COLD WAR ESSAY
Ektha Hunjan Mr. Tomlinson History HL September 2008 How, and to what extent did the conference at Yalta and Potsdam (1945) contribute to the origin of the Cold War? Word Count: 2,008 The conflict between two political ideologies, capitalism and communism resulted in one of the greatest conflicts of the twentieth century. The belief that freedom and democracy would die under communist rule caused the United States to start a conflict that would last for decades. The decisions made by the United States during World War Two caused tensions to rise between the U. S. and the Soviet Union. The fear of Communism in capitalist nations, caused the United States government to use propaganda to raise Cold War concern. Furthermore, the American media influenced the attitudes of the American people, creating hatred to communism, and allowing it to spread though the nation. Thus, the United States caused the conflict known as the Cold War, through its political policy and propaganda. The political relations going on in Europe during and directly after World War II had an enormous effect on laying the foundation for the Cold War. Wartime conferences such as Yalta and Potsdam heartened the relationship between the communists and the capitalists. At the end of World War Two, the American policy towards the Soviets changed drastically. The change in
Causation of Cold War
Ryan Marschang Hons History 'The Cold War was caused by fear not aggression'. To what extent does this view explain how the cold war developed between 1945 and 1949? The infamous Cold War was undoubtedly intricate and complex in its premature stages between 1945 and 1949. For this reason, the development of the war within this time frame cannot be attributed to one factor alone. Certainly, a tremendous amount of fear was present within both the USSR and US throughout 1945-1949 which contributed too many key developments. However, fear alone cannot explain the entirety of the developments of the Cold War through its early stages. The Cold War was vastly expansive and ideologically significant in relationship to the socioeconomic systems of communism and capitalism. The early stages of development were influenced by fear as well as aggression, ideology, self-interest, individual figures and endless contributing factors. Fear, in itself, can be extremely motivating. However, it can also lead to a sense of panic and distress. Throughout the period 1945-1949, this is precisely what fear did to both the USSR and the US. Beginning in 1945, the two superpowers were rising from the wake of world war two which ended on August 14th 1945. At this very point, both nations were fearful of the future in relation to the rule of Germany and the struggle between socioeconomic systems.
The Cold War
In April 1950, the Secretaries of State and Defense published a document that was known by the name "NSC 68." NSC 68 was a report on the objectives and programs the US should pursue in its dealings with communism. It outlined the weaknesses and strengths of both the United States and the Soviet Union, the two nations it identified as world super powers. With warring ideologies and high tensions, these two countries were the primary combatants in the conflict known as "the Cold War." However, the conflict between these two countries spread to other nations, and created other situations. The Cold War became a world war, affecting regions and nations far removed from either the United States or the USSR. In judging NSC 68, it becomes necessary to examine incidents in which the document's objectives and programs could be applied. Such a task is relatively simple, as there are a multitude of incidents of conflict between communism and capitalism during the period of 1950 to 1975 (when NSC 68 was released to the public). In this report, evidence will be shown that, during the period of 1954-1961, government officials were sporadic in their applications of NSC 68. Using the Guatemalan Coup of 1954, the Suez Crisis of 1956, and the Bay of Pigs incident of 1961, this paper will show that the United States government of this time applied the principles expressed in NSC 68 in
Post-Cold War Realities
Post-Cold War Realities INTRODUCTION: THE ANTI-AMERICAN ALLIANCE In June 1995, the Speaker of the Majlis (parliament) told the visiting Deputy Chairman of the Russian Duma, Alexander Vengerovsky, that the two strategic states of Iran and Russia should form an alliance to limit the expansion of U.S. hegemony in the region.[1] This proposal effectively sums up the entire history of the Russian-Islamic Republic ‘strategic partnership’—anti-Americanism. During the final decade of the Cold War, mutual loathing for the United States held together a relationship of slightly less suspicion and disdain for each other. As the protracted conflict between Moscow and Washington began to thaw, so did relations with Tehran. Subsequently, in the face of intruding U.S. presence in the greater Middle East, the benefits of cooperation in the obstruction of Western influence became increasingly evident and useful. Both share an aversion to a unipolar world in which the United States wields unchallenged primacy, controlling the United Nations, dictating supplier unions, and deciding who receives advanced arms, technology, and industry. As a result, they have found common ground to further their own political, economic, and hegemonic aspirations. For Iran, Russia provides distinct opportunities to advance its goals of conventional and nuclear military buildup; extension of
Was Mao a Marxist?
Was Mao a Marxist? "The socialists might conquer" Michels prophesied, "but not socialism which would perish in the moment of its adherents' triumph"(Michels, 1959, p.341). Certainly there are examples of conclusions made by Mao at one point in time being demonstrably different to those of Marx at a specific moment in his work. On this basis some have judged that "Maoism is far removed from the original ideas of Marx and Engels, and even from the concepts of Lenin"( Holt, Rinehart, Winston, 1970, p.252). Plainly to describe Mao simply as 'a Marxist' without qualification is misleading. On the other hand it is equally misleading to claim that Mao was 'not a Marxist.' To do so is to mistakenly treat Marxism to be a conventional dogma, and to define 'Maoism' merely by the absence of certain ideas of Karl Marx. Mao's thought was crucially informed and stimulated by Marxism, but this was distinctively tempered by his views on the proper role of theory and by China's specific historical experience. Mao was a Marxist, but an exceptional one. Mao's thought will be shown not to contradict Marxism in that his methodology is complimentary to it. Secondly, Mao's specific prescription for China was a fundamentally Marxist project. Mao contended that, "knowledge starts with practice" (Mao, 1951, p9). From this premise Mao could not approach Marxism as if theory was factual knowledge
Compare and contrast the influence, outside countries, of Mao and Hitler
Compare and contrast the influence, outside countries, of Mao and Hitler Until the death of German Fuhrer Hitler and Chinese dictator Mao in 1944 and 1976 respectively, due to their interests, the two countries not only had an influence towards the countries around them, but the world. And the state of foreign policy, which it was mainly influenced by its distinctive ideology, had a huge impact too. Here the common factor about two single parties nation was that they were both involved in the wars. In particular, Germany took main role in World War 2, which it totally changed the history of countries that are even located in Far East Asia. Whilst the scale of the wars in which Mao's Communist China was involved in was smaller compared to Germany, but it utterly changed the whole ideology and destiny of a country. Here, the nation that I am talking about is like North Korea. However, at the same time we must remember that the nature of involvement of wars were different; Hitler was more interest in his ideology and behalf, whereas Mao had a purpose of aid, in which rescuing other countries from what they see as an evil ideology, capitalism. Therefore, there is no doubt that the two totalitarian nations had a significant influence outside their countries. And most considerable influence outside their country was the consequence of their involvement in the wars. Thus, it is very
To what extent was the rise to power of Mao due to personal appeal and ability?
