Notes for The Changing International Order (1945-2000) – Pursuit of Peace, 1944-1945

A. HISTORICAL DEBATE ON THE ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR

The Cold War's origins are debated across four main schools of thought:

  • Traditionalist (Orthodox): Blames the USSR for expansionism; US acted defensively.

  • Revisionist: Blames the United States for expansionist policies that provoked the USSR.

  • Post-Revisionist: Argues both sides shared responsibility due to misunderstandings and miscalculations.

  • Post-1991: Emphasizes multiple actors and increased Soviet responsibility with new evidence.

B. WEST-SOVIET MISTRUST DURING WORLD WAR II

Mutual distrust was evident in key events:

  • Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (1939): Created Western suspicion of the USSR.

  • Delay in Opening the Second Front (1942): Increased Soviet suspicion of Western intentions.

  • USSR-Germany negotiations (1943) and Polish affairs: Stalin's actions regarding Poland and willingness to negotiate with Germany heightened Western distrust.

C. IMPACT OF WORLD WAR II ON THE SUPERPOWERS

World War II profoundly shaped the post-war landscape:

  • USSR: Suffered immense destruction, casualties, and economic collapse, requiring extensive rebuilding.

  • USA: Emerged relatively unscathed and economically strengthened, augmenting its global influence.

  • Both Powers: Emerged as superpowers, establishing a bipolar world order with competing ideologies.

D. YALTA CONFERENCE (4 ext{ }February ext{ }to ext{ }11 ext{ }February ext{ }1945)

Key agreements and discussions on post-war Europe included:

  • German Question: Division of Germany and Berlin into four occupation zones.

  • Declaration of Liberated Europe: Pledged free elections and democratic institutions in Eastern European nations.

  • Poland: Agreement on a Provisional Government of National Unity, with future elections debated.

E. POTSDAM CONFERENCE (17 ext{ }July ext{ }to ext{ }2 ext{ }August ext{ }1945)

Marked by increased US-Soviet tension and new leadership, key issues included:

  • German Reparations: Disagreement over the extent of Soviet reparations from Germany.

  • Four Aims in Germany: Disarmament, demilitarization, denazification, and democratization.

  • Polish Borders: Disputes over the Oder–Neisse Line and Soviet influence in Poland.

  • Atomic Diplomacy: The US atomic bomb development and use deepened Soviet mistrust and influenced negotiations.

F. CONCLUSION

The Grand Alliance fractured post-WWII due to:

  • Amplified differences from Yalta and Potsdam.

  • Competing security concerns and divergent political systems.

  • Postwar power vacuums, solidifying East–West antagonism and the emergence of a bilateral Cold War.