Major Sources of Discord between the Bolsheviks and European States: 1917 to 1921
There were several major sources that created discord between the Bolsheviks and western states in Europe from 1917 to 1921. Conflicting ideologies that each attacked the very fabric of the other’s respective society led to the notion that capitalism and communism could not coexist. The attempts of both actors to hold control of their own political system and to expand their political ideas internationally led to major conflicts between them. Also, the lack of respect for the upstart Bolshevik government by the west led to misperceptions concerning the actions of the Soviets. Russia’s unsatisfactory involvement in World War I and their abrupt departure from the war which affected the western Allies war effort created much disenchantment between the two sides. The imperial and expansionist nature of both groups of actors led to conflict as the creation of both communist and non-communist blocs began with the independence of Poland as a free state in 1919. By using the Communist party as a vehicle to inject Communism into societies abroad, the Bolsheviks began to make free countries take notice of the threat that the “worker’s party” presented and began to act in strong opposition of Communism. The actions of both sides began a race for an expansion of two different ideologies which created conflict so strong that in due time another World War seemed inevitable. The “Cold War” had begun.
The fundamental difference between Russia and Europe was extremely contrasting views in ideology. The modernization of politics in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s had created similar political movements in both Europe and Russia meant to increase the authority of the masses over their own government. These movements replaced authoritarian regimes with political systems that were created to better the lives of the common people (Harris). Leading states of Europe such as France and Britain began to take the path of “social democracy” in which the working class would be given a voice through parliamentary elections (Harris). Also by organizing the proletariat through trade unions, social democracy allowed for collective bargaining to lead to improvements in working conditions, pay, benefits, and other factors that helped to limit the exploitation of lower class labor (Harris). On the other hand, the Bolshevik model for serving in the best interests of the common people was not to raise the level of the proletariat by giving them more rights and a stronger political voice, but to bring down the upper class that was exploiting them by destroying the caste system altogether.
The terms hawks and doves' were quick labels attached to politicians in order to categorize their views on war and foreign policies, as to make them understandable and accessible for the public. However, these labels were not always accurate and in some cases could be quite misleading; it would have been more accurate not to label individuals as either Hawks or Doves, but instead, what they stood for.
COLD WAR During 1945 and early in 1946, the Soviet Union cut off nearly all contacts between the West and the occupied territories of Eastern Europe. In March 1946, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill warned that "an iron curtain has descended across the Continent" of Europe. He made popular the phrase Iron Curtain to refer to Soviet barriers against the West (Kennedy 1034). Behind these barriers, the U.S.S.R. steadily expanded its power.
QUESTION 2: The Cold War is an international conflict, a global fight between the United States and the Soviet Union that began in Europe in the wake of World War II but quickly expanded into Asia and the Third World. These international events, however, undoubtedly influenced domestic American politics between 1945 and 1965. How did the international Cold War shape, influence, or change domestic American politics in the first twenty years of the conflict?
...se to power and implemented War Communism. Communism on its own is a salacious subject. It is the manner in which he won victory in comparison to Tsar Nicholas II who was repeatedly defeated and yet with both rulers the people of Russia still suffered, this is what drew my attention. However Lenin is humble enough to realise the problem and corrects it with the New Economic Policy, this shows good leadership indeed. I chose this topic to explore the thoughts that possibly went through Lenin’s mind, why there was a need to adjust from War Communism to the New Economic Policy and whether this change beneficial to Russia. I aim to show the conditions of Russia during both policies, and highlight what the people and the government wanted in comparison to what was needed. I shall also discuss why War Communism failed and why the New Economic Policy was more successful.
Upon hearing the mention of “The Cold War” most people begin to imagine and think of a time focused on political and military tensions between two main powers, the United States of the Western world and The Soviet Union of the Communist world. The context of the Cold War has traditionally been seen this way, as a nontraditional war without any engagement of battle, as a nuclear arms race between to profoundly different political and economic ideologies. Though being accurate this view of the Cold War is not complete. The Cold War was not just a nonviolent war between the United States and the Soviet Union but one affecting the entire planet in different fashions and on multiple plains. It is for these reasons that while events during the 1980’s-1990’s seemingly led to the conventional end of conflict, they ironically only facilitated the existence and continuance of the Cold War even until today.
