The Cold WarWhat is the Cold War?Post-WWII OrderThe Beginning: Cold War EscalationBerlinWar of IdeologiesIron CurtainSoviet Sphere of InfluenceUS Sphere of InfluenceWar Averted: The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)Nuclear WeaponsNuclear CooperationWhy No WWIII?The Fall of the Berlin WallThe End of the Cold WarThe Cold WarWhat is the Cold War?•Period of no war between major powers 1945-1989•Intense hostility between the two super powers: US and USSRPost-WWII OrderSpheres of influenceSolve the “German Problem”–Occupation zones–Nuremberg trials –Assistance–European integrationThe United Nations–UN Security CouncilThe Beginning: Cold War EscalationStalin consolidates power over Poland and CzechoslovakiaUS gains influence over Turkey and GreeceMarshall Plan (1947)Unification of Western Germany beginsBerlin Blockade (1948-1949)NATO (1949)Nuclear arms raceBerlin vvWar of IdeologiesCommunism and Soviet Policy–“X” “The Sources of Soviet Conduct”Containment: “…Soviet pressure against the free institutions of the Western world is something that can be contained by the adroit and vigilant application of counter-force at a series of constantly shifting geographical and political points.” (Kennan 1947).Truman Doctrine (1947)–Protect freedom against Soviet communismPolicies to implement containment–Economic assistance–Support of anti-communist groups–Limited warIron CurtainSoviet Sphere of InfluenceMilitary assistance and economic subsidies–The Warsaw Pact–Council of Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA)Ideology Support communist governmentsPower and control –Hungary 1956–Czechoslovakia 1968US Sphere of InfluenceAssistance–Marshall Plan–Western Hemisphere–Middle East and AfricaIdeology – containment, libertyUse of force–Bay of Pigs, Cuba (1961)–Korean War, Vietnam war–Chile, Guatemala, etc.War Averted: The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)Shots of Soviet missile sites in Cuba taken by US reconnaissance plainsKhrushchev and Kennedy face-off in the UNUS’s options–“Surgical strikes”–Blockade of Cuba–AppeasementKennedy Administration chooses blockadeSoviets back offHotline White House-KremlinNuclear Weapons1945: Hiroshima and Nagasaki1949: Soviet AB explosionToday: 1 missile=100 Hiroshima bombsNuclear deterrenceNuclear CooperationStrategic Arms Limitation Talks (1969-1972); SALT II (1972-1979) Antiballistic Missile Treaty (ABM), 1972–Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)–US walked out in 2002: Strategic Defense InitiativeWhy No WWIII?Nuclear deterrence–Anticipate catastrophic consequences–Stigma against using nuclear weapons–No second strike capability (ABM treaty 1972)Prevent escalation of conflict at every pointStrong anti-war sentiment in both USSR and USBipolar structure plus reconnaissance revolution – relatively simple to manageThe Fall of the Berlin WallThe End of the Cold War Failure of structural theories?Perestroika and the Velvet Revolutions–Gorbachev in power–Domestic reforms – perestroika and glasnost–Semi free elections in Poland–Velvet revolutions across Easter Europe–Berlin wall opened:
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