Truman Doctrine In The Cold War

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The Cold War was a period of conflict for world dominance between the US and USSR which endured from 1947 to 1991. It was a power struggle after WW2 which both sides attempted to dominate their ideology to the world. This conflict divided the world into two camps.. As a capitalist, democratic and liberal nation, the US promoted free elections and the free market. USSR as a communist and totalitarian state promoted to providing security of her borders and political dominance of the socialist party. In the Cold War, there was no military confrontation because there was no fighting took place. Both countries developed their strategy to spread their ideologies. During this conflict, proxy wars happened between third world countries. In addition …show more content…

When the US realized that the UK could no longer fight communist insurgencies in Greece and Turkey, the US President Harry S. Truman declared the Truman Doctrine. In the Truman Doctrine, there was a promise against the spread of communism that the US would not isolate itself and actively take a place in world affairs. Reviewers of the Truman Doctrine have seen that Turkey and Greek governments were far from being liberal and democratic and they were able to be under the influence of USSR. Then, the US declared the $400 million in military and financial assistance for Greece and Turkey in the Truman Doctrine. It showed that the US will be a guiding force against communism in the cold war. According to Leffler, “The media hailed the Truman Doctrine as a historic landmark in American foreign policy”. On the other hand, Truman Doctrine created the principle of “collective security” in other words creation of a network of allies with the US. Therefore, it led to the emergence of the NATO. The network helped the US to increase their relations politically. Through these networks, the US was more able to promote its ideologies. Truman presented the US’ purpose by mentioning Domino Theory. He said that if the US let one country adopt communism, all the countries would follow that country such as a line of dominoes. So, Truman emphasized the US must help them. It shows the US was beginning to take an active role in protecting other countries against outside aggression. Consequently, the US took a protective role and created unity by making them members of NATO against the Soviet by supporting countries such as Greece and Turkey militarily and financially. This showes that the Truman Doctrine helped the US for spreading her influence over many countries and

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