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What was the nature of conflict during the Cold War?
Ideology
- Capitalism vs. Communism => USA emphasised freedoms of capitalism and limitations on communism.
- Soviet actions seemed to confirm US opinion which stressed the world revolutionary goals of the USSR, state ownership of the means of production and the one party state.
- The USSR was encroaching on a long standing US sphere of influence (Cuba) since Monroe Doctrine of 1823.
- USSR wanted to advance control into America’s backyard, taking the opportunity of the Cuban revolution (Castro) and threatening US economic interests in Cuba.
- America’s ‘open door’ policy was interpreted by the USSR as banditry/imperialism.
- The American way of life: liberal democracy, freedom and private ownership seemed important to JFK.
Words
- Public rhetoric in speeches was played to domestic audiences to ensure their loyalty to the government of the day.
- Ambiguity: actions can be seen as provocative on both sides.
- Khrushchev boasts about Soviet weaponry fuelled/justified US fear of a missile gap.
- Propaganda highlighted ideological differences: xenophobic campaigns (but there would be caution and negotiation in private).
- Brinkmanship: who would back down first?
- USA media (films/radio) portrayed communists as rude/humourless/cruel to animals. The Russians tried a similar tactic but were at a disadvantage due to their technological backwardness.
Weapons (Arms Race)
- Not since Pearl Harbour had an enemy been so close to the USA.
- It was in the interests of the military-industrial complex in the USA and the USSR to emphasise the threat from the enemy to pressurise politicians.
- USA was paranoid that they were behind in the arms race, especially with the introduction of the Russian ‘sputnik’.
- Both sides had nuclear weapons installed near the other superpower (Cuba, Turkey) and claimed their own were defensive.
- JFK had said that in 1962 he was entitled to sue nuclear weapons.
- USA had a sizeable lead in the arms race by 1962.
Lack of trust, non-co-operation
- Secrecy about atomic bomb (1945) => Hiroshima bombing happened just 4 days after Potsdam.
- West didn’t consult USSR about their new currency in West Berlin.
- Building of Berlin Wall: physical and psychological barrier to co-operation, symbolic, was now a real iron curtain.
- Protracted process of reaching cease-fire in Korean War and Vietnam War.
- Khrushchev was unpredictable.
- Co-operation improved after the Cuban Missile Crisis after each realised the danger of non-co-operation.
Espionage
- Used to gain information about the enemy and to support other methods of securing influence, e.g. KGB agents got information about the atomic bomb, U2 spy planes in Cuba etc.
Geo-political interests clash
- Regardless of ideology, rivalry is likely between large countries with extensive economic resources.
- Both wanted to extend their spheres of influence, especially the USSR in Eastern Europe after the power vacuum imposed by the collapse of Nazi Germany.
Economic Measures
- Marshall Plan and Comecon were used to bring spheres of influence under their control and gain consent for rival economic systems.
- Berlin Blockade => West Berlin prospered under the Marshall Plan and introduction of new currency, whereas the East was impoverished.
- In the 1960s/70s both offered financial assistance to newly independent countries (namely Africa
Comments
These notes are aimed at A Level history students.
Originally written by Chan89 TSR Forums.
