HOA Cold War

Cold War (definition)

A prolonged geopolitical conflict (c. 1945-1991) between the United States and the USSR defined by ideological rivalry, nuclear brinkmanship, proxy wars, espionage, and economic competition. It rarely became direct US-USSR war because nuclear weapons made full-scale conflict catastrophic, but it repeatedly produced international crises and regional wars.

Cold War "game of chicken"

The idea that both superpowers repeatedly escalated threats to test the other side's willingness to back down, while trying to avoid actual war. This dynamic explains brinkmanship in crises like Berlin and Cuba, where credibility and deterrence mattered as much as territory.

Proxy war

A conflict where superpowers back opposing sides (money, weapons, advisors, sometimes troops) to avoid direct war. Korea and Vietnam are classic examples: local civil conflicts became global Cold War battlegrounds due to superpower involvement.

Espionage networks

Covert intelligence systems (spies, codebreaking, surveillance) used to gather information and undermine rivals. Espionage intensified fear, fueled domestic crackdowns, and shaped policy decisions based on perceived hidden threats.

Nuclear annihilation

Total war risk created by large nuclear arsenals. The fear of mutual destruction restrained direct superpower conflict but increased pressure to "look strong" during crises.

Periods of détente

Phases of reduced tension and increased diplomacy (not friendship). Détente involved arms talks and crisis-management mechanisms, but rivalry continued through regional conflicts and competition.

Soviet collapse (late 1980s-1991)

The rapid weakening and breakup of the USSR due to economic stagnation, political reform pressures, nationalist movements, and loss of control over Eastern Europe. Its collapse ended the Cold War's bipolar structure and left the U.S. as the sole superpower.

IB Paper 2 Topic 12: Cold War Tensions & Rivalries

Requires explaining the breakdown of the Grand Alliance (1943-49), superpower relations (1947-79), confrontation and reconciliation, and why the Cold War ended (1980-91). High-scoring answers show causation, comparison (US vs USSR), and change/continuity across phases.

IB Paper 3 Topic 16: Cold War & the Americas (1945-81)

Focuses on containment in the Western Hemisphere, McCarthyism's domestic and foreign-policy effects, the Korean War's outcomes, US involvement in Vietnam, and US foreign policy from Kennedy to Carter (Alliance for Progress, Chile, Panama Canal Treaty, human rights).

IB "crisis comparison" standard

When comparing two crises (different regions), IB expects causes, course, outcomes, and significance to Cold War development. Strong answers compare escalation, nuclear risk, alliance dynamics, and long-term impact.

Phase 1: Pre-Cold War (1917-45)

The roots of hostility before 1945: the Bolshevik Revolution, ideological fear of communism in the West, early Western intervention in Russia, and WWII-era mistrust that shaped postwar breakdown.

Bolshevik Revolution (1917)

The communist takeover in Russia that created the world's first major communist state. It triggered long-term Western fear of revolutionary communism and set ideological foundations for later US-Soviet hostility.

Karl Marx and the Communist Manifesto (1848)

Foundational communist critique of capitalism and class inequality. It shaped revolutionary ideology and later Soviet claims that communism was historically inevitable.

Communism vs capitalism (core difference)

Capitalism emphasizes private property and market competition; communism emphasizes state ownership of production and distribution for collective goals. This ideological clash fueled mistrust, propaganda, and competing models of global development.

US intervention in Russia (1917)

Western involvement during Russia's civil conflict reinforced Soviet narratives of capitalist hostility and contributed to long-term insecurity thinking in Moscow.

Capitalism (economic principle)

An economic system based on private ownership, market exchange, and competition. In Cold War politics, it was tied to liberal democracy and "open trade," promoted as prosperity-producing and freedom-supporting.

Communism (economic principle)

A system where the state controls major production and allocates goods to meet needs, aiming to eliminate private capital and class inequality. In practice, communist states often used centralized planning and one-party rule.

