Foreign Policy during the Cold War - Assignment Example

History 1302 Final A.2. EXAMINE US FOREIGN POLICY DURING THE COLD WAR. SELECT ANY REGION (LATIN AMERICA, ASIA, EUROPE, AND MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA) AND EXAMINE MAJOR ACTORS AND EVENTS. The Cold War was a political and military tension, which unrested the western bloc through involving certain biggest and most powerful western nations. Notably, the involvement of the US has been one of the prime in this war. This can be better understood from the aspect that during the post-cold war, the US became one of the superpowers of the world along with Russia then called (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics USSR). This particular discussion will focus on examining the foreign policies during the Cold War along with assessing the major actors and events associated with it. Us Foreign Policy during the Cold War. The Cold War is often remembered as the event of economics and technologies. It involved a series of rivalry as well as polarization amid the communists and the capitalists. However, irrespective of the causes, the impacts of the Cold War were quite visible amid the participant nations. The impact of the war was also apparent on the US especially in the domain of its foreign policy. Observably, throughout the course of the Cold War, the foreign policies of the Americans towards the USSR were perceived to be defending the communist expansion in the nation. However, post completion of the war, the US became one of the independent non-colonial superpowers of the world. The nation continuously looked for allies during the war with its foreign policies that included military, diplomatic as well as financial support to various nations. The nation also emerged with the containment approach under its foreign policies with which it intended to stop the growth of communism in the western world. The US as per its foreign policies during the Cold War financially aided the countries such as Greece and Turkey to form a stable government so that the growth of communism can be evaded (Litwak 10-17). It has also been noted that through its foreign policies, the US has also interfered into the operations of other nations through conducting numerous secret operations. It is widely accepted during the Cold War era that most of the foreign policies of the US targeted towards reducing the influence of the Soviet Union on the global world. After the decline of the Soviet Union in the year 1991, the foreign policies of the US shifted their focus towards gaining greater control over the global world (Barrett 1-10). Us Foreign Policy during the Cold War: Latin America. As depicted above, the foreign policies of the US intended towards gaining control over the global world. The influence of the US foreign policies was also extended towards the Latin American nations. For instance, during the Cold War, the US signed a treaty known as the hemispheric defense doctrine, which intended towards developing unity. The main actors of the treaty were certain renowned Latin American countries and the US where they were restricted towards attacking each other (Marxists, ““Hemisphere Defense” and US Preparations for World War III”). Notably, in later phase of the Cold War, the policies of the US government towards the Latin American nations were mainly characterized by numerous aspects. These aspects entail gaining territorial access as well as influencing the Latin American nations, reducing or eliminating the powers of the rival countries from gaining control over the nations and protecting the economic interests of the US altogether. Through its foreign policies towards the Latin American nations, the US desired to prevent other powerful nations to gain superior control over these countries (Bulmer- Thomas & Dunkerley, “The United Nations and the Latin America: The New Agenda”). During the Cold War, the US also sought to ensure its national safety by signing a treaty with Latin nations known as Rio Pact 1947. Specially mentioning, through the introduction of the Act, the nation i.e. the US has ensured that the military power of the Latin American nations is able to prevent the communist penetration to further reduce the influence of the USSR. This was also a step of the policy makers to enhance their position in the global world and emerge as a superpower by surpassing the other rival nations. This foreign policy of the government further prevented the European nations to form their colonies in the Latin countries. (Wells, “Latin America during the Cold War”). From the overall analysis, it can be concluded that the Cold War has imposed major impacts on both the participant nations as well as the allies. The US and the Soviet Union were amid the active participants of the war. During the Cold War, the US foreign policies remained primarily focused towards preventing communism especially in the Latin nations in which those policies gained considerable control. B.5. HOW DID THE COLD WAR AFFECT POPULAR CULTURE? Following the Second World War, American popular culture mirrored the concerns that developed between the US and USSR or Soviet Union. Although both the nations are against fascism, they become increasingly agitated by mutual suspicions against each other. This condition of constant tension is also termed as Cold War, which became an interesting subject in the area of history. The Cold War became a dominant influence on several