Transcript The Thaw of the Cold War

The Thaw of the
Cold War
Jack and Caroline
Objectives
1. Be familiar with the causes and impacts (Political,
social, economic) of ‘the thaw’, following 1953
2. Impact on satellite conflicts and the third world
3. Individual influence on ‘the thaw’ (eg. Eisenhower,
Stalin, Khrushchev)
4. Awareness of the causes for escalation and the
end of ‘the thaw’
5. Awareness of negotiation (eg. Geneva Summit,
1955)
Individuals
• Eisenhower
• became President of the United States, 1953
• Strong military background, he commanded Allied
armies in Normandy and served as a Chief of Staff and
Commander in Chief of NATO
• Anti-Communist, but saw value of negotiation
• Churchill
• He wanted to stop the threatening confrontation with
Soviet Russia and wanted to negotiate a settlement to
the Cold War
• After Stalin’s death, wanted to arrange a summit
meeting
Individuals (Cont.)
• Khrushchev
• Became leader of the Soviet Union, following
Malenkov (Who succeeded Stalin)
• Adopted policy of ‘Peaceful co-existence’
modeled after Malenkov’s policies.
• Wanted to find a solution to Germany
• Felt that capitalism would collapse on its own,
without hostile efforts on the part of the USSR, moves
away from Leninist doctrine
Policies
• Roll Back: [Western] Proposed liberation of countries
currently held by the Soviets, however, this never
happened
• Policy of Containment: [Western] “New Look” which
prevented the extension of Soviet Communism
through the establishment of alliances surrounding
communist states, and the encouragement/support
of forces combating communist influence
• Brinkmanship: [West and USSR] Threatening nuclear
war to intimidate the other to back down, born
from nuclear deterrence
Improved Relations
• 1954, Korean War ends
• 1/3 of USSR GNP spent on military, 12% of US GNP
spent on military: Both countries see negotiations as
means to alleviate economic pressure
• 1955-1959, summits held between the Western
powers (Primarily Britain and the US) and the USSR
Austria and Geneva
• April 1955, cooperation results in Austrian State
Treaty ending 4 power occupation of Austria,
created independent neutral state.
• July 1955, Geneva Summit, first meeting of major
powers since 1945. Little accomplished.
• Soviet's propose disbandment of NATO and Warsaw
Pact, withdrawal of foreign troops, German
reelections
• US proposes Open Skies, transparency in regards to
military
• Both denied. Still led to better relations in trade,
exchanges in science, culture. Spirit of Geneva
End of the ‘Thaw’
• Feb. 1956, Khrushchev gives de-Stalinization speech,
creates conflict in Eastern bloc
• West involved in Suez Crisis
• Spirit of Geneva dissipates
• Fear of Soviet power in Middle East, Eisenhower
Doctrine in Jan. 1957- US agrees to assist Middle East
countries fighting Communism
End of the ‘Thaw’ (Cont.)
• Tech race. Soviet's launch Sputnik on Oct. 4 1957
• Congress and Gaither Report promote "missile gap"
idea, and recommend increased in missile
development for defense, conventional military
growth, mass construction of fallout shelters
• U-2 flights disproved missile gap, but not associated
anxiety
• to combat public unrest, Eisenhower establishes
NASA, promotes science funding in schools
End of the ‘Thaw’ (Cont.)
• 1958, US confidence in nuclear superiority led
Eisenhower to ban atmospheric testing in October,
followed by USSR. Test ban treaty expected, does
not occur.
• Khrushchev issues ultimatum to west to leave Berlin
in 6 months. Khrushchev forced to back down
• 1959, 2nd Berlin crisis subsides, another summit
planned
• Sept. 1959 Khrushchev visits U.S., May 1960, agrees
to meeting in Paris
• Little concrete results, improved relations
• Spirit of Camp David
End of the ‘Thaw’ (Cont.)
• May 1, 1960, U-2 pilot captured before Paris
meeting
• Eisenhower takes responsibility, but claims recon
flights a necessity
• Khrushchev cancels Eisenhower's visit to USSR, no
progress on test-ban or Berlin settlement
• 1962, "thaw" has ended with beginning of conflict in
Cuba.
Exam tips
• Be familiar trends that led to peace and those that
caused the collapse of negotiations. Both of these
characteristics of the time period were defined to
be prevailing attitudes that can be attributed to
concrete events in politics, individuals and conflicts.
• Look at psychological impact of negotiations, whilst
being aware of the limitations of their concrete
results
• All parties involved wanted a peaceful solution.
Consider the elements that interfered with this:
competition in spheres of influence, technological
development, failure of fallible policy. Consider that
these policies may have made conflict inevitable.