Revisionism In The Cold War

The orthodox view of the Cold War’s origins was challenged by antithesis known as “revisionism”. Revisionists proposed new emphases its reasoning by stressing on the importance of American pursuit of its economic survival and that the Soviet Union was not solely to blame for the Cold War.

Revisionists such as William A. Williams explained the emergence of the Cold War in terms of “dollar diplomacy”. Revisionists view the U.S foreign policy as inherently linked to the needs of Capitalism. In his work, The Tragedy of American Diplomacy, William argued that the U.S traditional policy of “Open Door” which has sought to serve the expansion of national economy had precipitated the Cold War.

The Open-Door policy which was intended to globalise a friendly capitalist system in line with U.S economic interest had pushed Washington to press its own hegemony in Eastern Europe on the conviction that it was a vital region for U.S economic expansion.
Substantial differences of interpretation particularly pertaining to Roosevelt’s succession by Truman, the misconception of the U.S towards Stalin’s policies and U.S air raids on Japan. In fact, some Revisionists perceived the Soviets desired for conciliation as opposed to the power-hunger depiction by the Orthodox view. Revisionist hold sympathetic view of Stalin as he is perceived as a trustworthy partner, proved being a reliable ally during the wartime. Moreover, the U.S administration particularly under President Truman had overestimated the Soviet’s postwar capacity. Advocates of the Revisionism suggested the Soviet Union was not a great military threat to the United States as Soviet’s postwar military and economy were severely weakened. Meanwhile radical Revisionists view the nuclear bombing on Japan by the U.S was a direct warn and intimidated the