Stalins Desire Of Power Or His Belief In Communist Ideology Flashcards
What did the infamous percentages agreement confirm to Stalin?
That Eastern Europe and the states that the ussr had liberated from Nazis occupation would fall within a soviet sphere of influence. Go ahead from Britain who is close with the USA. Stalin more confident
Why could some argue that it was his desire for power?
Committed to power before his commitment to ideology.
He would do anything necessary to safeguard soviet international interests and soviet territory.
Defence zone- buffer zone based on satellite states.[ perbch] reinforce the defensive capability of the ussr against future western threats.
Diluted and saturated communism to suit his own imperialist intentions = compromises so not committed to ideological purity.
Why could some argue that it was his belief in communist ideology?
Underpins the Cold War- ongoing ideological war with the capitalist west , noble mission to spread it. Finds communism analogous to power. Restrains from using force to highlight to the international stage that communism isn’t forceful[ it is common for communists to form alliances with other left wing parties=intimidation]e.g Czechoslovakia won 38 percent of communist votes.
Communism offered a much better prospect than capitalism and the dominance of an economic elite associated with it, promised employment and social mobility two things the Germany desire for after her nazification.
Many perceived the communists as freedom fighters due to their struggle against nazism .
Communism popular in cities but in rural areas it is not as they looked to pro-angrarian parties.
Why did Kennan write the long telegram?
After yalta he recognised the failings of Roosevelt’s plan for I ternatioal cooperation n the creation of a democratic post war structure.
Communism was uncompromising in its ideological threat to the free world
Intent to demonise the west for domestic political reasons
How did the ussr view the west?
Hostile and menacing
What did the soviet ambassador in Washington, Nikolai Novikov say about us foreign policy?
Based on economic imperialism , aim of the USA was to use its economic power to make states dependent upon it in order to establish its own global supremacy.
What did Kennan say about soviet foreign policy?
aggressive and ideologically driven
What was the impact of the long telegram?
To feed the seeds of change