Democracy (political system)

Government chosen through elections with competing parties and protected civil liberties (speech, press). During the Cold War, democracy was presented as the "free world" model in contrast to communist one-party states.

One-party state (political system)

A political system dominated by a single party claiming to represent the people. It restricts political competition and often limits civil liberties; the USSR argued it was necessary for class leadership and stability.

Stalinism

A form of Soviet communism characterized by totalitarian state power, rapid industrialization, collectivization of agriculture, and intense repression. It shaped Western fear of communism and Soviet willingness to use force to secure buffers.

Maoism

A communist approach emphasizing peasants as the revolutionary engine rather than industrial workers, combined with mass mobilization campaigns. Maoism became central to Cold War dynamics in Asia and later Sino-Soviet tensions.

Marxist-Leninist state

A one-party socialist framework claiming to rule for workers by controlling the means of production and suppressing opposition. It justified strong state authority as necessary for revolutionary transformation.

Titoism

A Yugoslav communist model stressing national independence, worker self-management, and resistance to Soviet domination. Titoism matters because it proves the communist bloc was not automatically unified under Moscow.

Social democracy

A capitalist market economy combined with a large welfare state and strong social protections. It complicates Cold War binaries by showing non-communist paths to social equality.

Democratic socialism

A left-wing ideology supporting political democracy while aiming for a more socialized or collectively owned economy. It often faced suspicion in Cold War politics because opponents equated socialism with Soviet influence.

Socialism vs communism (distinction)

Socialism often allows limited private property and rewards based on contribution, while communism aims to eliminate private property/class and distribute based on need. This distinction is important for analyzing political movements labeled "left" across regions.

WWII animosity: US grievances toward USSR

US anger included the USSR's non-aggression pact with Germany, Stalin's purges, and perceptions of Soviet opportunism in WWII. These grievances fueled postwar suspicion of Soviet intentions.

WWII animosity: USSR grievances toward US/S Allies

Soviet anger included delayed Western recognition, appeasement of Hitler, slow opening of a second front, lack of warning about the atomic bomb, and the bombing of Japan. These reinforced Soviet security paranoia and desire for buffers.

Grand Alliance (WWII)

The wartime coalition of the US, UK, and USSR against Nazi Germany. It was pragmatic rather than trusting; disagreements over Eastern Europe and postwar order caused its rapid collapse after 1945.

Why the US became a superpower after WWII

The US emerged as the top naval and air power with a strengthened economy capable of enormous production. It promoted open trade, avoided tariff blocs, and had resources to shape reconstruction, making it central to postwar stability.

Why the USSR became a superpower after WWII

The USSR became the dominant land power in Europe and gained legitimacy from defeating Nazi Germany at immense human cost. It sought political control in Eastern Europe to prevent future invasions and to fill postwar power vacuums.

Phase 2: Enter the Cold War (1945-49)

The transition from wartime alliance to rivalry driven by disputes over Germany and Eastern Europe, ideological fear, security concerns, economic reconstruction plans, and crises like Berlin.

Tehran Conference (1943)

Allied planning meeting that shaped the timing and strategy of a second front in Europe. Soviet suspicion about delays contributed to later mistrust of Western intentions.

Yalta Conference (Feb 1945)

Set key agreements on postwar Europe: occupation zones in Germany, Poland's future, and promises of elections in Eastern Europe. Conflicting interpretations of "free elections" became a major source of Cold War conflict.

Potsdam Conference (Jul 1945)

Postwar settlement meeting where tensions rose amid leadership changes and the context of the atomic bomb. Disagreements over Germany's future and Soviet intentions intensified rivalry.

Who caused the Cold War (Soviet "blame" argument)

The case against the USSR stresses Stalin's consolidation of Eastern Europe, refusal to allow genuine pluralism, aggressive actions like the Berlin Blockade, and coordination structures like COMINFORM suggesting expansionism.

