Beginnings of the Cold War Arms Race - Research Paper Example

Introduction: The end of First World War marked the beginning of a very unconventional confrontation in form of Cold War. The dynamics of Cold war were totally different in terms of the rules of engagement. As a result of it there would be no direct battles and wars between the mighty states rather proxy wars, and allies and enemies were created. The traces of Cold war can be stretched to the final phases of Second World War when the Central Powers were on the verge of collapse and surrender. The event of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing served as the final nail in the coffin. As a result of the war two super powers came upfront in a loggerhead state against one another. Each of the super power aimed at gaining maximum output and dividends from the war. United States of America for the first time aimed at keeping its influence alive in European continent unlike First World War where the Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points were written off by Congress and as a result United States of America had to persist with its policy of Isolation. The Soviet Republic on other side aimed at gaining maximum influence and claimed spoils on account of the damages incurred. Soviet Socialist State alone had suffered the maximum number of casualties both in terms of the civilian losses and the military damages incurred. Secondly on both the occasions( First World War and Second World War), U.S.S.R was being attacked by Germany and other Central powers and U.S.S.R this time aimed at ensuring that her borders are protected well enough and for that reason it wanted an influence in the regional countries. Major elements that decided and dictated the terms and conditions of Cold war were the war repatriations, economic gains, territorial benefits, and enacting political systems that would be friendly towards the respective foreign policies. Yalta Conference: The event of Yalta conference has been termed as the formal initiation of the Cold war between the two super powers. The conference and proceedings of the meeting were marked by distrust for one another and lack of common agenda amongst the two. United States wanted to maintain its influence and U.S.S.R demanded more influence in the region on account of its contributions, domination and sacrifices. The main leads of Yalta were F.D Roosevelt, Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. The two being super power demanded more influence and say while Great Britain on account of its historic influence and being the front runner amongst the Allies in both the World Wars made up for an integral part of the entire proceedings. These three were dubbed as the Big Three from those times who majorly decided the rulings of the post war settlements. Element of Poland: Poland served as country with high interest for both the super powers. In past it had been used as a corridor and in both the world wars Russia was attacked by Germany from the route de Poland. Stalin would not settle for anything other than establishing a pro Soviet Government in Poland. U.S.A had other intentions. The decision was to be made between the Lublin Poles and the London Poles. America wanted a democratically elected government in place, and Stalin promised free and fair elections at first, however the terms were tempered and Stalin and his intelligence agencies played an influential role towards ensuring a pro Soviet government enactment in Poland, and as a result of this Lublin Poles were brought into power much to the pleasure of Soviet Republic. The course of Cold War: Formally initiated by the Yalta Conference and alleged tempering of the terms of the agreements by Stalin the proceedings to place in form of division of Europe into two distinct Blocs. The Eastern Europe and Western Europe. Both falling to Soviet Republic and United States of America respectively. The Eastern Europe comprised of East Germany, Poland, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungry and various other states respectively. The Western Europe constituted West Germany, Turkey, and Greece individually. Each of these countries had role and influence in future based on the past contributions of each Western power. Hungry for example was helped by the Soviet Republic during the Second World war getting rid of German troops and as a result Stalin wanted a pro Russian government and for this purpose he instated Matias Rakosi as the head of the government whose policies were directly pointed towards Socialist expansion. Social aspect: Ensuring the maintenance of grip and control over the respective regions, each of the super power aimed at providing the individual states with economic funding. This would encourage developing the kind of political system each desired. For example United States of America provided around Four Billion Dollar aid to Turkey and Greece in form of economic and social aid that was aimed at providing them military, social, and cultural assistance and ensuring the maintenance of their desired form of governments. The containment policy: Socialist Republic state aimed at spreading the communism led government in their region of influences. They aimed at gaining more support in the region. Untied states of America in an effort to protect regions from falling under the control and influence of Soviet Socialist States established number of movements and orders. The containment policy was taken up as a foreign policy directed towards the social, economic and political system devising in different parts of Europe. Truman