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The Cold War: An Overview of U.S. Foreign Policy. 1. Definition. “non-hostile belligerency” Ideology or geopolitics?. Characteristics. A Global (and Cosmic) Struggle Two Scorpions The Nuclear Dimension Two porcupines A Zero-Sum game Two Theologies. Beginnings.
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1. Definition • “non-hostile belligerency” • Ideology or geopolitics?
Characteristics • A Global (and Cosmic) Struggle • Two Scorpions • The Nuclear Dimension • Two porcupines • A Zero-Sum game • Two Theologies
Beginnings • World War II: Allies and Rivals? • New U.S. conceptions of national security
Periods of the Cold War • 1. 1947-63 “Classic Cold War” • Actually three phases: • 1947-53 • 1953-58 • 1958-63
U.S. Foreign Policy in the Cold War Over-arching themes: U.S. rejection of isolationism Key paradigms: “Munich”, “Pearl Harbor”, “Versailles” Perception of threat from USSR-led Communism Fear of ideological and cultural penetration Zero-sum games and Falling Dominoes Containment
Origins and Evolution of Containment • Economic • Military • NSC-68 • Korean War • Subversion and Covert Activity
Eisenhower’s “New Look” • “Rollback” • Massive Retaliation and Asymmetric Response • Brinkmanship • Covert activity • Support for status quo in Asia, Middle East and the Americas
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to secure the survival and success of liberty…”
Kennedy and the rhetoric of victory • Flexible Response • Calibration and gradual escalation • Arms build-up and Alliance for Progress
Cuban Missile Crisis and the fear of loss of control • Hotline and the beginnings of Détente • The problem of Vietnam: honor our commitments or the world goes up in smoke
Détente and the Prague Spring • The United States and Israel • The Race to the Moon • Nixon and Détente
Linkage and Rapprochement • The Quagmire of Vietnam • Dissent on the Streets, Revisionism in Academia • Chile
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks • The Over-selling of Détente • Helsinki 1975
Carter and Human Rights • North-South versus East-West • Committee on Clear and Present Danger • Afghanistan and the Demise of Détente • Iran and the Demise of Carter
The New Cold War • Negotiating from Strength • The “Evil Empire” • A Policy of Squeeze?
The beginnings of a new détente • SDI • Iran-Contra • Mikhail Gorbachev • Renewal of Summit Diplomacy
Malta Conference and the End of the Cold War • What was it all about? • Central themes in U.S. conduct of the Cold War