Peaceful coexistence was a theory developed and applied by the Soviet Union at various points during the Cold War in the context of its ostensibly Marxist–Leninist foreign policy and was adopted by Soviet-influenced "Communist states" that they could peacefully coexist with the capitalist bloc (USA) who had also decided they did not wish to continue in a hostile manner with the Soviet Union. Many tensions between the USA and the Soviet Union during the Cold War seemed to have been eased by ‘peaceful coexistence’. Developments such as the end of the Korean War in 1953 and factors such as the Austrian independence, improved Soviet-Yugoslavia relations in 1955 and the ‘Geneva Spirit’ based on east-west summit diplomacy and Khrushchev’s visit to the USA in 1959 showed ‘peaceful coexistence’ easing up the Cold War tensions in the years 1953 – 1961’. However, factors, which ensured Cold War tensions remained in the years 1953-61, were the US attitudes towards communism in the 1950s such as the domino theory and the Soviet concept of peaceful coexistence based on long-term victory of communism. The impact of the Berlin Crisis and the u2 spy plane incident in 1960 also displayed the tensions between the superpowers during the Cold War years.
Another perspective, the Revisionist view initiated by the historian William Appleman Willams regards that the American’s attitude to dispense their ideology of capitalism as well as their tactics in using military means to dominate with world trade was the cause. On the other hand, historians such as John Lewis Gaddis follow a Post-Revisionist view that suggests neither countries were to blame and in fact the breakdown of relations was due to the misunderstandings during a period of mass “growing sense of insecurity” and acted upon failure to acknowledged each others fears. However, it is possible to suggest that one country is held responsible for the origins of the Cold War through the occurrences during this time. This discussion will outline these factors by debating the validity of the question in whether or not it was the Soviet’s attitude and involvement that were to blame. In February 1945 at the Yalta Conference which involved the “Big Three” displayed the highpoint of an inter-allied cooperation.
Collective security had a better response towards aggression rather than appeasement. This is because a lot more European countries didn’t approve of the decision made during the Munich Conference. Winston Churchill was one person who strong didn’t approve with this decision. He was a British politician who thought, “keeping peace depends on holding back the aggressor” (Document 6). Churchill believed that in order to guarantee the security of Czechoslovakia, Europe should have held Germany back and Britain and France should have worked together as an alliance.
Containment- Containment was a policy created by Harry Truman during the beginning of the Cold War, it was made to stop the spread of communism. This policy was set forth after the Soviet Union made an attempt to spread communism in Eastern Europe, China, Korea, Africa, and Vietnam. Truman made a speech, known as the Truman Doctrine, which was a US policy to stop the Soviet Union from spreading. Truman pledged to contain communism in Europe and elsewhere and that US would support any nation with both military and economic aid, in prevention of their stability being challenged by the spread of communism. Containment led to the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
In 1947, Stalin established Conform. This was a plan to organize activities of Communist parties in Europe to control capitalist ideas and spread communism hence, strengthen the Soviet’s power. Then two years later, another one of Stalin’s foreign policy, Comecon was set up to coordinate the economy of Eastern Europe. Although these methods were seen by the West, Stalin’s action to secure the Soviet Union’s power, these actions were self-defensive policies against US’s policies, the Truman Doctrine and the
Détente was a permanent relaxation in international affairs during the Cold War rather than just a temporary relaxation. It is evident to say that little substantive evidence to support this view or argue that it was simply a means to an end for the Soviet Union to establish greater influence. However, the Soviet Union was aggressively expansionist and that such an approach was consistent with any form of Détente. Detente was cause by needs of the USSR – 'peaceful coexistence'. In order to improve economic conditions, provide access to western technology and supplies and recognition from the West for the sphere of influence.
This means that the US would have to support South Korea against the Communist North Koreans. Another document which had a significant effect on the US’s desire to contain Communism was NSC-68. The fundamental aim of NSC-68 was to contain the Soviet threat by increasing the defence expenditure and rolling back the Soviet drive for world domination. The recommendations of the report rejected isolation and appeasement on the grounds that it would encourage Soviet aggression. NSC-68 provided the doctrinal justification for US intervention in Korea.
West versus East 1. Truman cut off aid to Russia because of Stalin's insistence on having communist governments in eastern Europe. 2. By 1947, many Americans believed that Stalin was trying to export communist revolution throughout Europe and the world. 3.
Two years after the destruction of the Berlin Wall, the Soviet Union buckled. The Communist party was broken because the Russian Republic hindered to eject Gorbachev from office. In December 1991, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) included Russian Republics. “The Russian Republic assumed leadership of the CIS, but the Soviet Union was no more.” The Cold War was a long drawn out battle between Democracy and Communism. The United States believed that a country should have the ability to choose its government; not be feared of it.
When increased bombings and military presence failed in Cambodia, Nixon found that peace talks were a way out of the conflict. The Soviet Union and communism were still a huge concern. Nixon and Secretary of State Kissinger, needed to remove the threat of nuclear weapons from the Soviet’s capability. Nixon as well as Kissinger managed to negotiate decreased tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. Both nations agreed not to make any new nuclear ballistic missile system technology by signing The Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (Nation of Nations 2005).