The Greek Civil War and the Truman Doctrine on Containment, 12 March 1947 Flashcards
when was the emergence of a Cold War seemingly irreversible?
by September 1946
what were East-West relations grounded in?
mistrust and fear
what was a new approach for the USA?
it was ow a dominant world economy and it intended to use this power as part of its foreign policy
what did the Soviet Union succeed in establishing?
the beginnings of national security based on a system of satellite states in Eastern Europe
what did Stalin wish to do to further enhance Soviet security?
develop its portfolio of pro-Soviet states by expanding pro-Moscow communist-led regimes beyond Europe
what did this catalyst/realisation trigger?
a fundamental reorientation of US foreign policy came into Europe
what had Stalin agreed about Greece?
that Greece should stay within the Western sphere of influence after the war
what happened when Greece was liberated from Nazi occupation?
a civil war erupted between monarchists and Greek communists
who was providing aid to the anti-communist forces in Greece before February 1947?
Britain
what was announced in February 1947?
Britain announced that this aid was no longer available, and appealed to the USA to assume the financial burden
what did the Truman Doctrine mean for international relations by 1947?
they were founded upon division, each side suspicious of each other
why were Truman’s actions in Greece significant?
Truman hadn’t turned to the UN as the arbiter of the dispute in Greece
what was the excuse for Truman not using the UN?
he was convinced that the Soviet Union would use its veto power to prevent any UN peacekeeping intervention in the Greek Civil War
motive for the Truman Doctrine (1)
it was a blunt piece of diplomacy designed to keep the Soviet Union from aiding the Greek communist movement, and it had no relevance to US policy beyond the Greek Civil War
motive for the Truman Doctrine (2)
it was designed primarily to protect democracy and freedom and there was no aggressive intent towards any other state. It was a response to Soviet aggressive political, strategic and ideological expansionism in Eastern Europe
motive for the Truman Doctrine (3)
Truman needed to demonise the Soviet Union and communism in the minds of the American public. He needed to present communism and the Soviet Union as the enemy of the USA to justify his aim of protecting the USA’s vital national interests and turning the USA into a global power
motive for the Truman Doctrine (4)
Truman had to provoke the Soviet Union. His Doctrine was designed to make the USSR feel threatened by the USA’s power. Truman wanted a Cold War to start because this would justify the USA’s role as a defender of freedom and would enable the USA to function as a world power
motive for the Truman Doctrine (5)
The Doctrine formed an important element of the USA’s aim of developing its global economic power. By creating an enemy and presenting itself as the protector against that enemy, the USA would make other states economically and militarily dependent on the USA. These states would inevitably form close trade relations with the USA because they were close political allies
motive for the Truman Doctrine (6)
The Doctrine was the first step in the creation of containment as the basis of US post-war foreign policy. The next step came through the Marshall Plan, introduced in June 1947, which was designed to reinforce the Doctrine
Containment
a strategy announced by Truman. Its aim was to prevent the spread of communism by aiding those states who might be exposed to it. The USA presented this aid as a necessary defence of freedom and it was available to any state who called upon the USA for it
Greek Communists
Stalin hadn’t been aiding the Greek communists and there was no indication that he would start to do so when British aid to anti-communists ended. Stalin was unsympathetic to communist revolutions in independent states because he couldn’t ensure Moscow’s control. Such realities had little impact on Truman
veto definition
the right to vote against something. and that single vote is sufficient to bring the whole plan to a stop
