The Cold war

By Dr. Garima Singh

 Meaning of the cold war
• War like situation between the two power
bloc – USA and USSR- but not a war.
• It was a diplomatic war – not an armed
conflict.
• Louise Halle- cold war was a situation of high
tension between two east while allies. .
• Ideological tensions – between American
bloc and soviet bloc.
• Ideological weapons against each other –
propoganda, espionage, military alliances,
regional organisations etc.
 Reasons for the start of cold war
• Emergence of USA as a nuclear power 1945–
situation of distrust.
• Defeat of Germany created a vacum
• Ideological factors responsible – liberal
democracy based on capitalism and socialism
based on Marxism – dissatisfactions of history
(Bolshevik revolution) – USA did not
recognised USSR till 1933.
• USA and USSR had buried their differences only
because of the threat of Germany and Japan
for IIWW. – east west cooperation temporary
 Conti…
• Mutual suspicion – history, USSR fought Germany on eastern
Front alone , the western alliances wanted to fight the Italian
side first and then open second front .
• Different motivations for Germany – Divided the country into 4
zones – USSR – to disarm, demilitarize Germany, reparation
fee, USA – find market in Germany
• Iran – both countries wanted to expand for oil. The soviet
union encouraged local independent movt and USA supported
Shah of Iran.(soviet quit Iran 1946)
• Iron curtain – soviet bought Poland, Hungary , Romania and
Bulgaria under their suzerainty.
• Churchill fulton speech – “soviet union has erected an iron
curtain. Dividing east and west.
• Poland, Eastern Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary,
Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania and the Soviet Union–
countries which came under soviet Union influence.
• Mutual hostility became a regular feature.
Iron curtain
 First Phase – 1948 - 1953
• Truman Doctrine of March 1947 – Containing
communism – USA assistance to Greece and
turkey. – European nations could rely on USA.
• Marshall Plan – American sec of state –
George Marshall. – economic assistance
from USA – against hunger, poverty, chaos. \
• COMINFORM – binding east european
countries – trade treaties and warning
against marshall plan.
• Berlin Blockade –
• NATO – 1949 – US Military alliance
• Korean War 1950
Korean war (1950-53)
 Second phase : confrontation and
fragmentation (1955- 1963)
• Change in leadership – Khrushchev in USSR and Eisenhower
• Initial policy of peaceful coexistance
• Khrushchev started criticizing Stalin.
• Anti- soviet feelings in the East.
• Uprising in Poland (1956)- conflict in polish communist party –
gomulka fraction won and started reforms in poland –
“national road to socialism”
• Soviet union did not interfere in Poland – endorsed Poland on
condition that they remain in WARSAW and on socialist road
• Hungry uprising (1956) – SU could not remain silent. Imre Nagy
in hungry supported by USA. – demanded even more reforms –
freedom of speech, departure of SU troops – followed by
USSR action by tanks.
• PTBT – USA and USSR signed 1963 (china did not )
 Suez crisis 1956
• Suez crisis (1956) – nationalization of suez canal in Egypt.
• Suez canal under Britain and France for 99 years period since
1869. (profit )
• Egypt king overthrown - Nasser came up in 1952 and became
PM from 1954.
• Nasser required military and economic aid for the country –
couldn't get it from USA or USSR.
• Nasser proposal to Aswan High Dam – even negotiations for
Anglo American assistance collapsed.
• Egypt decided to nationalize Suez Canal – to raise revenue.
• Britain and France hatched conspiracy.
• Britain and France military action against Nasser.
• UN GA – Peacekeeping forces for canal
• Egypt has its way. – Britain France withdraw forces. (blow to
Britain as a great power)
 Berlin Wall 1961
• Berlin city was neither a part of west
Germany nor east Germany .
• Officially under the occupation of four allies.
• West Berlin more prosperous and eastern
Berlin people tempted to move to west –
trouble for USSR.
• Refugees from East to West in huge
numbers
• 1961 – wall constructed to stop people of
east Berlin by USSR.
 CUBA MISSILE CRISIS 1962
• USA freed Cuba from Spain in 1898.
• USA could not ensure an efficient govt.
• USA intervention in Cuba was written in Pratt
ammendment .
• 1934 – policy of good neighbor adopted by America.
• Political unrest and instability followed
• Batista took to power 1952 – permanent dictator –
introduced a reign of terror.
• Rise of Fidel Castro – 1959
• Declared himself a Marxist – 1961
• Assistance from USSR
• DEBACLE OF BAY OF PIGS
• CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
 New problems :1963-1968
• Vietnam war : French occupation on Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia (from 1863- 1940)
• Japan occupation from 1941-1945.
• French tried to resume their imperial power.
• Vietnam was occupied by the British south of 16 parallel and Chinese estb themselves

th
north – both withdraw in 1946 but couldn’t make grounds for reestablishment of French
empire .
• Geneva conference – 1954 – divided Vietnam – south and north-communist growing
influence.
• France granted independence to Vietnam. Elections were to be held – preservation of
communism in North. Ho chi minh govt in north and south by govt of Bao Dai.
• North veitnam has greater population than south and leftist elements in south likely to
vote for Ho Chi Minh. But bao dai refused to participate in voting.
• Bao Dai deposed – to prime minister Ngo Dinh Diem. He ruled south veitnam as his
personal property. Coup against Diem in 1963 took place and killed him
• active communist group came in south vietnam aided by communist North.
• 1962- 65 US aid to South Vietnam – to prevent Communist domination in South Vietnam.
• 1968- 5,40,000 TROOPS IN South Vietnam
• Domino theory
• American domestic opinion against US involvement in war
• End of 1972 – futility realised by US. 1973 Ceasefire estb. 1975 – communist govt
established in vietnam.
• Soviet intervention in czechoslovakia
 Détente and end of the cold war –
1968-1979
• Attempts made by two countries for maintaining the status quo –
PTBT (1963), NPT (1968), SALT (1972) – Since military capacity lost
its prestige.
• West Germany – Ostopolitik led to lessening of tension between SU
and west Germany.
• Helsinki conference – 1975 – symbolic culmination of détente.
• Borders not to be altered by force
• Both superpowers promised to respect the Helsinki final act.
• But soon ended – new cold war – soviet intervention in Afghanistan
1979.
• Share of arms export from USSR increased than US by early 1980’s.
• Afghanistan – changed from monarchy to republic under president
Mohammed Daud 1973 – decided to seek weapons from USSR. –
Which gave way to influence of Soviet Union.
• 90,000 soviet troops in afghanistan – beginning of new cold war.
• Gorbachev rising in USSR. – Policy for reforms
• Mikhail Gorbachev(1985) and Reagan – Met
at summit to decrease the level of arms. –
intermediate and middle level ballistic
missiles.
• Introduction of glasnost (openness) and
perestroika (revolutionary changes in
political system)by Mikhail Gorbachev
• 1989 – fall of the Berlin wall.
• 1991 – disintegration of the SU.