Cold War Orthodox Analysis
Orthodox interpretation of the origins of the Cold War notes that expansionary tendencies of the Soviet Union as a primary influence of the outbreak of the Cold War. According to the Orthodox interpretation, the quintessential wisdom among American politicians and diplomats at the time was that Soviet Union after the end of the World War II, sought to expand its area of hegemonic control. Scholars like George F. Kennen, William H. McNeill, Herbert Feis and Arthur M. Schlesinger shared similar point of interpretive through their narratives which subsequently characterised the orthodox thesis of the Cold War.
Firstly, Traditionalists supported the view that the United States primary concern was to defend the free world from totalitarians …show more content…
The Soviets violation of the Yalta and Potsdam agreements and occupation of Eastern Europe were perceived by the U.S as a sinister plan of the Soviet Union to spread Communism and to establish a monolithic communist empire with Moscow as its centre. In response to Communism, the U.S reacted in defense of democracy and the notion of self-determination. For instance, Arthur M. Schlesinger stated that “[…] The Cold War was the brave and essential response of free men to communist aggression”. The Soviet Union was therefore credited for the breakdown of wartime cooperation.
As a whole, the Orthodox vision of the Cold War places the U.S on the moral high ground while Soviet aggressiveness, in its leaders and system alike is considered to be a primary if not the sole factor behind the origins of the Cold War. In this American-centric perspective, the Soviet Union is indicated as aggressive and the United States as defensive.
The Orthodox vision of the Cold War were developed mainly through the reliance on personal recollections, interviews with government leader and relevant documents. Several notable Orthodox historians such as Herbert Feis and Louis Halle were once government servants who experienced firsthand the early years of the Cold War. Thus the Orthodox accounts of the Cold War generally shared institutional presupposition which explained the evident support and defence of the American cause in the Cold
Firstly, Traditionalists supported the view that the United States primary concern was to defend the free world from totalitarians …show more content…
The Soviets violation of the Yalta and Potsdam agreements and occupation of Eastern Europe were perceived by the U.S as a sinister plan of the Soviet Union to spread Communism and to establish a monolithic communist empire with Moscow as its centre. In response to Communism, the U.S reacted in defense of democracy and the notion of self-determination. For instance, Arthur M. Schlesinger stated that “[…] The Cold War was the brave and essential response of free men to communist aggression”. The Soviet Union was therefore credited for the breakdown of wartime cooperation.
As a whole, the Orthodox vision of the Cold War places the U.S on the moral high ground while Soviet aggressiveness, in its leaders and system alike is considered to be a primary if not the sole factor behind the origins of the Cold War. In this American-centric perspective, the Soviet Union is indicated as aggressive and the United States as defensive.
The Orthodox vision of the Cold War were developed mainly through the reliance on personal recollections, interviews with government leader and relevant documents. Several notable Orthodox historians such as Herbert Feis and Louis Halle were once government servants who experienced firsthand the early years of the Cold War. Thus the Orthodox accounts of the Cold War generally shared institutional presupposition which explained the evident support and defence of the American cause in the Cold