Interpretations - The Cold War

Question 1

what are the interpretations of the Cold War?

Answer 1

1. US Orthodox view
2. Revisionist
3. Post-revisionist
4. Post-cold war

Question 2

when was the US orthodox view around?

Answer 2

late 1940s to early 1960s

Question 3

what is the US orthodox view summarised?

Answer 3

aggressive actions of the USSR were to blame for the Cold War because the USSR wanted to export communism worldwide.

Question 4

what are the key historians of the US orthodox view and what do they believe?

Answer 4

1. Bailey - USSR wanted a world revolution
2. Kennan - Stalin needed an enemy to prove he was needed
3. Feis - USSR wanted to spread communism

Question 5

what factors influenced the US orthodox view?

Answer 5

1. red scare - if you published a pro-soviet view people would think youre communist
2. personal experience - historians were involved in the events
3. lack of sources - US sources are sensitive and USSR sources arent available

Question 6

what historical events back up the US orthodox view?

Answer 6

1. berlin blockade
2. soviet takeover of eastern europe

Question 7

when was the revisionist view around?

Answer 7

1960s

Question 8

what is the revisionist view summarised?

Answer 8

orthodox historians overstated the soviet threat
US provoked the cold war by trying to achieve economic dominance and making the USSR feel threatened

Question 9

what are the key historians of the revisionist view?

Answer 9

1. Joyce and Gabriel Kolko
2. William Appleman Williams

Question 10

what factors influenced the revisionist view?

Answer 10

1. Cuban Revolution
2. Vietnam War

Question 11

what historical events back up the revisionist view?

Answer 11

The Marshall plan - American wanted dominance over Europe

Question 12

when was the post-revisionist view around?

Answer 12

early 1970s

Question 13

what is the post-revisionist view summarised?

Answer 13

lots of the responsibility for the cold war lay with the USSR
US policy was also based on a misunderstanding and an exaggeration of soviet strength. as a result the US overreacted.

Question 14

what is the key historian of the post-revisionist view?

Answer 14

John Lewis Gaddis

Question 15

what factors influenced the post-revisionist view?

Answer 15

1. historical debate - historians wanted to find new interpretations
2. thawing of the cold war

Question 16

when was the post-cold war view around?

Answer 16

1989 onwards

Question 17

what is the post-cold war view summarised?

Answer 17

we cannot be sure who started the cold war. it strengthened existing diversions.

Question 18

what are the key historians of the post-cold war view?

Answer 18

1. John Lewis Gaddis - revised his views more towards orthodox
2. Michael Cox and Caroline Kennedy-Pipe - conclusions closer to revisionist

Question 19

what factors influenced the post-cold war view?

Answer 19

1. new soviet sources
2. ‘Reagan Factor’ - debate started to reflect the polarised politics