Ideological Conflict

The Cold War

Differences between the US and USSR

The superpowers: each with their own spheres of influence; former colonies were relatively non-aligned

Soviet spies replicate the nuke and create weapons of mass destruction
Nuclear non-proliferation
- the idea that we don’t want nukes; countries are already protected by the US’ nuclear umbrella through NATO.
Mutually assured destruction: nobody wins a nuclear war. Nuclear weapons become deterrence that prevent a direct US-USSR conflict.

the Soviet policy of maintaining and expanding Soviet influence to surrounding countries
- Germany invaded the Soviets at 2x the cost
- Divided and weak Germany was split up
- A buffer zone for Soviet safety.

Stalin, Truman and Churchill meet to discuss the aftermath of war in Europe and Japan.
Europe is divided into spheres of influence; the fates of Germany and Poland are debatable.
Eastern Bloc: political group of countries under Soviet Leadership
Containment: the US response to expansionism → the Truman Doctrine
- US supported countries threatened by communism, e.g. Greece and Turkey
- Marshall plan: $13bn for Europe to rebuild following WWII.
- Primarily motivated by a desire to stop communism from spreading.
  - ‘good deed force’
  - GDP grew by 25% in Western Europe

15 months of western airlift → leads to the formation of NATO
Access to West Berlin is shut down by the Soviets in 1948.
The US and Great Britain begin airlifting supplies into West Berlin.
Germany becomes permanently split until 1948.
Collective security: NATO
- article 5: an attack on 1 is an attack on all
- 2% of country GDP on defence. → defence spending commitments

Communist North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950.
- UN and US forces intervene, ending in a 1953 armistice
South Korea: capitalist, not democratic.
North invades south: turns into a South Korean, American, Western defence against the North
China stations soldiers on the border following 1949’s Chinese Communist Victory.
An armistice is agreed to after 3 million civilians are killed → the demilitarized zone is instituted.
1953: Stalin dies

1956 Hungarian Revolution
- a rejection of communism and soviet influence which was crushed by Soviet tanks.
Hungary had a Command Economy. WWII brings destruction to Budapest and the Soviets move in → communists work with other parties to take control
- This is broadly rejected by the Hungarians and Soviet expansionism doesn’t go too well.
Land becomes redistributed to the peasants.
Communists controlled participation in elections.
- Hungary becomes a 1 party state: Stalinist oppression began.
  - Propaganda machine went underway → participation became controlled and mandated
Soviets take cattle; winter coats cost 3 months wages.
Food shortages ensue; the Russians take food out.
Steel manufacturing becomes controlled, increasing prices with very high production quotas → resulting in corruption and low quality goods.
Bent needles and shoes that fall apart are sold.
Hungarians demand freedom and Krushchev sends in the tanks.

1950s intense anti-communist movement in America
- “The House Unamerican Activities Committee” and the “Senate Permament SubCommittee on Investigations” are formed → a good example on illiberalism.
- Blacklisted: a communist witch hunt ensues: harassment begins based on the fear of communist subversion
J. Edgar Hoover, the then-FBI director runs political tests on employees.
McCarthy is the lead orchestrator of this witch hunt.
Illiberalism: for instance, the US acting against its values.

Millions of Germans emigrated to East Germany → East Germany then builds the Berlin Wall.
- Prison-like walls built restricted freedom.

Soviet nuclear missiles were stationed in Cuba
The US instates a naval blockade on Cuba and there is serious risk of nuclear war.
The Bay of Pigs invasion previously executed did not work out — however an all-out invasion of Cuba was prepared.
- Naval blockade was considered an act of war.
Broadly considered to be the opposite of appeasement

Communist North Vietnam versus US-backed South Vietnam
- another pro war, producing a North Vietnamese victory
Draft: forced deployment
- mass suffering of civilians results in a decline of its popularity
- e.g. the use of napalm
An example of the imposition of liberalism and anti-war movements
Use of Agent Orange/DDT → a carcinogen is used to destroy rainforests.
Domino theory: one country becomes communist, the neighbours fall.
Buchanan: formally establishes interests in expanding democracy

a reduction of tensions between the superpowers
- Nixon’s 1972 visit to China
- Soviet-US arms control treaties
  - SALT 1 (1969 - 1972)
  - SALT 2 (1972 - 1979)
    - (strategic arms limitation treaties)
Detente ends in 1979 when the Soviets invade Afghanistan.
Soviet nuclear arms build up continued in the 1970s and the US responds with military aid to Ihhjahdeen Freedom fighters → using a miltary buildup.
Conventional war plus strategic defence initiative “Star Wars”

Reject communism for freedom → solidarity
- Hungary, 1956: crushed by the Soviets
- Prague, 1968: crushed by the Soviets
- Poland: slow, eventual Polish victory
- 1989 → Communism falls in Europe
Perestroika: restructuring initiative brought about by Gorbachev
Glasnost: increased openness and transparency

Thousands demand reform → Solidarity wins senate elections in Poland.
Gorbachev pushes for reform.
November 9th, 1989: Guenther Shaubowski demands a removal on travel restrictions immediately.

Gorbachev resigns: the USSR breaks up.
- 20 year era of stagnation under Brezhnev (the 5th General Secretary)
Gorbachev attempted to reform and introduce degrees of economic freedom
- Unfortunately, this resulted in the rise of the oligarchy → a class with vast control of wealth which was ripe for corruption
Putin: clamped down on street crime and was able to deal with the oligarchs.
19th All-Union Conference: multiple parties permitted and Yeltsin pushes for nationalization.

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