The Soviet and the Chinese in the Second World War - Report Example

25 February Introduction Different reasons supported the political and economic stability of the Soviet Union and China after the end of the Second World War. In the Second World War, both China and the Soviet Union were part of the international coalition, named Allied powers, against the nexus of the Axis powers. After the international announcement about the end of the War, Allies did not remain friendly towards one another instead the legacy of the Second World War continued to hunt all especially in the camp of the Allies Powers where allied powers started to experience a new wave of hostility and aggression in the days and years to come. And this Second World War killed more than 20 million people (Collingham 1). Subsequently, the start of the cold war and fall of Berlin war clearly demonstrated the ultimate intent of the warring countries, represented by the Soviet Union and the United States of America; and this intent subsequently observed the end of the bipolar world and the international political history started to experience dominance and supremacy of uni-polar world by the United States of America. In the following parts of this paper, first overview of the Second World War has been provided in which allied partners and their role has been discussed. It is followed by the reasons elaborating the Chinese survival especially after the end of the Second World War. Subsequent to that, the reasons explaining the survival of the Soviet Union have been detailed. It is followed by the comparison and contrast between China and the Soviet Union survival in the post war scenario before the conclusion part. Second World War Second World War experienced friendship and alignment of different countries. The attack on the Parlor Harbor triggered the start of the Second World War. Subsequent to this event, the international political order saw the making of Axis Powers joining hands against the Allied Powers. In the Axis Powers, the countries, such as Bulgaria, Germany, Japan, Romania, Italy and Hungary, signed different treaties and pacts in which they promised to collectively fight against any aggression against any member country of this group. Subsequently, to counter this threat, a group, named Allied Powers, was formed; this group was led by the United States, Canada, France, Belgium, France, Greece, the Soviet Union, Netherlands, Australia, Poland, New Zealand, China, Norway, Denmark, Yugoslavia and South Africa. Subsequently, the Second World War started in 1939 and ended in 1945 when United States dropped atom bomb in Japan and the Axis Powers collapsed and surrendered to the Allied powers. Additionally, Hitler withdrew the 1939 German-Polish non-aggression treaty (Roberts 17). And 1st September 1939, Germany invaded Poland (Roberts 18). And the reasons of the second world war became visible when the National government of China declared that it would not be possible to protect its own capital Nanjing even in 1937 (Mitter 2). Among other causes of death toll in this war, deliberate denial of access to food was a common dirty practice which was employed by all countries involved in the conflict (Collingham 8). The Soviet and the Chinese in the Second World War Survival of China China adopted a different strategy for absorbing the shocks of the Second World War. This strategy did not commence from the end of the 1945 but it started from the emergence of 1st October 1949 Chinese revolution led by Moa Zedong against the sitting regime of that time. This revolution played the central role to save China and its culture and existence from the subsequent jolts of the Second World War. In this regard, it is important to mention that despite the end of the Second World War, the hostility between nations did not end totally instead threat of the next war was more prevalent. And before the emergence of the Chinese Revolution in 1949, the whole Chinese nation was addicted to opium and poppy cultivation was common across China. And the presence of opium was another sign of slavery that was commonly felt by the Chinese. Subsequently, in order to rescue the nation from the opium slavery and from the aftershocks of the Second World War, Moa Zedong led the foundation of subsequent peaceful and prosperous China through its three prone strategy- disintegration, economic development and apolitical international outlook. Moa believed and implemented the philosophy of disintegration. Disintegration refers to an international political approach that entails isolation from the international affairs and issues and to remain engaged within the internal affairs. Soon after the year of 1949, Mao studied and realized that world politics was changing rapidly and this change required that a new approach for revitalizing the Chinese culture and its presence in the global world. In this regard, it is important to mention that Moa studied and concluded that intervention and attachment in the international political affairs were the main reasons behind the occurrence of the First and Second World War in which countries always tried to intermingle in the national affairs of other countries. Additionally, global expansion through the process of occupation was another reason that also contributed to the causalities in the World Wars. Subsequently, these conclusions considerably enabled the Chinese political elite under the leadership and supervision of Mao Zedong to disassociate from the international affairs. This change in the international political policy brought considerable ramifications for China. It provided an opportunity for putting more effort and