KN

POLS Security

Introduction to Security Issues in International Relations

  • Focus on contemporary security issues in international relations, particularly regarding Russia and China.

  • Emphasis on understanding the evolution of security concerns from the Cold War to the present.

Overview of Key Themes

  • Four primary goals in this section:

    • Background on Russia and China: Overview from the Cold War to present.

    • Case Study of Russia: Examination of the rise and fall of the Soviet Union, evolution of Russian politics, and the role of Vladimir Putin.

    • Case Study of China: Exploration of the rise of the communist party from its inception to current times.

    • Implications for the United States: Discussion on foreign policy issues regarding Russia and China.

Background Context

Discussion of Previous Knowledge

  • Students share their prior coursework related to Russia and China, indicating a familiarity with historical contexts like the Qing and Ming Dynasties but lack experience with contemporary China.

Key Themes of Russia Today

  • Prominent associations with Russia include:

    • War in Ukraine - An ongoing conflict that highlights contemporary security issues.

    • Political Landscape - Mention of Vladimir Putin’s autocratic governance, censorship, and repression of dissent, particularly against journalists.

Key Themes of China Today

  • Major points of discussion among students regarding China:

    • Economic Power - China as a rapidly growing economy, arguably larger than the U.S. by some metrics.

    • Political System - Comparison of China’s communist regime despite its non-communist economic structure.

    • Key Issues:

    • Taiwan - Its status is a significant concern in U.S.-China relations.

    • Human Rights Violations - Attention to the treatment of Uighurs in Xinjiang.

    • Role as a Manufacturing Hub - China’s dominance in global manufacturing, including automobiles and electronics.

Historical Context of the Cold War

Origins of the Cold War

  • Brief overview of key leaders involved: Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill - Allies during WWII; however, tensions arise immediately post-war leading to the Cold War.

  • Concept of the Iron Curtain as articulated by Winston Churchill, symbolizing the division between Soviet influence in Eastern Europe and the West.

Map of the Iron Curtain

  • Historical review of how Europe was divided:

    • NATO countries were located on the Western side.

    • Warsaw Pact nations aligned with the Soviet Union on the Eastern side.

  • Discussion of significant changes since the fall of the Iron Curtain, such as the breakup of Yugoslavia and the geopolitical evolution of Eastern Europe, including the emergence of new nations.

The Strategy of Containment

  • Initial response to Soviet expansion post-WWII:

    • George Kennan's long telegraph outlining a strategy to contain Soviet influence.

    • Containment became a central United States foreign policy approach during the Cold War, emphasizing vigilance against Soviet expansionism.

  • Notable incidents demonstrating containment:

    • Berlin Blockade - Airlift response by the U.S. and allies to provide supplies.

    • Korean War - A direct military response to prevent the spread of communism into South Korea.

    • Vietnam War - Involvement motivated by a desire to stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia.

Comparison of Russia and China

Geographical Scale

  • Soviet Union: Once the largest country in the world, encompassing vast territory and many ethnicities.

  • China: Comparable in size to the U.S. but with significantly larger population diversity across various ethnic groups.

Timing of Industrialization

  • Historical perspective on the transition from feudalism to modernity:

    • Both Russia and China were late to industrialize compared to Western nations, affecting their political evolution and stability.

    • Issues of class tensions as they modernized from agrarian economies, leading to revolutionary movements.

Political Philosophy - Marxist Leninism

  • Necessary exploration of Lenin's contributions to Marxist theory and the implications for both states:

    • Marx's vision was adapted by Lenin, who argued for instigating socialist revolutions directly rather than following a capitalist stage.

    • The emergence of a vanguard party concept to lead the revolution and guide the state towards socialism.

The Soviet Union Pre-Gorbachev

Economic Structure

  • Centrally Planned Economy:

    • Description of how production decisions were made by the state versus a market-based economy.

    • Mention of the Gosplan as the state planning committee in charge of economic output.

Political System Characteristics

  • Unique blend of democratic centralism:

    • Single-party rule with an ideological commitment to represent the people.

    • Mechanisms of ruffled democracy in practice but dominated by the Politburo decisions.

Nature of Governance

  • The system oscillated between totalitarianism and authoritarianism:

    • Characteristics of a totalitarian regime (like Stalin's era) vs. a more authoritarian nature seen later.

  • Cult of Personality around leaders, control over information, and systematic repression of dissent.

Literary Reference via George Orwell’s Animal Farm

  • Animal Farm serves as a metaphor illustrating the transition from revolutionary ideals back to oppressive governance, mirroring the historical evolution of Soviet leadership under Stalin.

Plan for Continued Discussion

  • Preparations to delve further into specifics regarding:

    • Political and economic changes under Gorbachev and the aftermath in Russia.

    • The parallels with the Chinese Communist Revolution under Mao and the era of reforms under Deng Xiaoping.

    • Continuation of the examination of these issues into contemporary times.