Differing Viewpoints on the Origins of the Cold War

Revisionist View

        The revisionist view promotes the idea that it was the United States and not the Soviet Union who held the primary responsibility for the outbreak of the Cold War.  Revisionists argue that by the end of World War II, the Soviet Union was so devastated by the effects of the war that it’s primary goal was to ensure that such devastation, both in the loss of life and economically, would never happen again.  To reach this goal, the Soviet Union had to guarantee its security from any possible attack from Germany.  It was vital for them therefore to approach the governments in the countries bordering their own to make sure that there would be no possible threat to them in the future.  Revisionists believe that Stalin had no real desire to expand and spread Communism, it was only the security of his country and people that drove him to approach Eastern Europe.  The United States however, had major economic and political interests in Europe.  Economically, the US wanted to create new trade and foreign markets with the struggling European countries.  With the new “open-door policy”, the United States had even more access to European markets which would increase their own economy.  Revisionists argue that the US took advantage of the Eastern European economies to the degree that the Soviet Union felt that their own security was threatened, especially since the US was heralding anti-Communism.  The Soviet Union therefore had to strike back by lending a hand to revolutionary movements which would help protect their sphere of influence.

Post-Revisionist View

        Post-Revisionists believe that the issue of the origins of the Cold War is too complicated for a simple black and white answer about who is responsible.  Neither of the explanations above, the Orthodox or the Revisionist explanation is sufficient to encompass all aspects of the issue.  At the time neither explanation was backed up by any real proof because Soviet documents had not been released.  It was the Post-Revisionist opinion then that neither side should be “blamed” and that once the documents were released that it was necessary to study the documents without a preconceived bias.