05 02

Political Science 124International Relations: 

Political Science 124 International Relations Week 5, Wednesday The Cold War

Was the Cold War really something different?: 

Was the Cold War really something different? Realist IR theory and the logic of the security dilemma international politics, in general, is a kind of cold war What was different about “the” Cold War?

An era of revolution: 

An era of revolution Communist ideology: revolution should be worldwide, not confined to Russia Post-1945 independence movements and civil wars were, in effect, revolutions The post-W.W.2 period was one of persistent revolution around the globe

Drawing “lessons” from wars: 

Drawing “lessons” from wars World War 1 unforeseen consequences and unintended slide into war danger of nationalism combined with tyranny & empire failure of the peace settlement & reasons for its failure etc. World War 2 danger of appeasement hazards of disengagement by a major power (the US) power of totalitarian ideology + modern industry etc.

Are there “lessons” of the Cold War?: 

Are there “lessons” of the Cold War? Many ambiguous or contradictory lessons Korean war vs. Vietnam war Brinksmanship & constant danger of war between the superpowers, but in the end, no war Nuclear weapons: more crises, less escalation Bipolarity lent “stability” (absence of war) to the system, but in many countries the Cold War was not “cold” or “stable” at all

Still, some clear patterns: 

Still, some clear patterns What the Balkans were to WW1, the entire world was to the Cold War superpowers felt the need to intervene in nearly every local conflict With few exceptions, intervention had very limited success Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, even China

Patterns, continued: 

Patterns, continued Cold War conflict held back political & economic development in many areas But, this is controversial: was the problem Cold War conflict, or just communism? Cold War competition had pernicious effects on democracy in the US and elsewhere ceding of more and more power to the President abuses of power (CIA-sponsored coups d’état, Iran-contra affair) “democratic intervention” (e.g., the CIA helping fund the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party)

A simple chronology of the Cold War: 

A simple chronology of the Cold War Period of persistent crisis (ca. 1945-1962) Relaxation of tensions; détente (ca.1963-79) Acceleration of arms race; renewed tensions (1980-89)

Persistent crisis, 1945-1962: 

Persistent crisis, 1945-1962 Events: Berlin blockade, 1948-49 USSR develops nuclear capability, 1949 Chinese communist revolution, 1949 Korean War, 1950-53 Sino-Soviet split, 1957 Building of Berlin Wall, 1961 Cuban missile crisis, 1962 Issues/policies division of territory; containment (“capitalist encirclement”) technological-military competition

Relaxation of tensions, mid-1960s to 1979: 

Relaxation of tensions, mid-1960s to 1979 Events: Vietnam war, early 1960s-1975 African independence struggles, civil wars (1960s-70s) Middle East conflicts (1967, 1973) Arms control talks (throughout 1970s) Iranian revolution (1979; important in part because it had little to do with the Cold War) Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979) Issues/policies Routinized intervention/manipulation of politics in 3rd world countries Core issues settled (Europe; nuclear parity; Soviet power transition); détente; MAD

Acceleration of arms race; renewed tensions (1980-1989): 

Acceleration of arms race; renewed tensions (1980-1989) Events US support for anti-Soviet Afghan armies (1980s) US mining of Nicaraguan harbors (1983) Deployment of “theater” nuclear weapons in Europe (mid-1980s); departure from MAD doctrine Opening of China (1979 onward) Polish Solidarity movement (1981 onward) Gorbachev (1985); fall of the Berlin Wall, 1989 Issues/policies Further integration of West; isolation of USSR Rapid technological change in West; stagnation in USSR Growing appeal of democracy & capitalism in 3rd world