Revisionist interpretation of the development of the Cold War

Question 1

Why was the USA responsible for the Cold War?

Answer 1

It was motivated by capitalist expansion and the pursuit of global markets to maintain economic growth and avoid recession

Question 2

What did USA’s ideological stance lead the USA to do?

Answer 2

Attempts to open other parts of the world to American trade and investment (Marshall Plan in Europe) to extend US-dominated capitalist power and undermine communism

Question 3

What did the threat of US economic imperialism compel the USSR to do?

Answer 3

Consolidate the Soviet Bloc in EE during the mid to late 1940s in order to prevent capitalist infiltration of its sphere of influence

Question 4

Why was the USSR in no position to pursue world revolution or aggressive expansionism?

Answer 4

It had been seriously weakened by WW2, do from 1945 its main concerns were security and economic reconstruction

Question 5

Which historians support the revisionist interpretation?

Answer 5

William A. Williams
Lloyd C. Gardner
Gabriel Kolko