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Unholy Alliance (geopolitical)
Encyclopedia
Unholy Alliance popularly refers to a situation when two seeming political antagonists (which could be parties and/or people) temporarily join together in order to fight a common political enemy. When the common enemy has been "defeated" (depending on the context: either in war and/or in elections), the unholy alliance will usually break and the two former allies will pick up the fight where they left it.
For example: the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact between the Soviet Union
and Nazi Germany
could be considered a historical unholy alliance between two antagonist totalitarian powers, with both historically striving for world supremacy in the long-term, while allying themselves with each other to ensure their short-term survival.
against the interests of Russia
, Greece
, and most of the Balkans
.
In 1912, Theodore Roosevelt
notably used it to refer to the "invisible Government" of the United States. Referring to major party
politics in the U.S., this use was geopolitical with respect to the economic reach of the Trusts
and monopolies
(sugar interests, Standard Oil
, etc.) and the U.S. foreign policies supporting them.
authors referring to collaboration in Africa of Apartheid South Africa
, New State Portugal
and Ian Smith
's Rhodesia
with other Western powers during the Cold War
.
The Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, meeting in its Fourteenth Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa
, Ethiopia
, from 27 February to 6 March 1970, stated they were "Deeply concerned at the strengthening of the unholy alliance among the racist regimes of Pretoria
, Salisbury
, Lisbon
and their collaboration with other imperialist powers..." U.S. and British supplies of arms and other support to South Africa
, Rhodesia
, and Portuguese overseas provinces, principally Angola
and Mozambique
, during the Cold War
are implied here. In its resolution 3151 G (XXVIII) of 14 December 1973, the UN General Assembly condemned, what it called, the unholy alliance between South African racism
and zionism
.
This use of "unholy alliance" to refer to any group of two or more countries standing in opposition to the African liberation movement
became fairly routine. The Non-Aligned Movement
most notably, officially included this designation in one of its declarations and several leftist African leaders implied that Israel
was a sort of quiet partner as well. This Entente (diplomatic understanding) was especially visible during the Biafran War.
For example: the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact between the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
could be considered a historical unholy alliance between two antagonist totalitarian powers, with both historically striving for world supremacy in the long-term, while allying themselves with each other to ensure their short-term survival.
Original uses
In 1855, the term Unholy Alliance was used for Western European alliances with the Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
against the interests of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, and most of the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
.
In 1912, Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
notably used it to refer to the "invisible Government" of the United States. Referring to major party
Major party
A major party is a political party that holds substantial influence in a country's politics, standing in contrast to a minor party. It should not be confused with majority party.According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:...
politics in the U.S., this use was geopolitical with respect to the economic reach of the Trusts
Trust (19th century)
A special trust or business trust is a business entity formed with intent to monopolize business, to restrain trade, or to fix prices. Trusts gained economic power in the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some, but not all, were organized as trusts in the legal sense...
and monopolies
Monopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
(sugar interests, Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
, etc.) and the U.S. foreign policies supporting them.
Later use
The term came to be used by Pan-Africanist, left-wing, and Third WorldThird World
The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO , or communism and the Soviet Union...
authors referring to collaboration in Africa of Apartheid South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, New State Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and Ian Smith
Ian Smith
Ian Douglas Smith GCLM ID was a politician active in the government of Southern Rhodesia, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe Rhodesia and Zimbabwe from 1948 to 1987, most notably serving as Prime Minister of Rhodesia from 13 April 1964 to 1 June 1979...
's Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
with other Western powers during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
.
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, from 27 February to 6 March 1970, stated they were "Deeply concerned at the strengthening of the unholy alliance among the racist regimes of Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, Salisbury
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
, Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
and their collaboration with other imperialist powers..." U.S. and British supplies of arms and other support to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
, and Portuguese overseas provinces, principally Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
and Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
are implied here. In its resolution 3151 G (XXVIII) of 14 December 1973, the UN General Assembly condemned, what it called, the unholy alliance between South African racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and zionism
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
.
This use of "unholy alliance" to refer to any group of two or more countries standing in opposition to the African liberation movement
Liberation movement
A liberation movement is an organization leading a rebellion against a colonial power or national government, often seeking independence based on a nationalist identity and an anti-imperialist outlook.-See also:*Anti-imperialism...
became fairly routine. The Non-Aligned Movement
Non-Aligned Movement
The Non-Aligned Movement is a group of states considering themselves not aligned formally with or against any major power bloc. As of 2011, the movement had 120 members and 17 observer countries...
most notably, officially included this designation in one of its declarations and several leftist African leaders implied that Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
was a sort of quiet partner as well. This Entente (diplomatic understanding) was especially visible during the Biafran War.