Compare and contrast the roles of Truman and Stalin in the breakdown of East–West relations.
Stalin believed in communism, the system were state controlled production of goods and rejected any kind of private ownership. Communism regime believed that in order to survive there had to be world revolution that would spread the ideology across other countries and lead all people to be equal. However, during the World War II that could be seen as another attempt of spreading the communist ideology, Stalin’s USSR had suffered enormously: 25 million people we killed, 1700 cities were destroyed, 70% of industries collapsed. Stalin knew that he had to end the war, because his USSR was in bad condition and American aid could help the USSR to recover. However, he was also aware of different ideologies between Russia and America. He wanted to protect Russian security and control the Eastern Europe, which would be Russian sphere of influence. He also wanted to prevent Germany recovery as a source of possible disputes and introduce communism to that country. This is why he claimed his right to the East Germany, to introduce communism and single party state in one part, and then to control whole country. During the conference in Yalta he signed ‘The declaration of Liberated Europe’ and promised democratic elections to the Eastern Europe. At the Potsdam in 1945 Western leaders claimed that Stalin did not follow ‘The Declaration of Free Europe’. However, we might say that from communism point of view he did follow the declaration about free elections. According to communism ideology single party states that were controlled by proletariat and restriction of freedom of speech for minority (in this case people who were pro capitalism) were seen as democratic moves that were suppose to guarantee protection to the society in that system.
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Truman was the successor after Roosevelt. He stranded behind capitalist America that believed in ‘Open Door’ policy, private ownership, promotion of peace and international co-operation. During the World War II the US experienced economic boom because of production for Europe’s war needs, there was a possibility that the end of the war could stop economic boom and that would make problems for The US. Thereby, it was important for Truman to keep international co-operation with USSR and other countries to keep the development of America going. However, after some time he had noticed that co-operation with USSR impossible. In 1946 George Kennan from US Embassy in Moscow wrote telegram to the president where he clearly stated that USSR by its movements was a hostile and that led Truman to take to steps against Soviet Union and sovietisation. In September 1947 the US secretary of State, under Truman’s guidance announced that they will support the recovery of Germany that would spread capitalism in Western Germany and prevent to take control over whole Germany by communism. Later, he also introduced The Truman doctrine. This policy adopted to contain the expanding influence of communist. To counter spread of communism, Truman announced the US resolve of providing aid to all free countries resisting communism. Extension of Truman Doctrine was The Marshall Plan, outlined by Secretary of State in 1947. This plan offered assistance by Grants from the US to countries of Europe joining in a program of mutual aid for economic recovery from the effects of World War II.
Historians have different views on who should be blamed for responsibility of the Cold War. The Orthodox’s view believes that Stalin and his ideology is responsible for the breakdown of East-West relations. They argue that Stalin was aggressive in his aims and he tolerated no rivals. By breaking the promise from Yalta, where he promised free elections for governments in the Eastern Europe, but instead he introduced communism there and controlled Eastern Europe. The Revisionist’s view says that American side should be blamed. They argue that America did not realise how weaken The USSR was after the Second World War and the US should just impose its provisions. They also say that Truman doctrine gave them the right to intervene anywhere, but the doctrine was introduced too late to stop the Soviets. There is also Post revolutionist’s view that says that both sides should be blamed. It blames both sides and says that the Cold War was a result of misunderstanding between the leaders and their fears.
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Personally, I do not believe in any of those views. I do not think that Stalin or Truman should be blamed for the breakdown of East-West relations, in fact they never existed. We do not know when exactly Cold War started; some says that it was in started at the Potsdam Conference, others that Americans started that by dropping the atomic bomb and others that Stalin started that by introducing the communism to the Eastern Europe. I think that Cold War was an obvious consequence of the Second World War. USSR had to stop war actions because the country lost to many people and power. They, together with the US, France and the UK defeated the Nazi Germany, which was a treat for communism. However, during the World War II the US became a new superpower and that they by their ideology were a treat to soviet Union, but the USSR could not fight with the US, because the United States were too strong for communism at that time. America did not want to fight with the USSR because they wanted to build international co-operation and general peace. However, building normal co-operation between those two countries was impossible. Firstly, because both of countries had too extreme ideologies.
Communism rejected private ownership and controlled all production of goods and none of communism leaders hided that they wanted to spread communism worldwide and make a world revolution that would lead to that. Capitalism believed that competition of private ownership produce the wealth and free trade between countries would keep the economic growth in America. Secondly, because human nature always cares about its own interest, in this case the leaders of both countries would care about interest of the country they belong to. There is always a possibility to compromise both interests if they are similar, but not when they extremely oppose from each other. The USSR by its ideology and moves (examples: occupation of Eastern Europe, prevention of German recovery) cares about its interests as well as the US (examples: supporting Germany to revival, the Truman doctrine).
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Thereby, the Cold War is a consequence of the World War II that history could not prevent. It had its end when Soviet Union collapsed and the USA could introduce the capitalism to the Eastern Europe.