The US and Global Security

Question 1

According to Hedley Bull what three things must a state be/do to be considered a great power?

Answer 1

1. One of a group of states of comparable power
2. Front rank in terms of military strength
3. Recognised by others to have, and conceived by their own leaders and peoples to have, certain special rights and duties

Question 2

Why and how has the US shaped the post-1945 global security environment more profoundly than any other state?

Answer 2

• Great power economically & militarily
• ‘World Policemen’ = world looks to US whenever there’s a crisis
• Managing their relationships with other countries even when in opposition – seeking to preserve the balance of power, manage conflict between them/by their allies

Question 3

When and why was the United Nations formed?

Answer 3

• June 1945, planned while war was still being fought
• Cooperation between great powers, knew the pressure the US & USSR were under to cooperate would vanish, needed to act fast
• Large scale warfare no longer viable way for countries to secure agendas – too destructive
• What can be achieved by great power cooperation = big three should lead the way post-WW2
  
  • Morale responsibility (US & UK), obligation for global betterment/superiority, in their national interest

Question 4

What motives did the US have for cooperation post-WW2?

Answer 4

• US only state post-WW2 which managed to maintain both a peacetime & wartime economy – economically & industrially in a strong position
  
  • Need international markets which require stability
  • Economic motives for post-WW2 peace
  • Need to shake off their isolationist policy they had before WW2 = need to get involved throughout rather than backing off & waiting for another crisis which will force them to get involved

Question 5

What motives did the UK and USSR have for post-WW2 cooperation?

Answer 5

UK

• Antony Eden (1943) war cabinet meeting = one foreign policy is to remain a global power
• Best way to do this is through cooperation with great powers

USSR

• Stalin wants to be recognised as a great power by US & UK
• Need a period of peace so they can recover post-WW2
• Believe capitalism will collapse from within

Increasingly it’s the US that rule the 3, USSR fear US-UK collusion against them but recognise the US as the greater power

Question 6

How has US military spending changed over time?

Answer 6

US military spending largest in the world except during brief time during Cold War where its matched by Russia – has the economic ability to do so

Question 7

Why containment chosen as US foreign policy?

Answer 7

• Post-1945 this position US has starts to unfold, policy of containment = bilateral world – now US & USSR
• Kennan’s Long Telegram helps change position

Question 8

How did the US contain Russia?

Answer 8

• Respect their spheres of influence
• Contain them militarily by circling them so they won’t expand
• Economic containment – Marshall Plan, $13bn conditional = 1. don’t turn communist 2. cooperate with one another (Europe), Truman Doctrine (1947) Greece & Turkey trigger = USSR will ruin itself economically trying to match the US
• Containment through multi/bilateral alliances e.g. NATO, SEATO, ANZUS, MEADOW, CATO, financial inducements, military agreements
• Covert action e.g. Latin America
• Containment through assistance (financial), alliances & covert action

Question 9

How did US-USSR cooperation work towards preventing war between the two countries?

Answer 9

• US-USSR cooperation – MAD, deliberately created a situation where neither country could successfully attack the other
• Recognising & respecting spheres of influence, 1963 non proliferation treaty
• Strategic arms talks, prohibit certain types of weapons which would be seen as destabilising e.g. anti-ballistic weapons would end MAD
• Food cooperation, USSR food failure to stop food riots & war, want stability