Doctrine: Truman Doctrine was part of the containment policy under which multiple facet fund was released for the allies. This came about during the tenure of Henry Truman the President of United States of America after F.D. Roosevelt passed away in office. As an emergency aid around different scaled multi million dollars schemes were initiated for Greece and Turkey. Marshall Plan: Marshall Plan was a continuation and expansion of the overall economic aid that was more broadly politically motivated. Coming under the influence and guidance ship of the Secretary of State the scope and expenditure domain of economic aid was spread beyond Greece and Turkey and many other countries including West Germany and other regions were provided with economic aid. A net amount of over 12 to 13 billion dollars was fixed for this purpose that was spread amongst the allies in multiple phases. COMECON: In response to the Marshal Plan and Truman Doctrine Stalin came about with his own version of economic aid and assistance for the allies. Under this program the governments were assured of economic aid by the Socialist head of the state. However COMECON came to a dismal failure and was ultimately abolished and replaced with COMMINF. Brezhnev Doctrine: This was a counter policy brought about by Soviet Republic for the purpose of counter containing the acts of Capitalism. Under this principle and doctrine any state that had previously been under influence (direct or indirect) of Soviet Republic and was seen as tilting towards the Western European bloc would have to face the repercussions. These repercussions would come in form of military restrictions, economic curbs. This action came about as a reaction to the uprising and movements that took place in Prague in form of Prague Spring. Being challenged and feeling vulnerable the government of Socialist Republics aimed at taking preventing measures in timely manner. Cuban Missile Crisis: This was another significant event that brought the two super powers on to the verge of nuclear war and potential Third World War. Each state settled missiles in their allied regions. United States had them fixed in Turkey and Greece while Soviet Republic had them in Cuba. Better counsels led to salvation and retreating of the two from war footings. NATO: Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization was a military partnership and movement that was formed by the Western Powers in the Post 2nd World War and in the peak of Cold War scenario. This was a building of psychological fear upon the Communist State and each aimed at protecting the soil and harbors of each other in case of intervention and spread of Communism around their borders. NATO had political and military dimensions to it aiming at protecting the borders as well as the political systems of the respective allied countries. Berlin Wall: Berlin wall was a significant event of the Cold War. It divided the former German Confederation into two distinct states, the East Germany and West Germany. Each being controlled and influenced by the domination and presence of each super power. The wall was intact till the end of Cold War. It was the blockade of Berlin wall that marked another important event of the war. However the collapse of Berlin War came about as the final nail in the coffin. It was formally marked and declared as the event that led to the declaration of the end of the war. The outcome of the War: A war that was fought in form of proxies, allies and axis, came to an end in form of the Collapse and disintegration of the Soviet Socialist Republic. As a result of it U.S.S.R was formally disintegrated into twelve nations such as Ukraine, Czechoslovakia, and Six Central Asian Muslim States namely Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Kirgizstan and two others respectively. This along with the defeat in Afghanistan by Soviet Republic marked as the end of the continuous struggle that lasted for more than six decades between the two as battle of supremacy. The winners: The United States of America came as a front runner and uncontested super power of the world. This gave rise to a new world order with United States being dominant in both the economic and political domain and Russia aiming to resurrect along with China making an impact in the economic zones across the world. The success of United States of America also came about in form of democracy being established as in contrast to socialist led and assembled governments and political systems. Section 2: Joseph Stalin: Joseph Stalin was amongst the Big three in the Post Second World War and Earlier part of Cold War Era. He was behind the major successes of Soviet Socialists in the Second World War. It was his policies and able guidance as a political and military leader that enabled achieving successes both during the war and after the war. He was the lone survivor from the Bolshevik revolution and this is where his earlier stories stretch back. He along with Lenin and Trotsky were the pioneers of the Russian Revolution. The establishment of pro Soviet Russian governments in different parts of the world and notably Eastern Europe was part of policy of Stalin which was actually base on the initial policy of First and Second International. Prior to the Second World War Stalin performed number of social and economic reforms. He is formally remembered for the National Economic Council. He aimed at curbing corruption and mishandling of the natural resources of the masses and for this purpose enacted severe rules and severe economies. Purges were part of his entire rule and