The Cold War: Origins, Phases, and End
The Cold War
The Cold War was the struggle for world dominance between the capitalist countries led by the USA & formed mainly by Western Europe, Australia & Japan, & the socialists’ countries led by the USSR & formed mainly by Eastern Europe, China & Cuba. The Cold War was an indirect conflict because a war between the 2 superpowers (the USA & USSR) would have led to MAD.
MAD
Mad It is a military concept which appeared after the development of the thermonuclear fusion weapons or H-bombs & the means to deliver them to any part of the world. It states that any country that attacks the other, even if it manages to completely destroy the opponent, will endure a retaliation so devastating that would mean their own demise. Both the USA & the USSR had the capability of launching thousands of thermonuclear missiles that could not be intercepted, especially the ones from nuclear submarines, which could remain submerged several months & launch missiles from almost any point of the other country’s coasts. The MAD was the main characteristic of the Cold War & the only reason that prevented a direct clash between the USA & the USSR armies.
The Domino Theory
The Domino Theory is the political theory which explains that if a country falls into communism, it would be an instability factor for its region & will make it easier that other countries would fall into communism too. This theory implies that the USA should prevent any country from falling into communism, regardless how insignificant the power of the country would seem. Even if this theory was developed in the USA, the USSR also believed it true, so they will act accordingly to prevent any country from leaving communism.
©The Cold War was not only a territorial conflict but also an ideological 1. The capitalist way of living & the socialist 1 were antithetic, so they could not coexist. After the creation of the USSR only the relative isolation of Russia prevented a generalized armed conflict. During WWII both capitalist & communist countries fought against Germany, which was a common enemy. However, after the defeat of Germany & the division of Europe in 2 sides, the USSR was facing directly the USA & its allies, so the conflict was inevitable & would last until 1 of the 2 systems disappeared.
1st Phase, European blocs definition (1945-49)
In this phase, that will begin just after the end of WWII, both superpowers will try to acquire &, specially, consolidate their power in their respective areas of influence. The USSR, sometimes with coups organized by the local communist parties, turned every government into a communist 1 integrating them into the Warsaw Pact The USSR dominated all countries eastwards of Germany, with the exception of Sweden & Finland, which will be forced into neutrality, & Greece, in which the UK’s forces, along with the local right-wing forces, will physically eliminate the communist party. The USA used its influence to expel the communist parties from any possible government. They also organized the European reconstruction over capitalist parameters, forcing the Western European governments to abandon the state-driven economic policy of the war. Moreover, they supported right-wing dictatorships in key European places, like Spain or Portugal, to prevent the possible spread of communism.
2nd Phase; the struggle for Asia (1950 – 1954)
After the European blocs were consolidated by both superpowers they focused on Asia. There, the Chinese communist party won the Civil War (1945 – 49) after the Japanese retreat. These conflicts will have its continuation in the Korean War (1950-53) & later in the process of decolonization of the French Indochina (Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia)
3rd Phase; The fight for the 3rd world countries 1955-79
The USSR acknowledged that they were by far economically inferior when compared with the capitalist bloc. They also knew that most of the raw materials that the western economies desperately needed, came from 3rd world countries. They will try to take control over these governments with indirect actions & propaganda, with the objective of crippling the western economy. In addition, they developed the peaceful coexistence theory to ease the nuclear tension with the USA, & to show their European neighbors that the USSR was not a threat to their countries. This peaceful façade hid that the USSR was financing most of the European terrorist groups. The USA also tried to control the 3rd world countries.
4th Phase Western reaction & the end of the Cold War 1979 – 91
The western countries led by 3 leaders (Reagan, the president of the USA, Margaret Thatcher, UK’s prime minister, & the pope Jean Paul II) launched an offensive to destroy communism. The most damaging action was the increase in the defense budget to achieve a system to intercept the opponent’s missiles. This would have finished with the MAD allowing the USA to destroy the USSR without consequences. The USSR tried to mimic this expenditure, but their economy could not withstand it. To solve the USSR economic crisis, which was significantly lowering the Soviet standard of living, Gorbachev, the new USSR prime minister launched a series of economical & political reforms (Perestroika). However, these reforms did not have the expected results. In addition, the invasion of Afghanistan broke the USSR’s façade of pacifism & moved the Western European public opinion against them. In 1989, the USSR had to allow the reunification of Germany under a capitalist government & finally, in 1991, after an anti-communist coup, Yeltsin, the new Russian prime minister dissolved the USSR ending the Cold War.