Peaceful Coexistence In Cold War
How far did ‘peaceful coexistence’ ease Cold War tensions between the Soviet Union and the USA in the years 1953 – 1961?
The term ‘peaceful coexistence’ refers to a theory developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War that said capitalist states could ‘accept’ each other. This policy began just after Stalin’s death on 5th March 1953. 1961 is significant here because it marks when the Berlin wall was put up overnight on the 13th August, demonstrating the end, from a Soviet perspective, of the peaceful coexistence. Furthermore, although examples such as the Austrian State Treaty and Red Army cuts demonstrated peace, the Berlin Rising in 1953 and Poland 1956 didn’t. In my opinion, temporarily, peaceful coexistence did improve tensions although ultimately it wasn’t successful.
Firstly, peaceful coexistence did ease tensions between the USA and the Soviet Union, as demonstrated by the Austrian State Treaty and the cuts in the Red Army. The Austrian State Treat, signed on the 15th May 1955, signified how the four powers: Britain, France, the USA and the USSR were willing to work together finally. The mere fact that Khrushchev signed it to prove his willingness to negotiate on key issues demonstrates even his desire for peace, despite having previous Stalinist views. As a result of the treaty, all …show more content…
The Berlin Rising in June 1953 showed that Ulbricht still continued a strict economy when he raised worker’s hours without increasing their pay. The protests that consequently followed demonstrated the unpopularity of traditional communist policies and that the control over Eastern Europe was based on force, rather than consent. This rising heavily suggests that the people of East Germany were not convinced by this smokescreen of ‘peaceful coexistence’ as they were willing to rise up against their
The term ‘peaceful coexistence’ refers to a theory developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War that said capitalist states could ‘accept’ each other. This policy began just after Stalin’s death on 5th March 1953. 1961 is significant here because it marks when the Berlin wall was put up overnight on the 13th August, demonstrating the end, from a Soviet perspective, of the peaceful coexistence. Furthermore, although examples such as the Austrian State Treaty and Red Army cuts demonstrated peace, the Berlin Rising in 1953 and Poland 1956 didn’t. In my opinion, temporarily, peaceful coexistence did improve tensions although ultimately it wasn’t successful.
Firstly, peaceful coexistence did ease tensions between the USA and the Soviet Union, as demonstrated by the Austrian State Treaty and the cuts in the Red Army. The Austrian State Treat, signed on the 15th May 1955, signified how the four powers: Britain, France, the USA and the USSR were willing to work together finally. The mere fact that Khrushchev signed it to prove his willingness to negotiate on key issues demonstrates even his desire for peace, despite having previous Stalinist views. As a result of the treaty, all …show more content…
The Berlin Rising in June 1953 showed that Ulbricht still continued a strict economy when he raised worker’s hours without increasing their pay. The protests that consequently followed demonstrated the unpopularity of traditional communist policies and that the control over Eastern Europe was based on force, rather than consent. This rising heavily suggests that the people of East Germany were not convinced by this smokescreen of ‘peaceful coexistence’ as they were willing to rise up against their