Interpreting The Origins of the Cold War Historical perspectives

The Orthodox View?

The Orthodox View Generally argues that the USSR responsible. USSR was expansionist because: Suspicion of the West Marxist Leninism’s commitment to spreading world revolution. Evidence to support this: Stalin’s violation of Yalta and Potsdam agreements. Occupied and imposed control on Eastern Europe. Plotted to spread communism throughout the world. USA had to react. USA reacted in a defensive manner through: Truman Doctrine. Marshall Plan. NATO Main propagators of this view: Arthur M Shlesinger, WH.McNeill and H.Feis

The Revisionist View?

The Revisionist View Origin of this view can be found in the turmoil created by US foreign policy failure in Vietnam. USA responsible for the Cold War for the following reasons: US foreign policy inherently linked to capitalism – dollar diplomacy. Containment of communism was driven by the desire to secure markets for free trade. US foreign policy throughout the 20th century and in particular after WWI and WWII was determined by the capitalist system and the desire to avoid recession. (William Appleman Williams) Some revisionists argue that Stalin was a reasonable / pragmatic leader. If the USA had been more willing to understand the USSR’s desire for security and offered some concessions, Stalin would also have made concessions. (Gabriel and Joyce Kolko) The USA dropped the Atom bombs on Japan not to defeat their WWII enemy (as they were already effectively defeated) but to warn and intimidate the USSR – it was the first act by the USA in starting the Cold War. (G.Alperovitz and P.M.S.Blackett)

Post Revisionist Views?

Post Revisionist Stresses that neither the USA or the USSR can be held solely responsible for the origins of the Cold War. Cold War grew out of a complicated interaction of external and internal developments in the USA and USSR: External factors were out of their control and left them facing each other across post war Europe. Internal influences on the USSR – the search for security, the role of ideology, massive post war reconstruction needs, the personality of Stalin. Internal influences on the USA – the need for self determination, fear of communism, the illusion of omnipotence fostered by American economic strength and the A bomb. The leaders of both sides sought peace but these factors made resolution of differences impossible. Misperceptions played an important part at the beginning of the Cold War e.g. both overestimated the strength of the other and much of the tension of the 1940’s was the result of “action and reaction”. Leading historians: John Lewis Gaddis and Walter LeFeber.

Post Cold War Perspectives?

Post Cold War histories More sources available after the USSR’s collapse in 1989-1990. Russian historians able to write without censorship. John Lewis Gaddis changes his interpretation as a result of this with more emphasis on the role of Stalin. Argues that it was Stalin’s policies that drew the West into an escalation of hostilities and the arms race. Concludes if Stalin had been removed from the equation the Cold War is unlikely to have developed. Generally post Cold War historians emphasise the action and impact of individuals rather than governments or ideologies on the development of the Cold War e.g. Dulles and Truman.

Other interpretations to consider?

European, Soviet, post Soviet and other perspectives European governments influenced US foreign policy significantly thus escalating the Cold War. This was as a result of European anxiety over Soviet expansionism and the weakness of their economies. (G.Lunestad) During the Cold War, Soviet historians emphasised the role of “dollar imperialism” and the needs of capitalism for American foreign policy actions. (Soviet Orthodox group). Soviet revisionist argue that the USSR did have the objective of furthering communist revolutions in other parts of the world but that this was tied to the search for security and not simply for ideological reasons. Others stress the role of Stalin’s specific modus operandi of paranoia and suspicion. While some historians argue that the Cold War was a continuation of a traditional “balance of power” i.e. a desire for Empire and spheres of influence. A pattern that had started with the Tsars and the founders of the USA in the 18th Century to push west. (Walter LeFeber and Louis Halle – taking their lead from de Tocqueville).