Cold War Interpretations

What view believed the Soviet Union was to blame and what did they believe?

US Orthodox view - Late 40s to early 60s

Caused by agressive expansion by Soviet leaders who wants to spread communism to the world

What are the main features of the interpretation? (3)

Thomas Bailey - USSR wanted revolution

George Kennan - Stalin needed a threatening enemy to convince the Society they needed a tough dictatorship

Herbert Feis - USSR was trying to spread communism and the USA had been forced to respond

Why did this view develop? (3)

1) Red scare 1920s, 1940s, early 1950s. Joseph McCarthy said US governments are riddled with Soviet spies

2) Personal experience (Kennan = US gov official at the time)

3) Lack of sources - US sources were highly sensitive+ secret so propaganda had domain

What are some examples of the interpretation?

1) Hollywood emg., 'The War of the Worlds', 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' + government funded Hollywood

What view believed the USA was to blame and what did they believe?

US revisionist view - mid 60s to mid 70s

Caused by USA aggressive actions, especially it's determination to ensure it dominates trade

What are the main features of the interpretation? (2)

1) USA tried to get economic dominance (Open Door - USA access to its states to dominate everything)

2) Truman's get-tough attitude threatening Soviets

Why did this view develop? (2)

1) Cuban revolution - 1959

William Appleman said USA = empire-building power rather than force for good

2) Vietnam War - USA supporting corrupt murderous regime

What are some examples of the interpretation?

Historians - One historian said it "created rough seas for those sailing in the orthodox traditionalist boat"

Popular opinion divided - young agreeing with it

What view believed that they both couldn't understand each other?

Post - revisionist view - early 70s to 1989

What are the main features

Lewis Gaddis:

1) regjected views of revisionists

2) argumed that substantial proportion of the responsibility lay with beliefs + actions of USSR

3) Accepted US policy based on misunderstanding and exaggeration of Soviet strength

4) Result of fear + confusion + misunderstanding/ not inevitable

Why did the view develop at this time? (2)

1) Time of historical debate/previous views too simplistic

2) Thawing of Cold War - Nixon began process of détente (SALT - 1972 + discussion of HR in Finland 1975) so people thought in terms of misunderstanding and not blame

What was the evidence of this interpretation?

Many began to recognise the weaknesses of both views and people liked the complex, more rounded approach

What is the view that believes we can't be sure and what did they believe?

New CW historians - 1989 onwards

Sources just confirm was people already thought

What is the main feature of the interpretation?

CW ended after fall of BW in 1989 and the USSR collapsed soon after. When archives came it just strengthened the divisions. John Gaddist leant more to orthodox views though

Why did this view develop at the time? (2)

End of cold war leading to:

1) New Soviet sources

2) Reagan factor - debate reflected polarisation of country under Reagan. He referred to USSR as 'Evil Empire' but some believed he had been too reckless an taken unnecessary risks