concentration for national economic development and prosperity of ordinary Chinese. For this objective, China vigorously started the process of economic development in which prime focus was given to the production of agricultural and industrial products. More clearly, China’s political administration became an economic agent and put every effort for bringing mass economic development. This concentration was not only specific to the agriculture but also to industrial revolution as well. Here, it is pertinent to highlight that the industrial age and industrial revolution was largely common in other developed nations, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France and other European countries but it was unfound in many Asian countries, including China. At the same time, it was also felt that the developed nations did not prosper until they fully use industrial revolution in their economic structure. Consequently, this led to the foundation of economic structure in the mainland china. And this economic structure was massive as almost all provinces of China was treated equally and received equal political commitment and will from the Chinese administration. Moreover, the Chinese communism also enabled China to thwart the subsequent repercussions of the Second World War. Soon after the coming to power, Moa led political administration introduced a different type of communism for running the political and economic aspects of China. In this regard, it is important to highlight this communism came into existence for opposing the different features commonly found in capitalism largely followed in the United States and the Great Britain and other European nation. More clearly, the communism mainly believed in the centralized command which did not allow private individuals or market forces to control to demand and supply of different products instead a strong government regulator determines the flow of demand and supply for controlling price of different products. In this regard, comparison between capitalism and communism signifies that, in capitalism, the government has little control to restrict demand and supply of goods whereas, in communism, only government has full control to manage the movement of goods. Moreover, in communism, this perspective largely supports notion that through controlling the demand and supply of goods, price would remain stable and this would benefit to the majority of masses. Consequently, China subscribed to this type of communism, which was largely economic in its outlook; and employed it for ensuring its economic progress and development especially after the end of the Second World War. Survival of the Soviet Union Presence of communism and sale of weapons were two main reasons that enabled the Soviet to survive the subsequent aftershocks of the Second World War. The economy of the Soviet Union was based on the foundation of communism, mainly known as centralized and command economy. Rationing system was put in place to avoid hoarding and provide adequate supplies of food (Collingham 11).In this type of economy, price, demand and supply of all goods and services are determined, controlled and regulated by the central government and there is little involvement of market forces, such as the law of demand and supply. In the capitalist structure, both demand and supply collectively influence on price and determine its level. Additionally, the private individuals, those other than the government functionaries, are fully authorized to directly influence on the purchase and sale of products. As a result, this directly affects taxes and other regulatory measures which are applied to the purchase and sale of products. Moreover, soon after the end of the Second World War, the sale of weapons experienced exponential growth throughout this period till the fall of the Berlin Wall. After the end of the Second World War, many countries who were either directly or indirectly involved in the War gauged the sense of insecurity and did not rule the possibility of aggression from the former adversaries. And the chances of threat of reoccupation and aggression were more than probable. As a result, to secure and appropriately counter the threat and actual aggression, many smaller countries started to arm themselves. For this purpose, they inclined towards the purchase and stockpile of arms, missiles and other ammunitions. And in order to avail benefit from this opportunity, the Soviet Union decided to sell arms and ammunitions to buyers. In this regard, it is important to mention that the Soviet Union started to sell weapons all countries regardless of their previous attachment in the Second World War. Consequently, this measure provided a considerable boost to the Soviet presence and which translated the Soviet Union into a growing power in the political arena. Additionally, it is still relevant to highlight that even after the end of the Second World War, world became bipolar and this bipolarity was given existence and strength by the two international superpowers-the Soviet Union and the United States. In other words, it was highly essential for the Soviet Union to have stable and resilient economy and financial resources for countering any hostility from the United States of America. This hostility enabled the Soviet Union to remain vigilant and highly careful for addressing both economic and political problems. Additionally, the Soviet wanted to rule the world through their aggressive designs. This mindset game them power to put their every possible attempt for bringing the world under their control. For them, the post-war world had provided an opportunity to search out those methods