To what extent was the rise to power of Mao due to personal appeal and ability? Abhishek Puri IB History HL 18.02.2008 Mao Zedong had mastered the military and political councils of the Chinese Communist Party. He recognized that the peasant majority of China had to be on his side and political emphasis on the countryside was necessary for him to rise to power. Mao and the CCP successfully spread communist ideology outside their southern base with the help of the Long March. His activeness in the political affairs bought him support even from the Kuomintang when both the parties were allied in 1926. Zedong had also developed Guerilla tactics that not only won the Party the fight for power against the Kuomintang when ties between the parties had become turbulent, but also earned respect from the peasants. Therefore, the combination of Mao's popularity with the masses and his tight grip of the CCP helped him to rise to power. The Long March of 1934 marked the time when Mao "achieved effective control of the CCP". Even though the Long March was a retreat from Southern China to escape the wrath of Chiang Kai-shek's troops, it was not only a major propaganda victory for the CCP by spreading communist revolutionary ideas to northern parts of China but it also proved to be a platform for Mao Zedong to show his leadership abilities. This included crossing through rough terrain
Research Proposal When Mao died his only legacy was the political and economic devastation of China.
Statement: “When Mao died his only legacy was the political and economic devastation of China.” Mao Tse-tung (Zedong) was the official first leader to The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and no other name in the history of modern China has a more synonymous connotation with the total practice of communism and collectivism than Mao. Born on December 28, 1893, Mao was brought up in a predominantly non-industrialized, agrarian society that had gone through little social change in centuries. The country suffered from extreme poverty, isolationism, illiteracy, disease and infighting among various political figures. A natural born charismatic leader, Mao had an insightful view into the feelings of his countrymen. Beginning in the 1920s and through the 1940s, his communist lead revolution was able to out fight and maneuver an invading Japanese army and effectually push out his Nationalist Party rival, Chaing Kai-shek. While the Marxist theory of communism focused more on a working class party, Mao was able to take the men and women of China’s farming class and bring about a far-reaching revolutionary change. The beginnings of Mao’s leadership lent great promise but his actions after the revolution in regards to the “Great Leap Forwards” resulted in seeing millions of his countrymen die, than a change for the better. During Chairman Mao’s
To what extent was there a European Dimension to the Cold War?
To what extent was there a European Dimension to the Cold War? The cold war has always been considered as being a political and economical conflict between the United States of America and USSR. This statement is true but it is important to understand the basis of this conflict after the Second World War. The United States and Soviet Union, the single most important rivalry of the 20th Century, started as a partnership because of the fear for the spread of Nazism. Once Hitler was eliminated and the war came to an end, the tension began to rise. Therefore it is vital to consider a European Dimension to the cold war given the fact that it all started in Europe after WW2. The Alliance between USA and USSR was necessary although the two had completely different ideological theories. Generally speaking, Stalin's goal was to acquire as much territory as possible in order to form satellite territories since Stalin felt threatened from the Western allies. Suspicion within the allied powers (United Kingdom, France and USA) towards USSR grew as time passed by after the war. The western powers feared an intensification of communism breakout throughout Europe whereas Stalin feared for the soviet security, and this is mainly the reason why Stalin was very eager to spread his ideologies throughout Eastern Europe to eventually acquire them under his power. In February 1945, the Yalta
Mao Tse-tung, who began as an obscure peasant, died one of history's great revolutionary figures.
By Fox Butterfield Special to The New York times ONG KONG, Sept. 9--Mao Tse-tung, who began as an obscure peasant, died one of history's great revolutionary figures. Born at a time when China was wracked by civil strife, beset with terrible poverty and encroached on by more advanced foreign powers, he lived to fulfill his boyhood dream of restoring it to its traditional place as a great nation. In Chinese terms, he ranked with Chin Shih-huang, the first Emperor, who unified China in 221 B.C., and was the man Chairman Mao most liked to compare himself to. With incredible perseverance and consummately conceived strategy, he harnessed the forces of agrarian discontent and nationalism to turn a tiny band of peasants into an army of millions, which he led to victory throughout China in 1949 after 20 years of fighting. Along the way the army fought battles as big as Stalingrad and suffered through a heroic march as long as Alexander's. Then, after establishing the Chinese People's Republic, Mao launched a series of sweeping, sometimes convulsive campaigns to transform a semifeudal, largely illiterate and predominantly agricultural country encompassing almost four million square miles and a fifth of the world's population into a modern, industrialized socialist state. By the time of his death China had manufactured its own nuclear bombs and guided missiles and had become a