aspects of American popular culture for much of second half of the 20th century. The effects of Cold War had escalated because of adversary values between the US that symbolizes capitalism and democracy and Soviet Union, symbolizing communism and authoritarianism. Being two dominant powers after Second World War, tensions prevailed between Americans and Soviets became an international conflict. Soon the outcome of such conflict has been demonstrated in the American society (Hendershot 75-80). The Cold War has simplified the idea of demonizing the communists, which is dialectical reverse of American popular culture. During Cold War, communism was regarded as insidious threat for American culture. The cultural battles persisted between superpowers had influenced much more on everyday life of American citizens. The obvious influence can be apparently observed in the film segment wherein Hollywood was encouraged to develop anti-communist movies. The Cold War insisted that film scripts to be changed in order to remove orientations on low commendable aspects of American history. This resulted in development of such movies that flashed patriotism and also elevated suspicion regarding communist activity in the US (Hendershot 75-80). The other cultural reflection of Cold War was the development of a sense of twofold dichotomy. It nurtured an interpretation of international and internal affairs. Cold War has created a sense that American popular culture is right and just. It has shaped the concept of democracy and the definition of enemy. Basically, the main effect of Cold War on American popular culture was the increased extent of nervousness. The Cold War has generated great fear in American popular culture regarding the communist takeover and nuclear war. However, not every aspect of Cold War on American popular culture was negative. Cold War also assisted citizens to realise the aspect of American society. For example, one of the worst flaws on American culture was racial inequality. In American popular culture, discrimination was common in various forms. The Cold War generated various forms of cultural conflicts that resulted in gradual change for such discrimination by passing several laws (American History, “American Society and Culture in the Cold War”). Beyond this change, Cold Wars’ influence on popular culture was more qualitative. It provided a shape regarding existing disputes on the idea of freedom and also inspired new cultural trends. Several cultural and social developments in the US were not created, rather configured by Cold War. Cold War provided new tools and new possibilities for cultural debate in a new basis. The Cold War played against a background of marvelous cultural change. The debate over modernism, the threat of communism, the idea of mass society and association between state and the economy has occupied Americans since 1900s. The cultural debate had long been distressed regarding how to reserve traditional principles in the face of imminent social transformation. These debates rose again in American minds when educators, priests, politicians and media experts pondered the future of the nation during Cold War period. In other words, the Cold War did not triggered the debate on culture, rather it molded its evolution and affected its consequence (Glants and Kachurin 3-5). The Cold War derived cultural meaning from past and present patterns. It illustrated the idea of cultural bonds and insights in place. Simultaneously, Cold War attempted to draw together two diverged nations i.e. Soviet Union and America. Cold war was a global battle on reconstruction of society, direction of culture and challenge of popular culture. In the Cold War, cultural fields such as arts, films, literature and music among others became significant grounds for battle between different philosophies. Even government of the US that had formerly not prioritized the support of culture, started to invest seriously in the promotion of culture. During the Cold War, the US consciously remained engaged in psychological conflict and cultural penetration for weakening the opponent i.e. Soviet Union. At the same time, Cold War has reproduced anti-discrimination tendencies in the US. It also triggered protest movements on more open societies and exchange opportunities. Basically, Cold War has significant influence on every aspect of American popular culture. It is characterized by increased mistrust of liberal and conservative governments that resulted in political confrontations. Since both nations have differing philosophies, it resulted in opposing claims of what freedom means. Cold War was a defining event in American history and therefore influenced on several decisions on culture (Glants and Kachurin 3-5). C.7 DID THE US BECOME MORE CONSERVATIVE SINCE WORLD WAR II? DEFEND YOUR RESPONSE. It is extensively argued that since World War II, there emerged an exceptional renaissance in the US conservative political ideology and public homily. Before exploring whether the US has become more conservative since World War II, it would be vital to acquaint with the meaning of conservatism. Nonetheless, the concept of conservatism is although difficult to define specifically, but it can be seen as a composite term that consists myriad dominations. Conservatism is composed of distinct elements that include cultural, religious and social values as prominent components (Deutsch 1-6). Conservatism in general refers to a hierarchical