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Cold War Gr12 Summary + timeline
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An in-depth summary of Cold War Europe (IEB curriculum)
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Cold War Terminology:Cold War A “cold” war, as opposed to a “hot” war, is one that does not
involve direct military confrontation. Instead, a cold war plays
out through competing economic systems, military alliances
as well as arms building and the accumulation of other
resources, and sometimes through proxy or surrogate wars
Brinkmanship A strategy in international relations and foreign policy is one
in which a country pushes a dangerous situation to the brink
to achieve the most advantageous outcome. This approach
involves taking significant risks and threatening to force an
opponent to back down, thereby gaining a political advantage.
Ultimatum a final proposition, condition, or demand. Especially one
whose rejection will end negotiations and cause a resort to
force or other direct action.
MAD Mutually assured destruction: two opposed sides possess
large enough arsenals of nuclear weapons that the use of
these weapons by one side would result in the complete
annihilation of both the attacker and defender. (During the
Cold War, MAD played a significant role in the strategic
standoff between the US and the USSR).
The policy of A strategic foreign policy pursued by the US during the Cold
containment War to prevent the spread of communism beyond its existing
borders. This policy was first articulated in Kennan’s long
telegram.
Western Orthodox They attribute the start of the Cold War to the aggressive
historiography (who expansionist policies of the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin.
started the Cold According to this view, the Soviet Union's actions in Eastern
War?) Europe, its establishment of communist governments in the
region, and its perceived ambitions to spread communism
globally posed a direct threat to Western democracies and
capitalist societies.
,Soviet Orthodox from the Soviet perspective, the Cold War was seen as a
historiography (who defensive response to American imperialism and aggression
started the Cold War) rather than an initiative started by the Soviet Union itself. This
interpretation served to justify Soviet policies and actions
during the Cold War period.
Revisionist Revisionists argue that the Cold War was primarily initiated by
historiography (who the United States rather than the Soviet Union. They contend
started the Cold War) that American policies and actions, such as the aggressive
stance in foreign policy, economic strategies aimed at
weakening Soviet influence, and interventionist tendencies in
global affairs, contributed significantly to the onset of the Cold
War. According to revisionists, the U.S. sought to establish
and maintain a dominant position in the post-World War II
order, and its actions, including the Marshall Plan and the
formation of NATO, were seen as provocations that escalated
tensions with the Soviet Union.
Post-revisionist They argue that neither the United States nor the Soviet
historiography (who Union can be solely blamed for the conflict's onset. Instead,
started the Cold War) post-revisionists contend that the Cold War resulted from a
complex interplay of actions and reactions by both
superpowers, driven by mutual distrust, ideological
differences, and miscalculations and misunderstandings.
They emphasise that the international environment, including
the aftermath of World War II and the changing balance of
power, played a critical role in shaping the Cold War's
emergence, suggesting that it was a product of systemic and
structural factors rather than the fault of one nation alone.
The Iron Curtain Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech was a landmark
event that marked the formal recognition of the Cold War
divide between the Soviet Union and the Western
democracies. By using the metaphor of the "Iron Curtain,"
Churchill highlighted the emerging geopolitical and ideological
conflict. Therefore, he called for a united Western response to
Soviet expansionism and subsequently set the stage for the
Cold War's defining features.
The Domino Theory The theory suggested that if one country fell under communist
influence or control, neighbouring countries would similarly
, fall like a row of dominoes. This concept became a
fundamental justification for U.S. intervention in various
regions, particularly in Southeast Asia, since inaction could
threaten the balance of power and the interests of the US and
its allies.
Covert Action Covert operations conducted by the US against foreign states
so planned and executed that any US government
responsibility is not evident to unauthorised persons.
Moreover, if uncovered, the US government can plausibly
disclaim any responsibility related to the operation.
THAW The relaxation of tensions during the Cold War.
Communism Communism is a political and economic system that seeks to
create a classless society in which the major means of
production, such as mines and factories, bare owned and
controlled by the public.
Timeline of Leaders during the Cold War:
US DATES USSR DATES UK DATES Cuban DATES
Leader Leaders Leaders Leaders
s
Roosev 1933 - Stalin 1941 - Winston 1940 - Batista 1933 -
elt 1945 1953 Churchill 1945 1959
Truman 1945 - Malenkov 1953 - Clement 1945 - Castro 1959 -
1953 1955 Attlee 1951 2008
Eisenh 1953 - Bulganin 1955 -
ower 1961 1958
Kenned 1961 - Khrushche 1958
y 1963 v -1964
Johnso 1963 - Breshnev 1964 -
n 1969 1982
Nixon 1969 - Gorbachev 1985 -
1974 1991
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