Who caused the Cold War (US "blame" argument)

The case against the US stresses Soviet security fears after devastating losses, Western hostility since 1917, atomic diplomacy, and US actions interpreted as provocative—economic dominance through aid plans and steps toward a separate West German state.

Orthodox interpretation (historiography)

An approach emphasizing Soviet expansionism as the primary cause of Cold War tensions. It highlights coercion in Eastern Europe and aggressive crises like Berlin.

Revisionist interpretation (historiography)

An approach emphasizing US economic and strategic dominance as key causes of Cold War escalation. It highlights US pressure, atomic leverage, and the use of aid to shape Europe.

Post-revisionist interpretation (historiography)

An approach emphasizing mutual insecurity and misperception. It argues both sides contributed due to ideology, power vacuums, and security dilemmas.

Iron Curtain (1946)

A phrase symbolizing the division of Europe into Soviet-controlled Eastern bloc and Western democracies. It captures the shift from wartime cooperation to ideological confrontation and the perception of Soviet secrecy and control.

Churchill's Iron Curtain speech significance

It publicly framed the USSR as a threat and influenced Western opinion toward containment. Soviet reactions treated it as hostile propaganda, deepening diplomatic breakdown.

George Kennan "Mr. X" and containment

Kennan argued the USSR was ideologically driven and expansionist but could be contained through firm, long-term pressure. His ideas shaped US strategy: resist Soviet expansion rather than seek immediate rollback.

Containment (core US strategy)

The policy of preventing the spread of communism by using economic aid, alliances, military presence, and political influence. It became the organizing principle for US Cold War actions in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Truman Doctrine (1947)

A US commitment to support states resisting communist pressure, framed as defending freedom against totalitarianism. It began with aid to Greece and Turkey and signaled a permanent US leadership role.

Aid to Greece and Turkey (1947)

Approximately $400 million in US support to stabilize governments facing unrest. It operationalized containment by using resources to prevent perceived communist expansion.

Marshall Plan / European Recovery Program (1947)

A massive US economic aid program to rebuild Europe and reduce communist appeal by restoring prosperity. It strengthened Western Europe economically and politically, but the USSR viewed it as "dollar imperialism."

Molotov Plan

Soviet-led economic coordination offered as an alternative to the Marshall Plan. It aimed to bind Eastern Europe to Moscow and block Western economic influence.

COMECON (1949)

The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance coordinating Eastern bloc economies. It reinforced Soviet economic leadership and created interdependence across the communist bloc.

COMINFORM

The Communist Information Bureau coordinating communist parties under Soviet direction. It signaled ideological discipline and helped Moscow manage bloc unity and influence communist movements abroad.

Point Four Program (1949)

A US program aimed at development aid to "Third World" countries to reduce vulnerability to communism. It reflects how containment expanded beyond Europe into global competition.

National Security Act (1947)

A US reorganization that created major national-security institutions (CIA, Department of Defense, National Security Council, Air Force, Joint Chiefs). It institutionalized a permanent security state for global Cold War competition.

United Nations (1945)

An international body intended to manage global peace and conflict. In the Cold War, it was often limited by superpower veto politics but still mattered in legitimizing interventions like the UN action in Korea.

Organization of American States (OAS, 1948)

A regional organization aimed at Western Hemisphere cooperation and collective security. In practice, it often supported US anti-communist goals and shaped Cold War politics in Latin America.

NATO (1949)

A North Atlantic collective defense alliance committing members to treat an attack on one as an attack on all. It militarized containment in Europe and heightened Soviet security fears.

Warsaw Pact (1955)

Soviet-led military alliance formed in response to NATO and West German rearmament. It formalized the Eastern bloc's military structure and reinforced Soviet control over allied forces.

Berlin Blockade (June 1948-May 1949)

Soviet closure of land and water access to West Berlin to pressure the West to abandon the city and resist West German state-building. It became a major test of will and a turning point toward alliance militarization.

