IB Paper 2 - Topic 12: Cold War - Rivalry, mistrust and accord
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You are pretty much guaranteed a question on this topic, but it does cover a significant amount of ground which is why you are probably better off preparing the essay on leaders, nations and crises. There are essentially three themes covered by the essay questions for this topic: the causes of the Cold War 1943-49, development of the Cold War 1947-79 (below) and the end of the Cold War 1980-1991.
Theme 2 - The US, USSR and China - superpower relations (1947-1979): containment- peaceful co-existence; Sino-Soviet and Sino-US relations; detente
This is a big question dealing with three countries and the development of the Cold War over a 30 year period.
Containment |
The policy of containment, first outlined in George Kennan’s Long Telegram (1946) and formalized by the Truman Doctrine (1947), fundamentally shaped the Cold War by escalating tensions, expanding the conflict beyond Europe, and militarizing U.S. foreign policy. The creation of the National Security Council (NSC) and the development of NSC-68 (1950) were critical in institutionalizing containment, leading to a more aggressive and global Cold War strategy. 1. Containment and the Institutionalization of U.S. Cold War Policy. National Security Act (1947) = NSC 1947 to advise president and CIA to conduct covert operations to counter communism created a permanent national security apparatus. NSC-68 (1950): Paul Nitze, increase in U.S. defense spending from $13 billion to $50 billion annually. Shifted containment from a reactive policy to an aggressive strategy to contain communism. 2. Containment and the Militarization of the Cold War. The formation of NATO (1949) meant the U.S. was now militarily committed to defending Western Europe. The Korean War (1950–1953) confirmed that containment now meant military intervention, not just economic aid. U.S. permanently stationed troops in Europe and Asia. The Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb in 1949, hydrogen bomb (1952) Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), making direct war between the superpowers unlikely but increasing global tensions. 3. Containment Expanded the Cold War Beyond Europe. Initially focused on Eastern Europe (e.g., Berlin Airlift, Marshall Plan), containment soon became a global strategy. Japan’s Reconstruction (1945–1952) The U.S. rebuilt Japan as a pro-Western ally, making it a key Cold War partner. Chinese Civil War (1945–49) The U.S. supported the Nationalists, Iran (1953, Operation Ajax) The CIA overthrew Prime Minister Mossadegh. Guatemala (1954, Operation PBSuccess) The U.S. removed a leftist government, showing that containment now included covert CIA operations. 4. Containment and Domestic Anti-Communism. The Red Scare and McCarthyism (1950s) NSC-68’s portrayal of communism as an existential threat fueled domestic anti-communist hysteria. House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigated suspected communists in Hollywood, government, and academia. |
Past paper questions To what extent did the policy of peaceful co-existence improve superpower relations up to and including 1964? May 2019 “The US policy of containment up to 1962 had limited success.” Discuss with reference to events in two regions. November 2024 |
Peaceful co-existence |
The policy of peaceful coexistence, primarily associated with Nikita Khrushchev in the mid-1950s, marked a shift in Soviet Cold War strategy. While it reduced direct military confrontations, it intensified competition in other areas, such as the arms race, space race, and ideological conflicts in the developing world. Rather than ending the Cold War, peaceful coexistence transformed it into a more complex and global struggle, with both superpowers seeking influence through diplomacy, technological rivalry, and proxy wars rather than direct military conflict. 1. The Origins of Peaceful Coexistence. After Stalin’s death (1953), Khrushchev sought a less confrontational approach. Secret Speech (1956) criticized Stalin’s policies. Peaceful coexistence rejected the inevitability of war with the capitalist world, instead emphasizing competition without direct military conflict. 2. Reducing Direct Military Confrontation. Khrushchev sought diplomatic engagement. Khrushchev’s Reconciliation with Tito (1955–1956) The Austrian State Treaty (1955) The four occupying powers agreed to withdraw troops in exchange for Austria declaring itself permanently neutral. May 1955: Khrushchev visited Belgrade, Geneva Summit (1955) Khrushchev’s U.S. Visit (1959) 3. The Transformation of Cold War Competition. Peaceful coexistence did not mean the end of Cold War competition—it simply shifted the battlegrounds. Soviet ICBM Development (1957). Sputnik (1957) Apollo Program (1961–1969) Moon landing (1969). Decolonization in Africa and Asia (1950s–60s) created opportunities for both superpowers to gain influence through economic and military aid. 4. Challenges and Limitations of Peaceful Coexistence. The Hungarian Uprising (1956) Peaceful Coexistence Did Not Apply to the Eastern Bloc. The U-2 Spy Plane Incident (1960) Breakdown of U.S.-Soviet Diplomacy. The Berlin Crisis (1958–1961) and the Berlin Wall (1961) Khrushchev’s demand for the West to leave Berlin led to heightened tensions. Cuban Missiles Crisis (1962) Conclusion: Peaceful Coexistence Transformed but Did Not End the Cold War. Shifted Cold War rivalry to new arenas: space, nuclear technology, and proxy wars. Maintained Soviet control over Eastern Europe, despite rhetoric about diplomacy. Kept ideological competition alive, influencing decolonization and proxy wars worldwide. Rather than ending the Cold War, peaceful coexistence transformed it into a more complex, multi-dimensional conflict, where indirect confrontation replaced outright war. |
Past paper questions To what extent did the policy of peaceful co-existence improve superpower relations up to and including 1964? May 2019 |
Sino-Soviet, Sino-USA relations |
