The Impact Of The Truman Doctrine On The Cold War

McCauley:

Welcome to another exciting episode of WARFARE with your host Martin McCauley where we will dive into the large impact of the Truman Doctrine on the development of the Cold War until 1962. The Truman Doctrine was a game-changer, steering U.S. foreign policy away from isolationism towards an active resistance against the "authoritarian threat" of Soviet expansion. Joining me are two amazing historians: Gaddis, a post-revisionist, and Hobsbawm, a left-wing Marxist. Let's kick things off by discussing the large impact of the Truman Doctrine on policy. Hobsbawm, what's your take on it?

Hobsbawm:

Well, I can first tell you that the Truman Doctrine was "an ideological shield...[for America] to counter the radical left". We see this during

Its impact was large.

Gaddis:

Hold on a sec, Hobsbawm. The USSR was determined to “seize both the geopolitical and moral initiative in the emerging Cold War”, especially during the Marshall Plan and NATO. They “pressured [their] Eastern European allies to reject… [American] assistance, fearing it would undermine their communist system. The Berlin crisis was fueled by their aggression, not solely the Truman Doctrine.

McCauley:

Interesting perspectives, gentlemen. But the Marshall Plan which was the first phase of the Truman Doctrine, Gaddis was like a USD 17 billion punch aimed at the USSR, injecting into Europe over 5 years. As a tool for American propaganda, it developed the Cold War "by creating an economic conflict in

Would you say that USSR aggression also influenced the arms race?

Gaddis:

Yes, we don’t see this “tone” coming from America alone during the arms race, particularly in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis as Soviet Premier “Khrushchev openly threatened the West with nuclear annihilation”. The crisis went beyond the Truman Doctrine's prevention of a domino effect —it was also fueled by USSR aggression.

Hobsbawm:

But the Cuban Missile Crisis was largely a response to the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961. The Truman Doctrine led to 1,400 American soldiers attempting to overthrow Castro's communist government in Cuba, adhering to its word of containment.

Gaddis:

I guess the actions of the Americans during the crisis, driven by their hegemonic goals which were facilitated by the doctrine "almost plunged the world into an unnecessary war” but USSR aggression cannot be overlooked.

Hobsbawm:

Exactly! Ultimately, it was the Truman Doctrine that turned the Cold War into a "mutually assured destruction" situation, leading to peace settlements like the Test Ban Treaty in 1963.