooperation. After fierce debate, the United States finally forced the participating countries to accept the plan put forward by the United States with its political and economic strength. The meeting adopted the Final Resolution of the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference based on the White Plan and its annexes, collectively known as the Bretton Woods Agreement.
It is suggested that teachers make full use of the textbook illustration "Group photo of the heads of delegations at Bretton Woods Conference" and data playback. On the one hand, they can imagine and feel the scene of the Bretton Woods conference through illustrations, on the other hand, they can understand the contents of the Bretton Woods agreement through the interpretation of historical materials, thus deepening their understanding and understanding of the conference. Teachers can further guide students to think: What did the resolution reflecting the will of the United States finally adopted at the Bretton Woods Conference and its annexes explain?
It shows that the arrival of the era of American leading the world economy is determined by the position of the United States in the world economy; It also shows that the performance of international status is based on economic strength. Through the first purpose study, this paper summarizes the characteristics of the capitalist world economy in the early post-World War II period, and understands how the United States will inevitably become the dominant capitalist economy in this period through the law of unbalanced development of capitalist economy. Recognize that economic strength is the foundation of diplomatic activities.
Second, the second item "the establishment of the world monetary system". This paper mainly introduces two international financial institutions established according to the provisions of the Bretton Woods Agreement: the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The United States gained decisive control over these two organizations through a series of measures. Thus, an international monetary system based on the US dollar was established, and a capitalist world economic system dominated by the United States was gradually formed.
1. International Monetary Fund
Established: On February 27th, 1945, 1947, the International Monetary Fund was proclaimed, and on March 27th, 1947, it became a specialized agency of the United Nations. Headquartered in Washington. There are more than 180 member countries. China is one of the founding members of the International Monetary Fund. China's representation has been restored.
Objective: To stabilize the international monetary system. By stabilizing the international exchange rate, eliminating foreign exchange controls that hinder world trade, promoting international cooperation on monetary issues, and providing short-term loans to help member countries solve their domestic economic difficulties, the balance of payments deficit can be balanced.
2. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank)
Founded:1The Bretton Woods Conference held in the United States in July 1944 not only adopted the agreement of the International Monetary Fund, but also adopted the agreement of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Representatives of 28 governments signed the agreement 1945 12.27, and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development was formally established. 1946 started its business on June 25th and became a specialized agency of the United Nations the following year. This bank is usually called "World Bank". At present, the World Bank has more than 140 members. The Bank resumed its legal seat in China in May 1980. Headquartered in Washington, USA, it has offices in Paris, new york, London, Tokyo and Geneva, and offices in more than 20 developing member countries.
Purpose: At first, I devoted myself to the post-war European economic revival, and then turned to world-wide development assistance, that is, providing long-term loans and technical assistance to productive investment in member countries to help them revive their economies and develop resources.
Teaching suggestion: Use the illustrations in the textbook: World Bank Headquarters, World Bank and International Monetary Fund logo to interpret the establishment and purpose of these two international financial organizations. In order to further clarify the relationship between them, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank complement each other. The first task of the former is to maintain exchange rate stability and balance of payments, while the latter focuses on supporting the economic development plans and economic development of member States.
3. The establishment of the Bretton Woods system
(1) Core System Content-Weighted Voting System
Both the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank implement the weighted voting system, which means that each member's voting right is directly proportional to its quota in the IMF, that is, its subscribed share in the IMF. According to the provisions of the Bretton Woods Conference, each member country has 250 basic voting rights, and each additional quota equivalent to $654.38 million will increase by 654.38+0 votes. This system of determining the voting rights of countries according to the quota of funds makes the organization actually manipulated by the United States, which has the most economic strength and share.
(2) The content of the core system-a "double-linked, fixed" world monetary system.
According to the Bretton Woods Agreement, the US dollar is linked to gold, and the currencies of other countries are linked to the US dollar.
The so-called dollar-to-gold peg means that the member countries of the International Monetary Fund must confirm that the gold content of 1 dollar stipulated by the US government in 1934 is 0.88867 1 gram, that is, the official price of gold of $35 an ounce, and take this official price as the basis of the international monetary system. The United States undertakes the obligation of all countries to exchange gold with the United States at the official price of gold. Governments must assist the US government in maintaining the official price of gold. The so-called pegging of other currencies to the US dollar means that the exchange rates of member currencies against the US dollar are fixed according to the gold content of their respective currencies. This provision makes the dollar equal to gold, and the dollar has been called "yuan" since then; Compared with the US dollar, the currencies of other countries are in a subordinate position, which establishes the central position and leading position of the US dollar in the international monetary system. As the then US Treasury Secretary Fowler said: "The planets revolve around the sun, and the currencies of various countries revolve around the US dollar."
