The Weight of History

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Schools of Thought/Interpretations of the Cold War

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Why the Great Alliance fell apart – what evidence do you need to support each of these schools?

Traditional/Orthodox (USSR’s fault)

  • 👤 Historian: Arthur Schlesinger, 1950s; Walter Lippmann, 1945 (American journalist)
  • USSR was responsible and the major aggressor
  • often reactionary towards USSR and perception of its aggression → USA was defensive

Revisionist (USA’s fault)

  • USA was responsible and the major aggressor
  • 👤 Historian: William Appleman Williams, 1960s
  • Salami tactics: used to describe Stalin’s actions in Eastern Europe – he “cut up” Eastern Europe then conquered them
    • part of ==Soviet expansionism==
    • “the practice of using a series of many small actions to produce a much larger action or result that would be difficult or unlawful to perform all at once” –Wikipedia

Post-revisionist (Both’s fault)

  • no one aggravated anyone; both sides misunderstood each other and reacted drastically, escalating the temperature of the conflict to the point of the Cold War
  • OR (depending on how optimistic you are) both sides aggravated each other to nearly the point of nuclear fallout
  • 👤 Historian: John Lewis Gaddis, Late 1970s/80s/2000s
    • historians were able to glean this understanding from the Soviet archives, which briefly opened before being shut again

Realpolitik (self-serving)

  • roots in Bismarck’s Germany
  • states that some politicians ignore ideology when dealing with other states, as long as it's to their benefit
  • the role of ideology is downgraded
    • ideology is only a weapon deliberately used by superpowers to rally support of the nation
    • as a propaganda tool and mask used to fulfill state interests
  • economic pressure, military power and ideology were means used to achieve an aim
  • Richard Nixon as a prime example; staunchly anti-communist, but prepared to negotiate with China and USSR so long as it benefited the U.S.
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Main phases of the war

  1. 1941-1945: Co-operation during WWII to defeat Germany
  2. 1946-1953: First Cold War
    • disagreements between USA and USSR over Germany and Eastern Europe
    • developing nuclear arms race leads to growing tensions
  3. 1954-1968: Fluctuating relations
    • period of antagonism and retreat
  4. 1969-1979: Détente
    • USSR and USA reach agreements to avoid war
  5. 1979-1985: Second/New Cold War
    • relations decline again over developments in the Developing World and nuclear weapons
    • stalemate is reached
  6. 1986-1991: Final stages of the Cold War
    • new period of co-operation
    • break-up of hte Soviet Union
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