Readings Flashcards
Reading for the power struggle between the president and congress
‘changes in the making of foreign policy’
By Hamilton and Tama
Reading for the Reagan administration’s approach to the SU
Toeing the Hardline
Fischer
Reading that discusses why the SU is like it is
The Sources of Soviet Conduct
Kennan
Reading that explores JFK’s approach to the missile crisis
The Making of the Cuban Missile Crisis
Stern
Reading that discusses the consequences of the US alliance with Russia during WW2
Containment: Before Kennan Gaddis
Reading that discusses what will happen when the US hegemony ends
Beyond Hegemony
Starobin
Reading that discusses the internal factors that lead to the collapse of the SU
Behind a revolution
Aron
Changes in the Making of Foreign Policy
Since the 1960s, the general trend has been towards greater congressional assertiveness.
Throughout American history the president has tended to wield the greatest power in foreign policy during times of national crisis, war or heightened public interest in foreign affairs
The presidents of the 20th century enjoyed the most control over foreign policy (Wilson, FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Bush)
Congress sends to assert greater authority when the US is at peace and the American people are disengaged from world events (After world war 1, the 1990s)
Toeing the Hardline
Did Regan’s administration take a conciliatory approach to the Soviet Union because of Gorbachev’s reforms?
Stance – The US did not adopt conciliatory policies due to the Soviet Union’s actions, and instead began softening its hardline 2 years before the adopted of Glasnost and Perestroika
The Sources of Soviet Conduct
Argues that the political personality of Soviet Power is twofold; the product of ideology and circumstance.
The Making of the Cuban Missile Crisis
A key lesson from Cuba is that if you are not prepared to risk war, even nuclear war, an adversary can get you to back down. And if you have redlines that if crossed will lead to war, they must be communicated to your enemy and, most importantly, be prepared to back them up if you are to be taken seriously.
The US fails with this in regards to NK
Containment before Kennan
FDR ‘held hands with the devil’ during the war, not only to defeat Germany but to preserve the balance of power.
the need to minimise American casualties, even if it meant swapping them for Russian casualties
FDR saw the potential for the cold war, but he chose to hope that it would not arise and focused on the current war instead.
FDR assumed the USSR would be less hostile once it was less insecure.
Beyond Hegemony
Chaos
Multipolar Alignment
the Chinese Century
World Government.
Behind a Revolution
The soviet model was not defeated on an economic or social level, but on a cultural level.
“Our society, our people, the most educated, the most intellectual, rejected the model on the cultural level because it does not respect the man, oppresses him spiritually and politically”