Comparison of Cold War Crisis

Causes #1

Ideological Foundations

• both rooted in deep ideological differences between communism & capitalism

• Both US & USSR aimed to prevent spreading of opposing system & viewed presence = direct threat

Significance: created a “binary world”; both superpowers viewed their ideology = superior & destined for triumph → compromise = weakness & conflict = inevitable

Causes #2

Economic vs. Military Triggers

Berlin Blockade: triggered by economic policies & administrative policies in Europe

• intro of Deutschmark

• Marshall plan

Cuban Missile Crisis: triggered by military escalation → discovery of Soviet nuclear missiles deployed to alter global balance of power

Cause #3

Territorial Governance vs. Regime Protection

Berlin Blockade: triggered by disputes over joint governance over occupied territory post WWII

Cuban Missile Crisis: driven by the USSR’s desire to protect a revolutionary ally & prevent a US-backed overthrow of Castro (e.g, Bay of Pigs of Invasion)

Impact #1

Use of Blockades

• blockade = primary instrument of confrontation

Berlin Blockade: Stalin cut of all road, rail & canal links to West Berlin (1948)

• aimed to force Western allies to abandon the city/cede control

Cuban Missile Crisis: Kennedy implemented a naval “quarantine” (blockade) to prevent further missile shipments to Cuba

Impact #2

Humanitarian Response vs. Diplomatic Compromise

Berlin Blockade: non-military supply effort that challenged Stalin’s authority without direct confrontation/violence

Cuban Missile Crisis: resolved through secret diplomatic negotiations; US = remove missiles from Turkey & USSR = remove missiles from Cuba

Impact #3

Conventional Tensions vs. Nuclear Fear

Berlin Blockade: hardened attitudes & brough superpowers closer to direct military confrontation

Cuban Missile Crisis: Increased public fear of nuclear annihilation to an unprecedented level → brought world closer to nuclear war

Significance #1

Patterns of Cold War Behaviour

• both conflicts = conflict remained intense but stopped short of full-scale war

• superpowers could manage extreme tensions throuhg restraint avoid mutual destruction

Significance #2

Military Alliances vs. Direct Communication

Berlin Blockade: accelerated military division of Europe through creation of NATO in 1949

Cuban Missile Crisis: marked a turning point toward improved communication

• creation of “Hotline” between Moscow & Washington

• 1963 Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

  • banned nuclear weapon tests in atmosphere, underwater & outer space → reduce environmental contamination & foster arms control

Significance #3

Division of Nations vs. Army Control

Berlin Blockade: led to permanent division of Germany into 2 rival states

Cuban Missile Crisis: encourage future arms control agreements → reduced long-term tensions by acknowledging dangers of direct nuclear rivalry