The Role of Ideology in American-Russian Relations between 1881 and 1920 - Essay Example

Task: History and Political Science Ideology played a fundamental role in the of American-Russian relations between 1881 and 1920. This is attributable to the fact that each of the countries had different ideas, goals and ambitions. Besides, they also had varied needs. By the year 1917, many American citizens had begun to conceive ideas about Russia.1 This would later spiral into Cold war. Americans felt threatened by Russia’s expansionist activities. According to Kennan, Russia was perceptible as an uncivilized nation that focused on achieving an equal stature with the United States. The Americans viewed this act as exploratory, especially to their interests. The United States responded in a manner that was interpreted as interference by many players. This is the case when some countries in Asia and parts of Europe engaged in political revolutions as a way of solving some of their political problems. A variety of actors led to different ideologies concerning the American-Russian conflicts. Persons who ideologically believed that their differences formed the building blocks for cold war were orthodox, post-revisionist or revisionist.2 According to the orthodox view, the ideologies perpetuated by the Soviets were solely to blame for the initiation of cold war. These were specifically the Stalin and Lenin paranoia. In their view, the post revisionists felt that all these claims were entirely misconceptions and not true. Nonetheless, the Revisionist, better known as the ‘New Left’ held the view that the root cause of cold war was the United States’ hatred of communism.3 An additional important role arising from ideology informed the views of the U.S on the foreign revolutions. Initially, several countries where revolutions were taking place leaned towards communism. This made the US perceive such actions as instigated by Russia. Apparently, Russia had spread its influence to the Latin America, Austria-Hungary, Germany and France.4 Additionally, the Americans were not at peace because the Russians were emulating their actions by embracing similar strategies. These cycles of patterns that included the radical revolutions disillusioned the United Sates. The ideology also played a role in increasing fears in the United States over radicalism during the 1870s. The US felt that the urban working classes were increasingly becoming radicalized based on rapid industrialization. Other sources of fear were the coming into power of socialist and populist parties and unions across the globe.5 Ideology also pitted communism against capitalism in the 1870s and 1920s. Besides, communism was comparable to the human values during the same period. An example is the nationalization of women between 1870 and 1919 in the Soviet Russia. Ideologically, longhaired men were associated with shorthaired women and sexual immorality, a condition known as Bolshevism. Ideology also led to the overthrow of the autocracy of Romanov from power in March and April of 1917. This gave the United States a lot of enthusiasm. Additionally, Bolsheviks seized power from the provisional government in October and November within the same year. However, this left the U.S worried and dismayed because the previous regime was friendly to their interests.6 Ideology played a very important role in the relationship between U.S and Russia. The American-Russian relations were not unique because they were part of the United States’ endeavors to liberate and redefine foreign relations. It is imperative to note that before 1881, the United States and the Imperial Russia had very good and friendly relation. However, after 1881, ideological differences between the two nations amplified frictions until 1917. This escalated further when the ambassadorial duties in each of the countries were retrieved leaving them with minimal diplomatic ties. Nonetheless, the ties were restored in 1933 but were only to be short lived until 1941 when they collapsed again. The two countries worked together between 1941 and 1945 during the Second World War as apparent in the Grand Alliance.7 However, the ideological differences between the United States and the Union of Social Soviet Republics emerged after the Second World War, between the years 1946 to 1989. According to Kennan (71), the crumbling of the USSR in 1991 brought about tensions between the two countries. The friendly relations before 1881 are attributable to several reasons. First, they shared some interests such as having Britain as their common enemy and the flight arrangement between them in 1863. The distance linking them also ensured that they participated in alienated spheres of extension. Furthermore, both countries seemed to approve of the authoritarian rule of slaves. They also had parallel frontline expansionism theories. After the year 1881, Americans began to subscribe to the idea that Russians were illiterate, uncivilized, backward