Security need
-Russian History of Invasion
- The West did not put much care on Russian history of invasion as they see that as a normal thing during the war.
- USSR feared foreign invasion as they have been invaded a lot of time.
- This made them adopt protective foreign policy.
- Most of the recent invasion comes from West of Russia, therefore USSR fear of invasion from The West.
- As they fear of invasion from the west, they sometimes being aggressive towards the west.
-German Question & Reparations
- The Allies wanted strong Germany to restore Western European economy and contain communism.
- Stalin feared of German revival.
- Demanded huge reparations for tremendous damage done.
-Polish question & Buffer Zone
- The Allies seen it as expansionism of communist empire, failed to understand USSR's need for security.
- It is a matter of life and death for Stalin to have The Balkans and Eastern Europe as buffer zone.
-Atomic Factor
- The weapon is believed to end the war faster.
- It closed the need of Soviet intervention in Pacific.
- Lessened the need for Red Army to help control Germany and thus made The US less willing to acquiesce in A Soviet Sphere of influence.
- Stiffened Soviet's determination to control Eastern Europe to build air defense.
- US atomic monopoly made the Soviets less willing to compromise on key issues lest they appear intimidated, and thus invite further pressure.
- US possession of atomic weapon increased Soviet's determination to develop its own atomic arsenal.
Policy makers
-Kennan Long telegram
- Believes that Soviet leaders worked on fixed assumption that they were surrounded by capitalist enemies and the security of the Soviet could only be achieved by total destruction of their rival.
-Iron Curtain Speech
- Called for an American-British alliance to prevent Soviet expansion.
- Enough information was leaked for Time magazine to publish a full page article including a map that showed Iran, Turkey and Manchuria 'infected' and Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Afghanistan and India 'exposed'.
- Stalin attacked Churchill and USA, comparing them as Hitler in that they held to a 'racial theory' that the English-speaking people should rule the rest of the world.
- Stalin imposed subservient governments on Poland, Romania and Bulgaria.
- Cared out exclusive sphere of influence in East Germany.
- Refused to remove troops from Iran
- Pressed Turkey aggressively for concessions.
- However, allowed relatively free election in Hungary and Czechoslovakia.
- Cooperated in the formation of representative governments in Finland ans Austria.
- Restrain communist parties in Italy, France and in Western Europe.
- Engage in negotiations with the Western in the Council of Europe.
-Truman Doctrine
- Formal abandonment of US Policy of avoiding entanglements in European politics.
- $300 million for Greece and $100 million for Turkey.
- First clear step towards containing communist expansion.
-Marshall Plan
- Seen as a way to solve Western Europe's economic problem.
- A large prosperous market is needed to contain communism.
- It would also build a political structure into which West Germany, or perhaps Germany, could be integrated and contained.
- Molotov together with his eight-nine economic adviser rejected Marshall Plan as it would require a joint European programme, rather than each individual state sending in separate list of request.
- Stalin feared that a joint programme would enable the US economic power to undermine Soviet's influence in Eastern Europe.
- Orchestrated strikes in Italy and France to disrupt Marshall Plan.
- Countered with Molotov's Plan which eventually evolved into establishment of COMECON.
- Establishment of Coninform (information bureau).
- Created division of Europe.
-Berlin Blockade
- 2000 tons of supply airlifted everyday for 11 months.
- Lead to the formation of NATO.
- (Failure in unification of Germany under pro-Soviet government led to lost of industrial area of Ruhr.
- Unification of West Germany and introduction of Deutschmark provoked Stalin.
- 86% victory of democratic member on Berlin city council election.)
- Perhaps executed to squeeze the western power out of Berlin
- Perhaps executed to consolidate Soviet zone
- Perhaps he wanted to force a negotiation on a complete Germany on his favour.
-Formation of NATO (military alliance)Integration of Europe.
- European states recovered their nerve against a possible Soviet attack.
- USA, Canada and 10 European state joined.
- Formation of West Germany.
- Countered with Warsaw Pact (military command based in Moscow) between USSR and 7 other communist state (including East Germany) for collective defense.
- Undertook to consult together on all international questions involving their common interests.
Security/Mistrust
-Allied Intervention
- The Allies intervene in Russian Civil War to protect their interest.
- The Allies see that intervention is necessary to keep Russia joining the Allies to fight Germany in WWI.
- The Allies developed deeply negative views and attitude towards Bolsheviks.
- The Allies treated communism as enemy.
- Lenin and Stalin convinced that western countries will do anything to destroy communism whenever they have the chance.
Mistrust
-Munich Agreement
- The Allies view that USSR did not want peace as USSR was willing to confront Germany to save Czechoslovakia. Soviet's proposal was rejected, they also not invited.
- Stalin believed that the West did it on purpose so USSR and Germany will crush each other.
- Stalin lose faith with The West to stop Hitler.
-Nazi – Soviet Pact
- The West distrusted Stalin as he aligned himself with Hitler.
- Stalin view The West did not understand that Stalin agreed to the agreement just to buy time.
-Hitler's Betrayal
- Stalin could no longer trust anyone even when an alliance was in place.
-Second Front Controversy
- The delay in launching the second front fueled Soviet suspicions about Anglo-American motives.
-Katyn Massacre
- The massacre strained relation as The West view that USSR do it to gain full control of Poland.
-Polish Uprising
- The Soviets handling of the Warsaw uprising convinced many western observers that Soviet callousness had few limits.
-Percentage Agreement
- Churchill made an agreement with Stalin on division of Europe before consulting Roosevelt.
- Roosevelt indicated that the agreement was not valid.
- Stalin believed that his desired sphere on influence have tacit Western Approval.
-Stopping Land-Lease Aid
- In February 1946, United States refused Soviet's request for loans as America could no longer afford to do so.
- The soviets interpreted those acts as economic leverage for hostility.
-USSR's policy towards Eastern European country
- The West see this as a violation of Yalta conference.
- They could no longer trust Stalin.
- Stalin was aware that free elections would probably result in the rejection of communism.
- Poles will never elect a pro-Soviet government resulting from bitter memories of tragedies such as Katyn Massacre and Polish Uprising.
- Stalin decided to impose one forcibly.
Ideology
-Irreconcilable political differences
- US wanted to protect economic and political freedom.
- Promote capitalism and Trade. (IMF, World Bank, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
- Protecting Democracy and Freedom in Western Europe. (Marshall Plan)
- The want to export communism.
- Establishment of Comitern (1920s-1940s).
- Soviet's Policy in Eastern Europe (Polish question, supports for pro communist political party).
No comments:
Post a Comment