Download Soviet Foreign Policy Prongs

Foreign Policy
From Hot War to Cold War (1944-1950)
Thus Far…
Chittick created a framework with which we can analyze and better understand foreign policies.
M/M:
– Multilateral/Unilateral
C/C:
– Coercive/Non-Coercive
A/A:
– Active/Reactive
Today…
Today we will examine the history of the United States immediately after the Second World War
– How did events and reigning theories of government shape our foreign policy?
– How did the president influence the foreign policy followed?
– What factors are important in determining foreign policy?
The Setting
Europe lay in ruin
– Including European Russia
The Japanese Empire, likewise
China was experiencing a civil war
The United States was the only major power
– It was to be the new American century
– No one could challenge us
– What should we do?
The Soviet Union
Millions of Soviets died defending their homeland from German incursion
– Luckily, even with its military and population devastated, it was still the only power on the European
landmass
The Red Army liberated eastern Europe from German control
– The newly-freed eastern European states owed a debt of thanks to the Soviets
– The Soviets felt that this debt could be repaid by being buffer states for protection
Eastern Europe
Direct Control (annexation)
– Estonia
– Latvia
– Lithuania
Indirect Control (satellite)
– Czechoslovakia
– Hungary
– Romania
– Poland
– Bulgaria
– Yugoslavia
– Albania
Indirect Control (political)
– Finland
Hoped-for Control (failed)
– Greece
– Turkey
Quadripartite Control
– Germany
• DDR formed in 1949
– response to economic changes in western zones
– Austria
• Seen as invaded by Germany
• Declared itself neutral 1955
The Iron Curtain Speech
“From Stettin on the Baltic to Trieste on the Adriatic, an Iron Curtain has descended across the continent”
– Westminster College (Missouri) Commencement
Why would the Soviet Union want these states to be steady allies?
Were we in their place, would we have attempted something similar?
Personalities
Stalin did not trust Roosevelt
– Felt he was a tool of Wall Street
– As such, Stalin felt Roosevelt would implement foreign policy designed to help US businesses
– Accurate?
Roosevelt was typical American idealist
– Truman less so
– Churchill decidedly not
• But, tossed from power shortly after the war (27 July 1945)
The Soviet Underbelly
Soviet Union also hemmed in along the south
Russia had sought a free warm-water port for centuries
– The ports along the north were useless in winter
– The eastern ports held little value because of ice and distance from Europe
– The Black Sea was insecure
– The Baltic Sea was a help, but was still insecure (Britain, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, West Germany,
Denmark controlled it)
The Underbelly in Greece
During WWII, most of the fighting in Greece was between the communists and anti-communists
The Soviets were unable to make significant inroads in Greece
– Marshall Plan helped
– Truman Doctrine helped
– Direct CIA support helped
The Underbelly in Turkey
The Black Sea
– The ports on the Black Sea are warm water ports
• Odessa
• Sevastopol
• Stalingrad (Volgograd)
But, these Black Sea ports could be eliminated if Turkey allowed the Bosporus and/or Dardanelles to be closed
– Russia and Turkey never allies because of these waterways
Soviet Union tried to gain control in Turkey and failed
The Underbelly in Iran
Warm Water Ports on the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean!
– Very warm water
During the war
– Soviets annexed parts of northern Iran
After the war
– They attempted to turn the democratically-elected government of Mossadegh into a Soviet client government
– CIA-backed coup strengthened the Shah, who removed Mossadegh
Foreign Policy Strategy
None
Well, none until US minds sat down and looked at Soviet actions as a whole, and in relation to its history
Once that was done, it became obvious to the geopolitical strategists what they were doing and why
Containment became our response
Containment
Containment was the primary strategy throughout the Cold War
– It did have its ups and downs, however
If we keep the Soviets where they are, then they will die out
– A policy of firmness and patience
Kennan’s Long Telegram
– Laid out the Soviet Union’s two policy foundations
Soviet Foreign Policy Prongs
Realist
– Geopolitics
– Immediate wins in the world
– Increase allies = increase strength
– Act to speed along the coming communist revolution by showing the failures of capitalism
Idealist
– Marxism taught that capitalism will eventually because of the many contradictions within capitalism
– Thus, success (eventual) was guaranteed
Assignment
Read:
– Chapter 3 (Hook)
– Pages 133 – 143 (Chittick)
Monday’s Topic:
– The Hopes and Failures of Containment