1 The Cold War

What is meant by “Cold War”? Historian John Mason wrote: – The cold war was a period of intense antagonism between the two superpowers – the United States and the Soviet Union – lasting from 1945 to Because there was no direct armed conflict between the two continental giants the description “cold war” remains an accurate one. Now that it is over, and we know the outcome, it is tempting to re-define this period of recent history as the “long peace.”

Main Phases of the Cold War – First Cold War – Disagreements between USA & USSR over Germany and nuclear arms race – Fluctuating Relations – Relations between USA & USSR go through periods of antagonism and retreat – Détente – USA & USSR reach several agreements – Second Cold War – Relations decline again over developing world and arms – Final stages of Cold War – New period of cooperation and final collapse of USSR

The Cold War

Nature of the Cold War Although no “hot” war developed between the USA & USSR, the Third World (or developing world) saw many conflicts – Cuba (1959)- Iran (1952) – El Salvador (1979)- Afghanistan (1979) – Chile (1973)- Zimbabwe (1965) – Egypt (1956)- Cambodia (1978) – Algeria (1954)-Brazil (1960s) – Congo (1960)- Israel (1967 & 73)

Theories on Nature of the Cold War The Russian Menace – USSR was seen as a threat of tyranny and US responded in defense US Imperialism – USA was seen a pushing democracy and capitalism and using military force to achieve its objectives West-West conflict theory – US used the Cold War to mask its desire to dominate other Western powers

Theories on Nature of the Cold War Intra-state theory – Foreign policy of USA & USSR used international events as opportunities to resolve internal tensions Class-conflict theory – Cold War tensions a result of the historic conflict between capitalism and communism Superpower theory – USA & USSR attempt not to defeat each other, but to divide the world between themselves

Theories on Nature of the Cold War Arms Race – Cold War was driven by the USA & USSR’s desire to have nuclear weapons North-South divide – Growing importance of the Third World and the conflict between the USA & USSR to help (or control) those new emerging countries and governments

Ideology of the Cold War Basically, it was a conflict of ideology A period of great fear and mistrust of “the other side” A war of words, with weapons and an arms race to back them up

Ideology of the Cold War The USSR symbolized communism (the ideology of Marxism-Leninism), involving a political system of one-party state and an economic system of state ownership The USA stood for liberal democracy, with its freedom of political expression, and capitalism with its emphasis on private ownership of the economy

Non-Aligned Movement Attempt by small developing world countries (mostly in Asia & Africa) to remain neutral Idea of non-aligned movement first introduced by Marshal Tito in Yugoslavia – Tito rejected Stalin’s instructions and formed his own communist government – Yugoslavia was kicked out of the Soviet bloc and remained under the control of Tito until other countries joined Tito in the Non-Aligned Movement, eventually expanding to 115 in the mid-1960s.

Economic measures in the Cold War In order to ensure that spheres of influence were brought firmly under their control, the superpowers used economic measures The USA used the Marshall Plan to help restore European economies after WWII and to help stop the spread of communism The USSR viewed Marshall aid as an instrument of capitalist interference and put pressure on its satellite states to refuse the offer.

Economic measures in the Cold War The USSR established Comecon in 1949 which gave hope to Soviet bloc countries that they would receive financial assistance from the Soviet Union but it tended to work to the advantage of the USSR. It also helped the regimes of eastern Europe to impose Stalinist economic systems on their countries As the Cold War developed in the 1960s and 1970s offers of financial assistance became an important tool in securing the superpower’s influence in the Third World.

Espionage The use of spies became a central weapon in the battle for superpower supremacy. Espionage was used to gain information on the enemy Soviet agents played a vital role in passing important secrets to the Soviet authorities, (for example securing the information required to make the atomic bomb) Soviet espionage was organized by the KGB In the USA the CIA was established in 1947 in order to collect and analyze information on threats to US security.

The Arms Race Probably the main aspect of the Cold War – Involved both conventional weapons and nuclear weapons Between 1945 and 1949, the USA had a monopoly on nuclear weapons Arms race affected the ways some crisis were handled and the economies of the states involved (especially the USSR) Significant factor in the collapse of the USSR

The Space Race Linked to military developments – Rockets to launch military warheads – Scientific rivalry Each side was determined to show its social and economic system was superior In 1957, the USSR launched Sputnik and in 1961, put the first man in space In the 1960s and 1970s, the USA outspent the USSR and landed the first man on the moon

Propaganda Propaganda was viewed by both sides as important tool used to consolidate their control over their spheres of influence and ensuring loyalty at home. Actually propaganda took a central place in the conflict of the Cold War US propaganda: US propaganda focused on freedom as the basis of Americanism and attacked communism for the limits it seemed to impose on this The US government established the US Information Agency, radio stations (Voice of America and Radio Free Europe), the Office of International Information and Cultural Affairs, US libraries in foreign countries

Propaganda Soviet propaganda: The Soviet authorities took measures to ensure that the ideas that the Soviet population was exposed to were restricted. Any sign of western influence were to be condemned and severely dealt with. The Soviet authorities laid down strict guidelines for literature and other arts in an attempt to purify them of western “bourgeois” influences”. As all Soviet media were under state control, the government was able to coordinate the information provided to its own population.