Lecture 6 Flashcards
Potsdam Declaration
The Potsdam Declaration 26 July (came out of conferences at the end of the European War); leaders include Truman, Churchill and Chiang Kai Shek (note: important as he is the Chinese nationalist leader – the West indicating their preferred Chinese partner). This declaration outlines the terms of surrender for Japan (occupation, disarmament, return of territory) – the decision to publicize the surrender terms and make them very clear is a deliberate attempt to correct the problems related to German surrender in WWI. Japan however refuses to surrender, and attempts to negotiate with the USSR (neutral in this war, and playing a cunning double game – Stalin had agreed at the wartime conferences in Yalta and Tehran that he would attack Manchuria). Bomb dropped 6 August; Soviets attack Manchuria 9 August; Nagasaki bombed 9 August; Japan surrenders 15 August.
- The US has a free hand in the post-war occupation of Japan – no one else involved, even the Sov Union – so the liberal nature of the peace settlement is very visible. Short occupation (1945-52); significant econ reforms to kickstart the economy; new constitution. No program of removal for civil servants and Emperor Hirohito allowed to stay (sharp contrast with Germany).
The end of WWII marks the end of multipolarity and the establishment of bipolarity.
Germany; destroyed, urgent need for reconstruction, divided, and occupied.
Britain: Not occupied but significant destruction, broke, and desperate to hold onto empire
France: no longer a significant player on the world stage, but remains so in Europe. Still worried about Germany; spearheads the growth of the Coal and Steel Community (forerunner to the EEC and EU, job is to help manage the coal and steel resources historically a source of war on the F-G border).
Berlin Blockade
Britain, US, France join zones of occupation for economic reasons. The Allies create the Deutsche Mark in June 1942 as the common currency of their German controlled territories. Economic cooperation in Europe is proceeding. Looks like they are solving through economic aid again to Stalin. Stalin is annoyed but not worth going to war over.
Decides to blockade Germany to prevent Allies from moving anything in and out of Germany. Effective. Allies airlift supplies in and out of Berlin. Very tense and a lot of concern about how it will end. Allies no longer agree about the fate of Germany and Berlin. Sets them up as a flashpoint of conflict. June 48-May 49. Allies cooperate well to ensure aid and supplies are getting in and out of Berlin.
Soviets have ground superiority and US and allies have every other form of superiority. Only choice for Stalin is to back down to avoid chance of nuclear conflict. After the crisis, it is clesr the world is going to be divided. NATO established.
From feedback
The Berlin Blockade occurred between June 28 1948 and May 12 1949. In the crisis, the USSR blocked all
trainlines and roads into West Berlin, demonstrating the vulnerability of West Berlin being encapsulated by
Soviet territory.. The blockade began due to the increasing economic cooperation occurring in W Germany by
the US, Britain, and France, who had introduced a common currency, the Deutsche Mark, in 1948. Therefore,
Stalin sought to disrupt this economic recovery. However, the US were able to break the blockade by airlifting
in food and supplies and ultimately the Soviets stopped the blockade in May 1949.
Implications:
- Signalled the division of east and west in Europe and particularly in Germany
- Created a challenging geopolitical situation (Berlin deep in Eastern Germany) – meant that Berlin would be a
flashpoint for crisis and Germany was a focus of a lot of military planning on both sides – war/occupation
creates perpetual problem
- Prompts formation of NATO 1949 and later Warsaw Pact – consolidated spheres of influence
- NO war: the US and USSR didn’t want to fight; the US and allies had air superiority; Stalin had no nuclear
weapon
- Demonstrates different conceptions of security: US through collective security/economic liberalism, Stalin
through territory – both sides think they are acting to achieve their security, and the other sees it as aggressive (could mention perception and misperception, security dilemma)
- First post war crisis
- NOTE not the Berlin Wall
Truman Doctrine
American foreign shifting to a policy of containment. Have to contain Soviet expansion. Not going to check it everywhere, just where it really matters.
From feedback
* US President Harry Truman articulated a policy that the US would support
democratic nations under the threat of authoritarianism through the
provision of aid (primarily economic but later including military);
announced in March 1947 in a speech designed to build support for an aid
package for Greece (Britain was bailing out)
* Implications
* Indicates that the US strategy will be one of containment
* Announced in response to Greek and Turkish crises, particularly Greece – concern it
would turn communist and spread communism in the region (especially Turkey- geographic links and importance)
* Demonstrates rhetorical turn of the Cold War – democracy vs authoritarianism clearly articulated
* Break with tradition of US avoiding entanglements abroad
Bretton Woods institutions
Economic solution. World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Ensure global financial stabilisation in the context of systemic shocks. Gives money to war-torn countries to help rebuild.
At Bretton Woods the US also set the “gold standard”. This fixed the value of the US dollar to the value of gold at $35/oz. As US currency had a fixed value currency fluctuations were greatly reduced (one of the problems of the interwar years). Lasted until 1971 when a weakening US economy could no longer afford to underwrite the gold standard.
*From feedback**
* The Bretton Woods institutions are economic institutions established in a series
of conferences during and after World War II. They are named after the Bretton
Woods Agreement of 1944 and are often referred to as being a part of the
Bretton Woods system, whereby the US fixed the dollar to the gold standard and
other states fixed the value of their currency to the US dollar. The main
institutions established were the International Bank of Reconstruction and
Development (now the World Bank) and the International Monetary Fund.
* Implications
* Designed to fix the economic errors of the interwar period:
* Currency/gold standard – keep trade flowing and prevent protectionism/devaluing currency
* IBRD – allow reconstruction rather than charge reparations
* IMF – allows loans for reconstruction
* Cornerstone of the liberal international order – built in views about economic policy
* Deliberate connection between political and economic stability
The Marshall Plan
Money for post-war reconstruction. Initially offered to all Eastern Bloc countries, but Soviets refuse to allow them to accept. Offered because of need to rebuild Europe politically and economically (create market for US goods)
Competing conceptions of security lead to misperceptions. Americans see Soviet move to consolidate territory as offensive and dangerous (Stalin thinks he’s being defensive). Soviets see Marshall Plan aid as an attempt to undermine Soviet authority.
In the early security period of the Cold War. American economic aid to Europe regrow and to prevent communist sympathies from growing.
What West does looks aggressive to Stalin and vice versa. Soviets have not yet acquired a nuclear weapon.
Turkey:
USSR angry that Turkey allowed Nazi and Italian shipping through the straits during the war
USSR and its satellites Romania and Bulgaria want access out of the Black Sea.
Issues new demands re: Turkish administration of the straits
US warships visits 1946; Soviets even angrier but back down, Turkey joins NATO
Greece:
Greek Civil war 1943-49.
Collapse of Nazi occupation in 1944 that makes the conflict develop further
Royalists v Communists (supported by Tito) but NOT Stalin who is staying out (as per promise to Churchill)
The US funds royalists 400 million and Communists lose.
Impact on Cold War:
Dollar diplomacy
Americans offer financial aid to Greece, stepping in for British
Turkey: US steps in, offers 100 million for Turkey to join NATO.
Stalin felt undermined and like he couldn’t compete.
US see Soviet expansionism and USSR see that US expands and cant be trusted.