and means through which control and dominance could be availed again. For this objective, they developed their political agenda in such manner that could bring not only their survival but also their long term unchallenged stability as well. In this regard, it is important to highlight that Stalin was from military background and wanted to rule the Soviet Union through the military mindset in which dominance and control were important words for dealing with the economic and political affairs at the national and international level. Comparison Both were mainly occupied by the chain of command economy. In their basic philosophical and political infrastructure, centralization was commonly visible. For example, Mao Zedong followed and implemented the main features of the command economy which were also adopted by the Soviet Union during the era of Stalin. As there was no democracy and democratic practices in both countries, power was centralized and was only controlled and enjoyed by a few hands. For example, Mao Zedong, in China, and Joseph Stalin, in The Soviet Union, enjoyed the unchallenged power throughout their control and dominance of their respective regimes. Every single minor or major, national or international, strategic or operational decision was mainly taken by these two leaders and there was no authority to challenge the legitimacy and applicability of that decision. In other words, both countries mainly experienced the worst form of dictatorship which did not only shape the national but also international policies of both countries over the period subsequent to the end of the Second World War. The control and influence of this type of command structure was so deep and intense that even the decisions at the micro levels in the government institutions were mainly taken by those functionaries which were designated by the central command structure of both countries. Contrast Both countries had certain contrasting aspects as well. For example, the Soviet Union was more internationally active and wanted to perform the role of international players in the international politics as it wanted to counter the measures taken by the United States of America. For this purpose, it was involved to sell weapons for generating resources for the economic adequacy whereas the role of china was very limited as it did not want to actively participate in the international political affairs and issues. On the other hand, the Soviet Union did not much concentrate the economic aspect or development paradigm of the local masses instead it was more heading towards gaining the supremacy in the international field. In contrast, China’s outlook and consideration was mainly economic as they it wanted to bring prosperity and economic progress in the country and this was only possible through actively engaging in the economic development process by enabling local masses to provide their contribution in the agriculture and industrial output of the economy. Additionally, China was mainly supported by the emergence of Moa Zedong leadership in 1949 which gave new life to the Chinese as they were mainly suffering from the addiction of opium at that time. And it was the role and contribution of this leadership that totally revamped the political landscape of China and it gave new direction to the Chinese economy, the political system and new mindset for dealing with the international political affairs through non-violent and apolitical way. Similarly, Mao Zedong did not want China to remain active in the international affairs as much as wanted by Stalin. And this difference played the central role in the international affairs. More importantly, the Soviet Union was also involved in the war preparation and sale of arms to other countries and that showed its international designs and policy towards the international affairs. Conclusion Various factors played central role in the survival of the Soviet Union and China after the end of the Second World War. The Soviet Union wanted to retain its role and participation in the international political world affairs. And for this purpose, the Soviet Union benefitted from the presence of the sense of insecurity and threat of possible war among countries. As the fear of next possible war was largely common, many countries started to buy weapons from the Soviet Union. And in return, the Soviet Union earned considerable amount of money. Subsequently, the Soviet Union adopted the centralized economy under which resources were centrally controlled by the government institutions. In other words, the Soviet Union retained its international outlook throughout this period as it wanted to play a powerful in the international politics whereas the role and involvement of China was considerably different. For example, after the 1949 revolution, the leadership of Mao Zedong remained largely apolitical as it did not want to play its political part in the world politics instead more focus was given to the economic affairs, development and progress of the country. And for this purpose, both agricultural and industrial productions received main attention. However, presence of communism in both countries clearly highlighted that both countries followed and implemented the certain similar features of the communism. Works Cited Collingham, Lizzie. The Taste of War: World War II and the Battle for Food. New York, NY: Penguin, 2011. Print. Mitter, Rana. Forgotten Ally: Chin’s World War II 1937-1945. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013. Print. Roberts, Andrew. The Storm of War: A New History of the Second World War. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2011. Print. Read More