Berlin Airlift (1948-49)

Western response supplying West Berlin entirely by air rather than using force to break the blockade. Its success preserved West Berlin, embarrassed the USSR, and reinforced the need for NATO and long-term US commitment to Europe.

Airlift logistics significance

Shows industrial capacity, organizational power, and strategic restraint. The West avoided direct war while proving resolve—key to deterrence credibility in early Cold War rivalry.

FRG and GDR creation (1949)

The Federal Republic of Germany (West) and German Democratic Republic (East) formalized the division of Germany. This hardened the Cold War's European front line and shaped later crises like the Berlin Wall.

Berlin Wall (1961)

A barrier built by East Germany to stop emigration and stabilize the GDR. It became the most visible symbol of Cold War division, highlighting the USSR's need to contain population flight and the West's propaganda advantage.

China "turns red" (1949)

Mao Zedong's communist victory in China transformed the Cold War into a truly global conflict. It intensified US fears of a domino effect in Asia and influenced policies like NSC-68 and later US involvement in Korea and Vietnam.

Soviet atomic bomb (1949)

The USSR's successful nuclear test ended the US nuclear monopoly. It intensified arms competition, escalated fear, and made deterrence and missile strategy central to Cold War policy.

Phase 3: Cold War "gets hot" (1950-59)

A decade of sharper confrontation marked by the Korean War, the Red Scare at home, nuclear strategy development, and expanding interventions in Asia and the Middle East.

Red Scare (1950s)

A wave of US domestic fear that communists had infiltrated government and society. It produced loyalty programs, investigations, blacklists, and civil-liberties restrictions, shaping political culture and foreign policy toughness.

McCarran Internal Security Act (1950)

A US law expanding government power to monitor and control suspected communist organizations. It shows how Cold War insecurity reshaped domestic law and civil liberties.

Hatch Act (1939)

A law restricting certain political activities and membership in subversive organizations for federal employees. It became part of the legal foundation for Cold War loyalty enforcement.

Smith Act / Alien Registration Act (1940)

A law making it illegal to advocate or aid the violent overthrow of the US government. It enabled prosecutions linked to anti-communist policy and debates over free speech.

HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee)

A congressional committee investigating alleged subversion, famously targeting Hollywood and unions. It contributed to a culture of fear and public accusations, often with limited due process.

Hollywood Ten

A group of film industry figures cited for refusing to cooperate with HUAC. Their punishment helped normalize blacklisting and shows how Cold War politics shaped culture and careers.

Hollywood blacklist

An informal system denying employment to suspected communists or sympathizers. It illustrates how private institutions enforced political conformity under public pressure.

McCarthyism

A period associated with Senator Joseph McCarthy's accusations of communist infiltration, particularly in government. It relied on sensational claims, fear politics, and damaged reputations, shaping domestic and foreign policy rhetoric.

Wheeling Speech (1950)

McCarthy's speech claiming he had a list of communists in the State Department. Its significance lies in how it popularized accusations and intensified national suspicion.

Army-McCarthy Hearings

The televised hearings that contributed to McCarthy's loss of credibility. They show the limits of fear politics once exposed to public scrutiny.

Rosenberg case

US citizens Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were accused of espionage and executed. The case symbolizes Cold War anxiety, espionage fears, and moral controversy about evidence and punishment.

Domino Theory

The belief that if one country became communist, neighboring states would fall next. It strongly influenced US interventions in Asia and justified escalation in Vietnam as prevention rather than conquest.

NSC-68 (1950)

A key US policy document describing the USSR as an aggressive enemy and calling for massive military buildup. It represents the militarization of containment and the logic of long-term global confrontation.

Phase 3 Asia focus: Bamboo Curtain

A term for communist-controlled Asia (especially China) analogous to the Iron Curtain in Europe. It reflects the perception of ideological containment zones and intensified US fear after China's communist victory.

Korean Peninsula division (1947 context)

Korea was split into northern and southern zones aligned with the USSR and US after WWII. The division institutionalized Cold War rivalry in Asia and created competing regimes seeking reunification.