Teachers are advised to guide students to read textbooks: guide students to think: what are the important regulations of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank? How does the International Monetary Fund stabilize the exchange rates of various countries? How to reflect the intention of the United States? Therefore, it is understood that the Bretton Woods system is a world monetary system centered on the US dollar, and the United States has mastered the economic lifeline of the capitalist world through the Bretton Woods system.
4. The impact of the establishment of the Bretton Woods system
Textbooks summarize the influence of the Bretton Woods system from two angles:
First, it provides a unified standard and foundation for world monetary relations, which is conducive to maintaining the normal operation of the post-war world monetary system and creating conditions for the recovery and development of the world economy. 1929- 1933 the crisis of the capitalist world economy triggered the crisis of the monetary system, which led to the collapse of the gold standard and the chaotic international monetary and financial relations. The establishment of the Bretton Woods system centered on the US dollar has made the international monetary and financial relations have a unified standard and foundation, and the chaotic situation has been temporarily stabilized. At the same time, the activities of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have played a positive role in the recovery and development of the world economy. On the one hand, the short-term loans provided by IMF temporarily eased the balance of payments crisis in many countries after the war, and also promoted the steady liberalization of payment methods. The international monetary fund's loan business has increased rapidly, and its focus has shifted from Europe to the third world in Asia, Africa and Latin America. On the other hand, the long-term loans and investments provided and organized by the World Bank have met the financial needs of post-war economic recovery and development of member countries to varying degrees. In a word, the Bretton Woods system has provided a relatively stable framework for the development of the global economy for more than 20 years after the war. Under this system, western countries have completed their post-war economic recovery and moved towards prosperity.
The second is to strengthen the privilege and dominant position of the United States in the international financial field. On the one hand, the United States, with its strong technological and capital advantages, has carried out a new round of capital expansion for developing countries on a global scale, widening the gap between the economic development of the North and the South. On the other hand, American monopoly organizations, by virtue of their privileges and dominant position in international finance, issue additional US dollars instead of gold as export capital, buy foreign goods and enterprises, and pay huge expenses for overseas troops. As a result, a large amount of gold flowed into the United States, which enhanced the strength of the United States to dominate the world.
It is suggested that teachers should supplement some data and historical materials to explain the influence of the establishment of Bretton Woods system and avoid imposing conclusions on students. On the other hand, pay attention to guide students to evaluate the Bretton Woods system from two aspects.
Third, the third item "The formation of the post-war capitalist world economic system". This lesson not only introduces the Bretton Woods system, but also introduces the United States-centered international trade organization advocated by the United States, which makes the content of the capitalist world economic system relatively complete and helps students to grasp the formation process of the post-war capitalist world economic system as a whole.
1. Background of GATT.
Necessity: The change of international political situation and the crisis of 1929 make people realize the necessity of strengthening international trade coordination and cooperation.
Possibility: After the war, the United States had a strong economic strength and actively advocated the establishment of an international trade organization.
2. The signing of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
Signature: 1947 10 10. In October, 23 countries including the United States and China signed the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
Objective: Reduce-Reduce-Implement-Realize. Reduce tariffs and trade barriers and realize international trade liberalization on the basis of reciprocity and non-discrimination.
Function: Create-Push. It created a free trade environment and promoted the development of the post-war world economy. Since the conclusion of GATT, * * * has held eight rounds of multilateral trade negotiations. These negotiations eased the contradictions in international trade at that time and promoted the development of international trade.
It is suggested that teachers guide students to master key words in order to accurately grasp the purpose and function of GATT. Use the contents of the learning window to guide students to analyze and understand the role of GATT. At the same time, it is emphasized that GATT is an international multilateral agreement on tariffs and trade policies, not a formal international organization, but it has always played the role of an international economic organization. Take this as the content of lesson 24: paving the way for the establishment of the World Trade Organization.
3. The formation of the capitalist world economic system-headed by the United States.
Teachers are advised to take the last paragraph as the standard, and students should understand the following questions:
(1) symbol: The establishment of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and the signing of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade constitute the three pillars for adjusting the world economy, trade and finance.
(2) Function: It marks the institutionalization and systematization of the post-war world economy.
Summary of this lesson: The establishment of the Bretton Woods system and the signing of GATT have created favorable conditions for the rapid recovery and development of the world economy after the war. Then, with the economic development of western Europe and Japan, in what direction will such a world economic structure that exists in a unique way in the United States evolve? Let the students think through the summary of connecting the preceding with the following, and pave the way for the next class.