Korean War Historiography

Orthodox view

Herbert Feis – Stalin’s approval of Korea’s invasion showed “expansionist aggression” that forced US defence.

Revisionist view

William Appleman Williams – Korea revealed US “open door imperialism”: economic dominance in Europe and military entrenchment in Asia.

Post revisionist view

Melvyn Leffler – Superpowers acted from security and credibility imperatives more than ideology; Korea, and Cuba all illustrate credibility contests.

Marxist view

E.H. Carr – Crises were systemic clashes of capitalism vs socialism; Korea and Cuba extensions of imperial rivalry.

Describe recent/global views

Odd Arne Westad – Cold War crises must be read in global context: Korea to decolonisation, Cuba to Third World revolution.

Historian view of Korean War as not initially Cold War

Bruce Cumings – Korea was primarily a civil war rooted in nationalism, later hijacked by Cold War logic.