38th Parallel and DMZ

The 38th parallel became the main dividing line; the DMZ later formed as a militarized buffer. It symbolizes Cold War stalemate and the persistence of unresolved national division.

Acheson "perimeter" speech (Jan 1950)

A US statement interpreted as limiting US defense commitments in Asia. It is often used to explain why North Korea may have perceived an opportunity to attack, though causation is debated.

Kim Il Sung

Korea's northern leader who sought reunification under communist control. His role highlights how local leaders exploited superpower rivalry to pursue national goals.

Syngman Rhee

South Korea's leader who also wanted reunification under his government. His ambitions show that the conflict was not only superpower-driven but also intensely Korean and ideological.

Stalin's support decision (Korea)

Stalin eventually approved support for a North attack, reflecting Soviet strategic calculation about US responses and broader Cold War competition.

Mao's support decision (Korea)

China's willingness to back North Korea became decisive once UN forces approached the Chinese border. It shows how Chinese security fears and revolutionary solidarity shaped Cold War conflict.

Korean War (1950-53)

A major Cold War proxy war where the US led a UN coalition to defend South Korea against North invasion, later facing Chinese intervention. It globalized containment, hardened alliance systems, and entrenched Korean division.

UN "police action" (Korea)

The US framed the war as UN-sanctioned collective security rather than a formal war declaration. This highlights Cold War legitimacy battles and the UN's role when Soviet veto conditions allowed action.

Stage 1: North Korean invasion

North Korea's early rapid advance captured most of the peninsula. This stage shows initial surprise and the urgency that pushed the US toward immediate containment in Asia.

Stage 2: UN counterattack and Inchon

Military reversal led by MacArthur's amphibious landing at Inchon, recapturing Seoul and pushing North beyond the 38th parallel. It demonstrates operational boldness and how early success encouraged escalation.

Rollback (policy in Korea)

The decision to push beyond containment to reunify Korea by overthrowing the North regime. It escalated the war and contributed directly to Chinese intervention.

Stage 3: Chinese counterattack

China entered after UN forces advanced toward the Yalu River; massive Chinese and North forces pushed the UN into retreat. This stage shows how security red lines and miscalculation can expand a limited war.

Stage 4: Stalemate and armistice

The war settled into trench-like stalemate near the 38th parallel; negotiations began in 1951, and an armistice was signed in 1953. It illustrates containment's limits and the permanence of Cold War divisions.

MacArthur controversy

MacArthur pushed for broader escalation and hinted at nuclear options; Truman removed him, reaffirming civilian control and containment over unlimited war. This is crucial for understanding US decision-making constraints.

Panmunjom Armistice (July 1953)

The agreement ending active fighting without a peace treaty. It institutionalized division and shows how Cold War conflicts often ended in frozen, unresolved outcomes.

Korean War impact on Korea

The war caused enormous civilian deaths and property destruction and made division effectively permanent. It entrenched militarization and shaped Korean politics and security for decades.

Korean War impact on China

China's successful resistance boosted Mao's prestige and strengthened communist consolidation. It also deepened US-China hostility and increased US commitment to defend Taiwan.

Korean War impact on the USSR

Long-term damage included forcing the US to expand global commitments, increase defense spending, and rearm Western allies. It accelerated the arms race and widened Cold War confrontation beyond Europe.

Korean War impact on the Americas

Canada contributed troops with lukewarm support; Latin America provided minimal military support (with Colombia as a notable contributor). This reveals uneven hemispheric alignment and US expectations vs regional priorities.

Operation AJAX (Iran, 1953)

A covert operation connected to Cold War politics in the Middle East. It illustrates how the US and allies intervened to shape governments viewed as vulnerable to communist influence, prioritizing strategic stability over democratic processes.

Dien Bien Phu (1954)

The decisive defeat of France in Indochina. It matters because it paved the way for Vietnam's division and increased US involvement, linking decolonization to Cold War containment.