most of his internal efforts were enacted in making sure that no coup or revolt takes place against him. Stalin was influential in ensuring the acquiring of the atomic bomb and nuclear capabilities by U.S.S.R and he strived hard to balance out the advantage enjoyed by United States of America after the Hiroshima and Nagasaki debacle. The attacks were a warning for the Russia in a covert manner and U.S.S.R could not sit not preparing a nuclear bomb. The Hydrogen bomb was another achievement achieved under his belt and leadership. He was the longest ruling head of state of Soviet Socialist Russia. Berlin Airlift: Berlin airlift also known as Berlin blockade was an event that took place during the early days of Cold War. Stalin aimed at blocking the supplies towards the Western Europe and for that reason he cut off all the road supplies leading to Western Europe. United States of America and its allies were taken aback by this move and they had to find an alternative. The alternative came about in form of Berlin airlift. Providing fleets of ration and other basic items of necessity via air lift mechanism. Though the costs incurred were plenty yet the overall scheme was a failure on behalf of Stalin and he had to pull back from it later on. The Berlin Airlift duties were performed by the Great Britain aero planes as well as other allies such as United States of America, New Zealand and various other partners. The blockade lasted for over 9 and half months till May 1949(Ojserkis, 22). The air lift services were effectively managed and sufficient amount of supplies were being provided to the people in due course of time removing any fears of starvation and potential success of the purpose of blockade. Having seen that the overall blockade was becoming a sign of faux pas in the international spectrum Joseph Stalin immediately retreated from it and allowed the road and other routes to be operated for the transportation means towards the West Germany. It was this moment and movement that resulted in division of the German state into two parts that would go on till the end of the Cold war and would come to an end in form of the Berlin war collapse. Charles De Gaule: One of the most prolific General France has seen in modern times after Napoleon Bonaparte. His contributions are worth praising on account of political accomplishments as well economic and military contributions. He became the First President of the Fifth International established in France after the Second World War. He was influential on account of establishing France as an imminent economic Power. The establishment of E.U and economic zone came about through his efforts and contributions and also it was through his efforts that Great Britain was kept away from the E.E.C and E.E.Z for greater part of the rule of his tenure. He had his contributions towards making France go nuclear and using it for civilian purposes as well. He was a war veteran of the Second World War. He had greater influence in handling the Algerian crisis well. He also had an influence in establishing the country’s economic sector. He promoted migration and expansion beyond the France borders and aimed at establishing stronger relationships with the economic partners. His rule lasted till 1968- 1969. His rule is characterized by the stability of France in the economic and political domain giving the country a more sound and solid standing amongst the nations of world community. Clement Attlee: Clement Attlee was the Prime Minister of United kingdom from 1945 to 1951, the period where the cold war just started and Great Britain had considerable role regarding the overall dictations and determination of the parts of Europe. He also served along with Winston Churchill as his Deputy and later on went on to become the Prime Minister. His policies were applaud able on account of the economic efforts made towards strengthening the economy of Great Britain and making it a force amongst the nations of Europe that would seek its assistance during the times of economic crunches. He was at the forefront of leaders and countries heads who strongly opposed the views of U.S.S.R as oppressive and not letting the democracy flourish in the regions of their interests. Suez Canal Crisis: The region of Suez Canal has been a point of interest and conflict amongst the neighboring regions. It is also termed as a part of the Cold War confrontation that brought about the major super powers to loggerheads and brought about the potential fears of the direct war between Soviet Republic and Western Powers. Suez Canal had its political, economic importance both for Israel and Egypt. Each aimed at gaining maximum benefits from it in certain way. One similar move came about from the Egyptian President Gamel Naseer in 1956 in terms of the privatization of the Suez Canal. This action of Gamel Nasser and Egyptian army did not go well with the Israeli think tank and they came about launching offensives on Suez Canal. While the issue being a bilateral one, drove attention of the world powers and as a result the super powers were parting with each of the side aiming to ensure their presence and influence. France and Great Britain intervened on behalf of The Israeli forces and Egypt at that time enjoyed strong bilateral military and economic ties with the other super power- U.S.S.R. it aimed at gaining the support of U.S.S.R in case the situation arose. References: Ojserkis, Raymond P. Beginnings of the Cold War Arms Race: The Truman Administration and the U.S. Arms Build-up. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2003. Read More