Cold War: Causes and Effects

Causes of the Cold War

  • Definition of Cold War:
    • A state of hostility between two states characterized by an ideological struggle rather than open warfare.
    • Specifically refers to the conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union.

1. Conflicting Ideologies

  • Democratic Capitalism (United States):
    • Emphasizes free-market economics and political participation from citizens.
  • Authoritarian Communism (Soviet Union):
    • Emphasizes strict government control of the economy and redistribution of wealth equally to all citizens.
    • Citizens have essentially no voice in the government.
  • Ideological Clash:
    • The core issue was the universalizing nature of both ideologies.
    • Neither side was content to confine their ideology to their own borders; each aimed for global dominance.
    • Each ideology sought to prove its superiority by converting the entire planet.

2. Mutual Mistrust

  • Mistrust Originated Before the End of World War II:
    • The US, Soviet Union, and Great Britain held conferences to plan the postwar world.
    • Agreed that Central and Eastern European countries would hold free elections.
  • Soviet Violation:
    • Stalin kept these countries under Soviet control as a buffer zone.
    • These nations became communist states serving Soviet purposes.
    • The US viewed this as a violation of the agreement for self-determination.
  • Division of Germany:
    • Germany was divided into four occupation zones (Soviet, French, British, and US).
    • Stalin refused to free Eastern Germany which became a communist satellite state.
  • The Iron Curtain:
    • Winston Churchill proclaimed that an "iron curtain" had fallen across Europe due to these territorial divisions.
    • This marked the beginning of the Cold War, driven by conflicting ideologies and growing mistrust, lasting four decades.

Effects of the Cold War

  • Global Impact:
    • The conflict extended far beyond the two superpowers.
  • Decolonization and Superpower Influence:
    • As decolonization created new states, the US and Soviet Union competed to influence and align these states with their ideologies.
    • New nations were seen as pawns in the ideological struggle.

The Non-Aligned Movement

  • Resistance to Superpower Control:
    • Many new states refused to become pawns in the Cold War and sought to avoid dependence on more powerful nations.
  • Formation of the Movement:
    • Led by Indonesian president Ahmed Sukarno, with the first meeting in 1955.
    • 29 African and Asian heads of state participated, including representatives from India, Ghana, Indonesia, and Egypt.
    • These states aimed to remain nonaligned and avoid being controlled by the conflict.
  • Significance:
    • The non-aligned movement represented an alternative to the economic, political, and social orders imposed by the Cold War.
  • Strategic Maneuvering:
    • Non-aligned nations strategically used the Cold War rivalry to their advantage.
    • By feigning support for one side, they obtained weapons and resources for defense and development.
    • Example: Indonesia received aid from the Soviet Union but suppressed its own communist party, resulting in approximately 500,000 deaths.