The Cold War

The Cold War A period of heightened tension between the US and the USSR without actual war Lasted four decades, from 1947 to 1989 Ended once Soviet hegemony over Eastern Europe collapsed in 1989 Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991 After the Cold War a period of economic liberalization and political democratization followed

The Cold War: The Onset The gradual onset was between 1945 and 1947 Soviets were not willing to let free elections in Poland The US terminated its lend-lease program in 1945 The US refused Soviet requests for loans in 1946 Divisions heightened about how to re-construct Germany The American and the Soviet disagreement over the Far East The atomic bomb

How to explain the spiral of hostility? Bipolar structure of the postwar balance of power European states emerged weak after the war Both were bound to expand because of the security dilemma of states in an anarchic system: neither the Americans nor the Soviets could allow the other to dominate Europe

The Cold War: Declaration Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan of 1947 Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb Chinese Communist Party took control in China The Korean War was the last blow to turn mutual suspicions into an ideological war between the US and the USSR The Cold War: Declaration

Germany: Microcosm of the Cold War politics The US, France, Britain and Soviet Union were the occupying forces in Germany In 1948, Western occupying forces issued a single currency Soviets blockaded the city of Berlin in response The blockade lasted until spring of 1949 Two separate German states were established by 1949: Federal Republic of Germany & The German Democratic Republic mmute between two German states

A differentiating feature: Nuclear Arms Race After atomic bomb, both countries developed hydrogen bomb in 1953 Space exploration became important: Soviets launched the first satellite, Sputnik I, in 1957 Intercontinental ballistic missiles followed The “nuclear club” was extended further by 1974 as Britain, France, People’s Republic of China and India also developed the nuclear arms A differentiating feature: Nuclear Arms Race

Growing importance of international & regional organizations International Monetary Fund (1944) The International Bank for Re-Construction and Development (1944) General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (1947) North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949) Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (1949) Warsaw Pact (1955)

Cuban Missile Crisis Closest call to a nuclear war in 1962 In response to US’s installation of ballistic missiles in the UK and Turkey, Soviets started installation in Cuba US asked Soviets to dismantle the operation In the end, Soviets dismantled the operation, the US declared that it would not invade Cuba Also the US dismantled missiles deployed in Europe and Turkey Cuban Missile Crisis

Détente throughout 60s & 70s Hotline established between the Soviet and American leaders A number of arms control treaties were signed, started with the Limited Test Ban in 1963 The Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I) in 1972 Détente throughout 60s & 70s

Communism as an ideology lost its appeal since Soviet’s reliance on brute force resulted in deep currents of suspicions especially across Central and Eastern Europe Soviet Union could not sustain its economic development levels by late 70s and 80s Lack of consumer goods resulted in public discontent; the economy lost its competitiveness The US initiated “Strategic Defense Initiative” under Reagan administration Balance between two super- powers was upset by 1980s Towards the end

Soviet leadership under Gorbachev tried to re- structure its political and economic system: perestroika His strategy was glastnost, or open discussion and transparency Failed coup in August 1991 Disintegration of the Soviet Union by December 1991 End of the Cold War

Fukuyama: End of history? (1989) Mass liberalization and democratization movements unfolded after the fall of communism IMF & World Bank played significant roles in post- communist re-structuring Political scientist Fukuyama argued that “the end of history” has come with the triumph of liberalism

Challenge to Fukuyama’s thesis