and unfit for democracy. This is because their ideologies were perceived as improper and problematic to the organization. Consequently, they needed to deliver civilization for them to attain a similar stature as Japan. They also considered the Russians as agents to the Christian mission instead of being the objects. Consequently, the United States installed the Tsarist government. According to them, this played an essential role in ensuring orderly progress. The ongoing radicalism movements across Europe also sent chilling messages to the U.S. They feared that it could spread to their nation. Additionally, they also sympathized with the government of Russia against the nihilists.8 A significant proportion of Americans started entertaining the concept of revolution in Russia. They were keen to eliminate the medieval autocracy and infiltrate the minds of society. However, many officials regardless of the popularity never embraced this view. Ideological antipathy had some unique elements which the differences amidst despotism, freedom and isolationism. Isolationism typifies conflict between the Soviet autarchy and the Open Door Mission. There were also threats and resistance to the Russian and American missions. Besides, America was ambitious because it wanted to redeem Russia. Furthermore, it wanted to attain an admirable level of vision occupancy and liberation. Similarly, Russia also wanted to exert their influence during the cold war. These were the same ingredients of cold war.9 Additional important elements included the awakening of American interest to develop Russia economically and the intensification of the missionary fervor culminated in the condition. The Jews were also persecuted earning the Russians the tag name as being uncivilized. Further still, the vilification of the Russian autocracy diverted the attention of the U.S from their domestic problems. The famine of 1891 and 1892 put the Russians in a needy situation where the American help was required.10 The U.S intervention in the Russian civil war is understood as a manifestation of anti-Bolshevism. The intervention of the United States in the Russian Civil war had two interpretations namely the orthodox and the revisionist interpretations. The orthodox interpretation’s main objective was to rescue Russia from the Germans. Subsequently, they resorted to protecting their military supplies, restraining the Japanese and strengthening the allied pressure.11 They were also keen not to overthrow the Soviets and affirm their principles. It was equally crucial for them to rescue the Czechoslovak legion. The revisionist interpretations involved the ideological antagonism supported with economic motives as open door and property.12 The U.S expedited into Eastern Serbia with the aim of throwing off the yoke of the Bolsheviks and setting up an independent administration that would be anti-German and anti Bolshevik. This was based on the need to liberate Russia. The entire Bolsheviks would have been overthrown everywhere by embracing such acts. This action is a manifestation of the anti Bolshevism that the U.S had. This fact is apparent and clearly denoted by the subsequent actions of the U.S. To begin with, the U.S did not recognize the Bolsheviks though they continued to recognize the Bakhmeteff. Furthermore, the aid meant for the people of Bolshevik regime was subsequently directed to the anti Bolshevik armies. Besides, they supplied their allied agents that were also in conflict with the Bolshevik strategic intelligence. The U.S. also set up the committee on public information that circulated propaganda against the Bolsheviks. Moreover, they extended humanitarian aid and issued economic sanctions and blockades against the Soviet Russia. The U.S only recognized Siberia and Archangel that were the most overt forms of action to weaken the Bolsheviks.13 The understanding of the cold war is pegged on the American belief about Russia and Russian opinions of the U.S in the 1881 and the 1917. A sharp change in the views of the United States and Russia towards each other changed in 1917. Bolsheviks issued propagandist materials that criticized the U.S for all their woes.14 Additionally, they became increasingly enthusiastic towards Americanism. However, the views of the Soviets on the U.S were influenced by the 1917-1920 interventions. These views confirmed the ideological antipathy between the two powers. They also disillusioned with the Bolsheviks who had labeled the U.S as capitalist. These views later influenced the definition of cold war. The U.S interventions in Russia made nations increase their vigilance against their foreign enemies and encourage the Soviets to adopt a mentality of a besieged fortress. These happenings continued without direct or open warfare in a manner that assumed belligerency. This led to a stalemate because situations and scenarios that were impossible to accommodate, overthrow or negotiate ensued.15 Read More