The evolution of Sino-Soviet and Sino-U.S. relations fundamentally altered the dynamics of the Cold War by shifting alliances, creating new tensions, and introducing triangular diplomacy between the U.S., USSR, and China. Initially, China was a firm Soviet ally, but by the 1960s, deep ideological and strategic divisions led to the Sino-Soviet split. This fracture allowed the U.S. to engage with China, fundamentally reshaping the Cold War. 1. The Early Sino-Soviet Alliance (1949–1959) 1949, CCP won the Chinese Civil War and established the People’s Republic of China (PRC) aligned with the USSR, formalized by the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship (1950). The Korean War (1950–1953) further solidified the alliance, USSR and China supported North Korea against U.S.-led UN forces. By the late 1950s, tensions began to develop due to ideological and strategic differences esp. with de-Stalinization. Khrushchev refused to share nuclear technology with China, angering Mao. The USSR criticized China’s aggressive stance toward Taiwan and India. 2. The Sino-Soviet Split (1960s–1970s) Ideological Differences: Mao viewed Khrushchev’s détente with the U.S. as a betrayal of Marxist-Leninist principles. Armed conflicts broke out along the Ussuri River (1969) as both sides feared invasion. Competing for Influence: Both China and the USSR backed different factions in Vietnam, Africa, and the Middle East. 3. U.S.-China Rapprochement (1970s) U.S. supported China’s admission to the UN Security Council, replacing Taiwan. The Nixon-Mao Meeting (1972) President Nixon visited Beijing, meeting Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai. The Shanghai Communiqué (1972) laid the foundation for future diplomatic and economic ties. Mao saw the USSR as a bigger threat than the U.S. China wanted access to Western technology and trade to modernize its economy. Triangular Diplomacy: The U.S. played China and the USSR against each other. 4. The Cold War Becomes Multipolar (1980s) Under Deng Xiaoping (1978–1997), China focused on economic reform and disengaged from Cold War conflicts. The U.S. and China normalized diplomatic relations in 1979, further reducing China’s involvement in Cold War tensions. The USSR, now isolated, struggled to maintain its Cold War commitments, contributing to its eventual collapse (1991). Conclusion: A More Complex Cold War. The Sino-Soviet split fractured the communist bloc. U.S.-China rapprochement weakened the USSR, forcing it to divert resources to counter both the U.S. and China. 1980s, the Cold War had evolved from a U.S.-USSR bipolar conflict into a more nuanced global rivalry, with China playing an increasingly independent role. |
Past paper questions “China’s relations with the USSR and the US were largely shaped by increasing mistrust and suspicion.” Discuss with reference to the period between 1947 and 1979. May 2019 |
Detente |
Détente (1969–1979) marked a temporary easing of Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. This period saw arms control agreements, diplomatic engagement, economic cooperation, and efforts to prevent direct military conflict. However, détente ultimately collapsed due to proxy wars, renewed ideological tensions, and strategic conflicts, particularly in the Middle East and Afghanistan. 1. Causes of Détente. Strategic Interests & the Need for Stability. Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) had demonstrated the dangers of escalation. The USSR’s economy was stagnating and unable to sustain military spending at Cold War levels, shock of CZSK Prague Spring 1968 dented confidence. As did Vietnam (1955–1975) drained U.S. resources, leading to domestic economic struggles. Richard Nixon (U.S.) and Leonid Brezhnev (USSR) prioritized pragmatic diplomacy over ideological confrontation. Henry Kissinger’s realpolitik approach focused on negotiation and power balance. The Sino-Soviet split (growing hostility between China and the USSR) encouraged the U.S. to engage with China 2. Key Features of Détente. Arms Control Agreements SALT I (1972): Limited the number of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) and Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) systems. Helsinki Accords (1975): Recognized existing European borders, confirming Soviet control over Eastern Europe. Committed both sides to human rights principles, later a tool for dissidents in the USSR to challenge the Soviet regime. SALT II (1979): Sought further arms reductions but was never ratified. U.S.-Soviet Diplomacy & Trade. Nixon-Brezhnev Summits (1972, 1974) Middle East Conflicts & Superpower Involvement Yom Kippur War (1973): The U.S. backed Israel, while the USSR backed Egypt and Syria. This led to OPEC’s oil embargo, causing an energy crisis in the West. U.S. mediation resulted in the Camp David Accords (1978), which reduced direct superpower involvement in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Despite détente, both superpowers continued to support opposing sides in global conflicts, Angola (1975): Ethiopia-Somalia War (1977–1978): 3. End of Détente (Late 1970s – Early 1980s) Détente collapsed due to increased Cold War tensions, ideological disputes, and military interventions. The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan (1979) The USSR invaded Afghanistan to support a pro-Soviet government against U.S.-backed Islamist insurgents The Carter Doctrine (1980): U.S. commitment to defending Persian Gulf interests. U.S. boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics. The U.S. expanded support for anti-communist movements worldwide, U.S. Leadership Shift & the Reagan Doctrine elected 1980) rejected détente, calling the USSR an “evil empire.” 4. Conclusion: Détente as a Temporary Shift. Détente reduced Cold War tensions for a decade but failed to create lasting peace. |
Past paper questions Evaluate the impact of detente upon US-USSR relations up to the end of 1979. November 2019 Evaluate the factors which led to detente between the US and USSR between 1971 and 1979. May 2021 |