Causes of Cold War: Responsibility of leaders - Stalin

Question 1

Role of Stalin

Answer 1

Although Russia had not participated in the war, NK/China were fighting w/ Stalin’s explicit approval

Question 2

Preoccupation with Soviet security

Answer 2

• Russia invaded several times before/during war
  
  • understandably, Stalin preoccupied w/ Soviet security
• Policy in Poland (1945), ‘Stalinisation’ of E. EU (1945-8) reflected genuine desire to protect USSR from future West attack by creating a defensive buffer zone

Question 3

Stalin exercised caution and restraint

Answer 3

• Recognised Greece as an area of Br influence
  
  • didn’t intervene in civil war b/w communists/monarchy
• Didn’t object to US troops being stationed in SK (1945-49) despite its proximity to USSR

Question 4

Promoting Cold War tension

Answer 4

• Promoted CW tension to defend/gain popular approval for his domestic policies:
  
  • 1946 speech, Stalin warned USSR of danger of future war waged by capitalist powers
    
    • did this to justify further development of Five-Year Plans to strengthen Soviet economy

Question 5

Stalin’s FP — spreading world revolution?

Answer 5

• Cominform (seemed to resurrect Soviet attempts to coordinate communist parties across Europe), seen as evidence — Stalin ‘communised’ Eastern Europe
• Defeat of Nazi-Germany (1945) gave opportunity to spread communism in E. EU
• Imposition of Red Army controlled large areas of E. EU
• To West, imposition of communist govts in E.EU, Greek civil war, communist takeover in Czechoslovakia (1948) and Berlin Blockade all seen as evidence of Stalin’s intention to spread communism
• Encouraged communist NK to attack SK (1950) and provided support

Question 6

Wariness of the West

Answer 6

• Soviet weakness in 1945, caused by exhaustion due to war effort, made USSR concerned to protect borders
• Extension of Soviet control of E. EU seen as defensive measure:
  
  • creation of a buffer zone to protect Soviet invasion from West
  • so, Stalin’s FP was a prod. of Soviet weakness, rather than strength
    Evidence of cautiousness shown during Greek crisis:
    
    • Stalin kept word to Churchill that USSR didn’t consider Greece part of its sphere
      refused to assist Greek communists
      
      • his ambivalent attitude to Fr/It
        communists
• Stalin’s decisions aimed to promote cooperation with West e.g
  
  • co-op in Yalta/Potsdam - despite growing tensions
• Despite this, West saw Stalin’s exp. as aggressive
  Was prime reason for the Cold War

Question 7

Assessment of leaders’ responsibility interpretation (Strength)

Answer 7

• Focus on key individuals’ major decisions, resulting in the Cold War
• Considers constraints/pressures under which leaders had to operate

Question 8

Assessment of leaders’ responsibility (Weaknesses)

Answer 8

• Exaggerate imp. of key individual in developing Cold War
• Underestimates relative importance of structural factors e.g. ideological differences/traditional great power rivalry