Nature of the Cold War DO NOW: TURN IN POLITICAL CARTOON ASSIGNMENT

KAHOOT REVIEW

Arms Race – decision by US to drop atomic bombs triggered the arms race

Both sides gained possession of A- Bomb by 1949 USA developed H – Bomb in 1952, USSR 1953 1957 USSR launched Sputnik (first satellite) &

developed long range inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) – ’58 US

‘58 US claimed there was a missile gap and must rapidly buildup its stock of ICBMs

Eisenhower & Kennedy knew this to be untrue USA’s U-2 spy planes revealed real level of Soviet

nuclear weaponry

Arms Race cont.

1960 – US announced possession of submarine-launched ballistic missiles SLBMs …1968 the Soviets

Soviets not able to keep to as many nuclear submarines at sea because it lacked naval bases around the world

Anti-ballistic missile system (ABM) – ’68 the Soviets created system with US following suit in ‘ 72

Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry (MIRVs) – missiles with multiple warheads, each being able to be directed to a different target – ’72 US & ‘75 Soviets

Arms Race Cont. 1963 – A hotline was set up to facilitate

direct communication between the Kremlin and President

1980s US spurred on nuclear arms developing the stealth bomber, neutron bomb, and ‘first strike’ missiles

Soviet economy would not be able to withstand the costs of trying to match new nuclear technology

Space Race Mainly linked to military developments

(rockets & nuclear warheads) Scientific rivalry – each side was

determined to show that its social and economic system was superior

1957 – sputnik 1961 – Yuri Gagarin orbits the Earth 1969 – US lands on the moon

What is the United Nations?

- an international organization designed to make the enforcement of international law, security, human rights, economic and social progress easier for countries around the world

- 192 member countries- headquarters in New York City

United Nations Had been agreed in the Atlantic Charter

Set up to replace the League of Nations

Allies would co-operate with each other to achieve stability, peace, and security

The UN Charter gave permanent seats on its Security Council to US, USSR, Britain, China, & France

Each member of Security Council could veto decisions

In event of veto, matter would be passed to General Assembly

Organization of the UN

- Purposes of the UN:- maintaining international peace and security

- developing friendly international relations among world nations

- solving international problems of any nature (economic, cultural, social, humanitarian…)

Organization of the UN

- principal organs of the UN:- the General Assembly

- the Secretariat

- the Security Council

- the International Court of Justice

- the Economic and Social Council

- the Trusteeship Council

The General Assembly

- main function: assessing member countries and deciding on the budget

- the only organ where every member state is represented

- consists of committees- convenes annually in September,

special sessions can also be held

The Security Council

- UN’s most powerful organ

- deals with threats to international peace and security

- has 15 members, 5 of which are permanent: the USA, China, Russia, Britain and France

- permanent members have veto power when the Council decides on important issues

The Secretariat

- includes the Secretary General and the Secretariat staff

- primarily has an administrative function

- the Secretary General holds office for five years per term

The ICJ- the principal judicial organ of the UN

- based in the Hague, Netherlands

- consists of 15 judges elected by the General Assembly and Security Council

- applies international law

- not bound by precedents

- no appeals can be made by parties to its judgment

Realpolitik

Refers to politics and foreign diplomacy based on realities, strategic, or material needs

Rather on principles, ideology or morals

Tends to be goal oriented

Example ~ Richard Nixon in the 1970s working with the People’s Republic of China (communist country) going against the US policy of containment

The Riga Axioms (1920 – 1933)

Name given to views and policies of the US diplomatic experts

For a full generation American gov’t and diplomats over seas (1920s – 1930s) believed that Russia was committed to Marxist – Leninist ideology

In short a revolutionary state committed to unrelenting ideological warfare in its drive for world mastery

Believed that the west could never coexist with any success

Who is to blame for the Cold War?

Orthodox View Cold War resulted

from Soviet ideology based on Marxism – Leninism

Soviet Union was an expansionist state with ambitions of reaching beyond E. Europe

Revisionist View

1950s USA was to blame for the Cold War

Historian W.A. Williams argued 1945 Soviet Union was to weak in economic and human terms to pose any global expansionist threat

Stalin had concentrated on internal political and economic policies

Who is to blame for the Cold War?

Post – Revisionist View Avoid blame on

just one superpower

Developed through misunderstanding – FDR to Truman leadership change

Role of Individuals Stalin Truman