As the tsarist regime fell, Lenin and the Bolshevik Party entered Russia. They operated on a Marxist platform and operated quickly to “develop Russia in such a way as to spread social revolution throughout Europe and eventually the world.” Though their opponents were also Marxist the Bolsheviks were the most militant, least tolerant and most revolutionary. After toppling the remaining dictatorial powers during the October Revolution the Bolsheviks created multiple Soviets and disclosed all the secrets of the tsars, including the treatises that had been made with other countries. All of this was done in an effort to expose the corruption of the capitalist countries and the old regime. What the party did not count on, however, was how their actions would impact the rest of Europe and how other nations would respond.
Since the British Empire conquered North America, Canada has been a tightly connected colony of Britain. Canada has always under British rule and their cultures and national identity copied each other. However, after the Second Cold War Canada became culturally different in comparison to Britain and was lacking their own individual national identity. Joining NORAD, introducing a new Canadian flag, and fact that Canada’s Constitution was patriated helped ameliorate an identity for Canada. These advances of becoming an autonomous country after the Second World War helped Canada where it is today.
After World War II America and Russia became superpowers. Even thought they fought together against the Nazis they soon became hostile rivals. Between 1945 and
The Cold War was an argument between the Soviet Union and the United States of America after WWII. During WWII the USA and the Soviet Union were allies fighting a common cause; Adolph Hitler who was attempting to overthrow the surrounding countries. Although the USA and the Soviet Union were allies, the relationship between the two countries was very tense (What Was). Neither country trusted the other.
With the shock of two destructive world wars and then the creation of the United Nations, whose aim is to preserve peace, it is unconceivable for these two nations to fight directly in order to promote their own ideology. But the US and the USSR end up to be in competition in numerous ways, particularly in technological and industrial fields. In the same time they start to spread their influence over their former allies. This phenomenon have led to the creation of a bipolar world, divided in two powerful blocs surrounded by buffer zones, and to the beginning of what we call the Cold War because of the absence of direct conflicts between the two nations.
With people promised equality and better living conditions, Marxism and communism became popular throughout the Soviet Union during 1900s. Communism, a type of government, controls many aspects of a community with a single party. The concepts of Karl Marx’s beliefs helped Communism grow in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or the USSR. The movement began after World War I, because of the brutality of the war lead many Soviets to demand change. After another brutal l world war, the communist movement continued to grow rapidly because of its promises of fairness and improved circumstances for all.
The Cold War was a period of time where the United States and the United States were at great tension with one another. America had been opposed to Joseph Stalin’s communist rule of the country. This in turn was the reason that the Soviet Union was against America. The way that America dealt with the USSR was to treat them as if they were not a part of international politics. This engrained affinity for mutual distrust between the two nations and a palpable tension between emerging superpowers.
With the fall of Nazi Germany in 1945 only two ideologies remained to duke it out on the world stage. History since this date would be largely dictated by the actions of the communist Soviet Union and the liberal-democratic United States, and the Cold War would be remembered largely as the result of two contrasting and powerful ideological empires edging one another out for worldwide dominance. People, when considering the gross scale events of the Cold War, were largely not influential. Whether it be the Cuban Missile Crisis, Korean and Vietnam wars, or simply the flow of daily life in both superpowers, almost every significant event can be tied to the actions of small groups of governmental officials. When considering the defining events of the initiation, the continuation, and the conclusion of the Cold War, all accounts suggest that the Cold War was almost exclusively the result of top-down decision-making.
Provided a definition of Marxism and a brief history of how it was adapted in Stalinist Russia.
The Cold War was a war between the two superpowers, the United States of America and the Soviet Union between 1947 and 1990. The USA was capitalist whereas the USSR was communist. Each superpower favored and supported their ideology while attempting to spread it throughout the world in order to create a sphere of influence. These ideological differences therefore led to a war whereby the superpower either attempted to spread their ideology or contain the opposing ideology by a means of proxy wars, doctrines and policies. This essay will thoroughly argue that it is accurate to state that the Cold War was due to ideological differences. The USA and the USSR each accused the opposing country of expanding their ideology over Europe and other parts of the world. The USA defended capitalism through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the concept of the Iron Curtain, the Marshall Plan and the Domino theory. The USSR, however, supported communism with replies to the USA’s accusations of being expansionist and opportunist and furthermore developed the Warsaw Pact and a series of policies to ensure the spread of communism and limitation of capitalism. There are other factors contributing to the cause of the Cold War, such as Josef Stalin’s dictatorship and suspicious behavior, the USSR’s insecurity of a further attack as with World War II and the USA’s need to keep trade routes available in parts of the world that could not be done if that country was communist. Although these factors are viable, the Cold War was due to ideological differences as these other opinions contain aspects of ideology too. Such as, Stalin’s suspicion was of capitalism and the USA needed trade routes in countries that were not communism. The U...