Was theTruman Doctrine a major turning point for American Foreign policy?

That's one of the question that arises in my history coursework. I'm still in the process of deciding what my argument will be. Is there any historians that dissagree that it was not in fact a turning point - and why?

Reply 1

waiting2smile

OP

2

Or should it be only considered a turning point for the cold war period but perhaps not for American foriegn policy? Was it only a policy rather than an event? Or perhaps their entrance into WW1/WW2 marked a significant change in American foriegn policy, as they no longer became isolationists? I'm v. stuck.

Reply 2

romy

i think it was because it spread american influence in the world. eg. at the time of the korean war the truman doctrine proved to apply itself anywhere in the world. this could however also be seen as a turning point in the cold war. if you write an essay about US foreign policy you could also give lots of counter arguments if you consider other aspects of it eg. the marshall plan and how it shaped the policy.
hope i could help a bit.
:-)

Reply 3

waiting2smile

OP

2

romy

i think it was because it spread american influence in the world. eg. at the time of the korean war the truman doctrine proved to apply itself anywhere in the world. this could however also be seen as a turning point in the cold war. if you write an essay about US foreign policy you could also give lots of counter arguments if you consider other aspects of it eg. the marshall plan and how it shaped the policy.
hope i could help a bit.
:-)

that's a good argument. I think i'll go and start writing now. I suppose i could have a few counter arguments, but in this essay i'm not allowed to sit on the fence, i have to take a one sided view, which is pretty difficult considering i feel divided about whether it was one or not.

Reply 4

tommyboy

1

You could basically argue that the turning point occurred earlier, ie. at Yalta, or Potsdam (+ Hiroshima / Nagasaki) or with Kennan's Long Telegram. Personality-wise it is interesting to see whether there was a difference between FDR and Truman (I recently read an article that argued that Truman was very much bound by Roosevelt's legacy). Also, take into consideration domestic politics (i.e. anti-communism in the USA, the impact of WWII on the countries concerned), and the role of Britain (maybe the Truman Doctrine was not so much a turning-point in American foreign policy, but another manifestation of a longer "special relationship" between GB and the USA, in which Britain pressed the US for involvement in Europe).
Very important: Don't confuse realities with perceptions. Very often turning-points in foreign policy do not come about because of the real international environment but due to the way different players perveive their environment (I guess that ties in with the neo-revisionist stance that the Cold War was produced by a series of misunderstandings). Maybe you could look at Kennedy-Pipes recent work, which argues that Stalin originally wanted America to get involved in Europe (although her argument is more about Soviet perceptions than American, it might still give you some ideas.)

Reply 5

waiting2smile

OP

2

I think i'm going to argue it was a turning point since the Truman doctrine clearly indicated America embracing global leadership and the end of the longstanding policy of isolationism. But thanks for other perspective, i'll try and apply them if possible :smile:

Reply 6

waiting2smile

OP

2

I'm not sure if i was right saying the collaspe of the soviet union furthur caused the US to increase the amount of aid and involvement, and that to this day the Truman Doctrine prevails in determining American foriegn policy, no longer fighting to contain communism but maintaining democracy...

i don't believe what i've written, i think their involvement was purely out of self interest rather than seeing it as a duty as a world super power in being deciated in achieving peace/freedon throughout the world. Well the courseworks done - too late :rolleyes:

Was theTruman Doctrine a major turning point for American Foreign policy?

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