Week 10: Cold war Flashcards
What “caused” the Cold War? How do the theories we have studied influence your understanding of these causes?
“World War II, which created an unstable international order and gave rise to differing US and Soviet visions for the postwar world, was a major cause of the Cold War.
Realism would explain the Cold War as a result of the security dilemma and the pursuit of power by both the US and USSR, while liberalism would point to the lack of effective international institutions to manage their rivalry.
Constructivism would emphasize the role of ideology in shaping US and Soviet threat perceptions and driving the actions of individuals like Stalin.”
Which theories best explain why the Cold War lasted as long as it did?
”* Realism best explains the Cold War’s duration, as the security dilemma created by the US and USSR’s pursuit of power and influence made cooperation difficult and prolonged their rivalry.
- Liberalism can help explain the Cold War’s length by pointing to the weakness of international institutions in the face of superpower rivalry and the absence of economic interdependence between the US and USSR, factors that limited opportunities for cooperation.
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Constructivism helps to explain why the Cold War lasted as long as it did by highlighting the deeply ingrained ideological differences between the US and USSR which fueled mistrust and made compromise difficult.
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Containment Policy
“-Developed in response to Soviet expansionism.
-Aimed to prevent the spread of communism beyond its existing borders.
-Key elements included diplomatic, military, and economic measures.”
Why did the Cold War end?
”* The Soviet Union’s relative economic decline in the 1980s, combined with the costs of maintaining its “empire” in Eastern Europe and competing with the West in the arms race, made sustaining the Cold War increasingly difficult for Soviet leaders.
- Changes in the structure of global production, such as the rise of interfirm alliances, geographic dispersion of production, and increasing importance of foreign direct investment, further disadvantaged the Soviet Union and increased the opportunity costs of its isolation from the global economy.
- Faced with these material constraints, a growing number of Soviet officials, including some hardliners, came to view retrenchment and engagement with the West as necessary to address the Soviet Union’s economic woes and ensure its survival as a great power, contributing to the end of the Cold War. “
Yalta Conference
“-Held in February 1945 by Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin.
-Focused on post-war reorganization and territorial adjustments in Europe.
-Established spheres of influence but sowed seeds of mistrust.
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Potsdam Conference
“-Took place in July 1945 with leaders Churchill, Truman, and Stalin.
-Addressed post-war issues, particularly regarding Germany and Eastern Europe.
-Resulted in recognition of Soviet influence in Poland, increasing tensions.”
Truman Doctrine
“-Announced in March 1947, aimed at containing communism.
-Provided political, military, and economic assistance to countries resisting Soviet influence.
-Marked a shift in U.S. foreign policy towards active opposition to Soviet expansion.”
Marshall Plan
“-Initiated in 1948, it provided economic aid to Western European nations.
-Aimed to rebuild war-torn economies and prevent the spread of communism.
-Viewed by the Soviets as an attempt to undermine their influence in Eastern Europe.”
Berlin Blockade:
“-Occurred in 1948-1949 when the Soviet Union blocked access to West Berlin.
-Led to the Berlin Airlift by the Allies to supply the city.
-Solidified the division of East and West Berlin, symbolizing the broader East-West divide.”
Division of Germany
“-Post-war division into East (Soviet-controlled) and West (Allied-controlled).
-Establishment of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) in September 1949 and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) shortly after.
-Symbolized the broader East-West divide in Europe.”
Formation of NATO
“-Established in 1949 as a collective defense alliance among Western nations.
-Aimed to counter Soviet influence and aggression in Europe.
-Marked a formal military alignment against perceived threats from the Eastern bloc.”
Eastern European Repression
“-Increased Soviet control over Eastern Europe, leading to heavy-handed suppression of non-communist opposition.
-Notable events include the Czech coup and repressive measures in Hungary.
-Solidified the division between Eastern and Western Europe.”
Rise of Communist Parties in Europe
“-Strengthening of communist movements in various European countries during the post-war period.
-Exploited social unrest and economic instability to gain power.
-Contributed to the polarization of political ideologies across the continent.”
US-China Relations
”* The sources do not discuss U.S.-China relations in the Cold War, though they do list Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, as a key figure in the conflict.
* Drawing on the conversation history, U.S.-China relations during the Cold War were marked by hostility and tension, as evidenced by China’s support for North Korea during the Korean War, which became a proxy conflict between the U.S. and Soviet Union.
* The Korean War led to increased U.S. military spending and commitments in Asia, suggesting a heightened U.S. focus on containing communism in the region. []
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Korean War
”* The Korean War, which began in 1950 with a North Korean invasion of South Korea, became an international conflict after the United States intervened to defend South Korea and the United Nations condemned the invasion.
* The war resulted in a stalemate and the division of Korea along the 38th parallel, with a communist North Korea supported by the Soviet Union and China, and a non-communist South Korea backed by the United States.
* The Korean War, which helped to globalize the Cold War, increased tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, and led to a significant increase in US military spending and commitments in Asia.
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