structure in which human abilities are unevenly disseminated. It emphasize historical precedents rather than rational or ideal and value conformist conventions and practices. Conservatism differs from liberalism and radicalism in a sense that it rejects optimistic thoughts and views that stressed, human being can ethically improve through changes in political and social gradients. In the context of US, conservatism is argued to be much complicated that rest on several contradictions (Deutsch 1-6). It is claimed that prior to the year 1945, synchronized conservative intellectual force were not apparent in the United States. Notably, there were at the most dispersed voices, protest, deeply pessimistic about the prospect of their country (Nash 297-303). After the event of World War II, laborious struggle between popular democratic rudiments followed by anti-democratic interest pervaded within the country. Post-World War II, reflected noteworthy growth in the conservative movements in the US. Evidently, it is stressed that by the end of the year 1950, conservatives were able to establish strong foothold and support in growing southwest. It is further claimed that prior to World War II, political parties such as Republican Party were controlled by affluent easterners. However, the post-World War II scenario was quite different wherein growing number of business individuals and political leaders began to exhibit important role in national politics (Nash 297-303). Emphasizing free enterprise, anti-communism and individual efforts, conservatives established a numerous single-interest coalitions and groups to challenge the ideology and drivers of the liberal eastern establishment. In early 1960s, large-scale demographic changes benefitted conservatives. At the same time, the administration under Kennedy is widely claimed to help in expansion of conservative thoughts and views. By the end of the year 1968, conservatives dominated political parties. During 1970 and 1980, radical shift towards conservatism was witnessed by the US that was due to worsened status of liberalism. Nonetheless, conservatives encountered several difficulties after World War II. Regardless, the difficulties faced by conservatives during the 1980s and afterward policies in the US shifted to the right, particularly in the areas related to taxes, welfare, regulation and labor policy. However, during the post-world War II, conservatives articulated a serious and influential critique against liberal culture. Conservatives started to critique liberal thoughts and views through effective political movement by creating think tanks, groups and political activities. It is further claimed that the US has been a conscious disclaimer of the anti-statist components of classical traditions during the late twentieth century by a certain degree. It has instead stressed its efforts to develop as a powerful state. The anti-statist liberal traditions of the nineteenth century were embraced by certain US populaces who were generally known as conservatives in twentieth century (Brinkley 409-429). The US society generally focused on conservative based religious practices and ideologies prominent to modern analysis of the Right. The 1980s and 1990s were years of rising enlistment on the Christian Right. Nonetheless, the conservatism view was firmly placed on the economic elites and their efforts that were highly visible in the political structure of the US. Notably, there have always been the conservatives in the US but they have not been effective or heard. Conservatism has been an imperative element almost in every area of the United States. The radical rise of the Right after the event of World War II is recognized to promote the ideology, which supported the views as well as the thoughts relating to conservatism. It is evident that post World War II, several leaders in America Such as ‘Barry Goldwater’, ‘George Wallace Bush’, ‘Richard Nixon’ and ‘Ronald Reagan’ have acquired conservative credentials. The above discussion provides substantial evidence regarding the journey of the US or shift towards conservatism after the event of World War II. Thus, based evidences presented, it can be justified that the US has become more conservative since World War II (Brinkley 409-429). Works Cited “American Society and Culture in the Cold War”. Fast Attacks and Boomers. American History. n.d. Web. 03 Jul. 2014. Bulmer- Thomas, Victor and Dunkerley, James. “The United Nations and the Latin America: The New Agenda.” 1999. Web. 03 Jul. 2014. Barrett, R. C. The Greater Middle East and the Cold War: US Foreign Policy under Eisenhower and Kennedy. I.B.Tauris, 2007. Print. Brinkley, A. “The problem of American Conservation”. The American Historical Review 99.2, (1994): 409-429. Print. Deutsch Kenneth. The Dilemmas of American Conservatism. United States: University Press of Kentucky, 2010. Print. Glants, Musya and Pamela Kachurin. “Special Issue: Culture, the Soviet Union, and the Cold War”. Journal of Cold War Studies 4.1 (2002): 3-5. Print. Hendershot, Cyndy. Anti-Communism and Popular Culture in Mid-Century America. United States: McFarland, 2002. Print. Litwak, Robert. Rogue States and U.S. Foreign Policy: Containment after the Cold War. Maryland: Woodrow Wilson Center Press, 2000. Print. Nash, Geaorge H. “The Historical Roots of Contemporary American Conservatism”. Modem Age (1982). Print. Wells, A. “Latin America during the Cold War.” n.d. Web. 03 Jul. 2014. Read More