The Cold War:
East v. West, 1947-1980
Ch. 31
Pg. 732-760
Post-WWII: the West
• Forced to adjust
– Food v. transportation
– Refugees v. new boundaries
– Decolonization v. nationalism
Europe & Its Colonies
• West’s weakness allowed peaceful
decolonization
– Exceptions: Algeria, Kenya, Vietnam
The Cold War
• Cold War built as USSR occupied
Eastern Bloc
– Installed communist regimes
– Origin of Iron Curtain
• U.S. responded with Marshall Plan
loans to W. Europe
– Germany as focal point: Berlin airlift
• Cold War spread by rival defensive
alliance: NATO v. Warsaw Pact
Resurgence of W. Europe
Spread of Liberal Democracy
• Democracy became consensus
political system
– Opposition worked within democracy
– New republics emerged
Welfare State
• W. Eur government commonly worked
to cushion citizens against hardships
New Challenges
• Protests challenge democracy
– 1960s: segregation, Vietnam War, materialism
– 1970s: feminism, green movement
• Thatcher & Reagan trim welfare state after
recession
Diplomatic Context
• European identity over nationalism
– Marshall Plan’s integration
– Germany’s interdependence
↳Origins of European Union
Economic Expansion
• Western society became affluent
– Post-rebuilding economic growth &
technology
– Shift to service sector
• labor shortage spurred colonial
immigration
• Mass consumerism
Cold War Allies
(U.S. & white dominions)
Former Dominions
• Canada
– Tension over integration w/ U.S.
– Welfare state
• Australia & New Zealand
– Tension over integration w/ U.S.
– Shift economy from Britain to Pacific Rim
U.S. Century
• Took over mantle of superpower
• Communist threat yielded policy of
containment & defense spending
– Examples:
• Korea
• Vietnam
• Latin America
Western Culture & Society
Social Structure
• Increased prosperity & education
blurred social lines & improved social
mobility
• Class distinction remained
– Middle-class w/ clearly more consumer
& leisure power than working-class
– Crime, race riots, anti-immigrant
violence remained
Women’s Revolution
• Women saw dramatic improvements
in economic opportunities & rights
– education, service economy,
attractiveness of 2nd income
– voting, divorce, sexual rights improve
• But women were far from equal
• Technology & new roles changed
family relationships
Western Culture
• U.S. led scientific development
– DNA, Space travel & satellites
– Modern art
– Social science turned to data collection
Popular Culture
• Superficial & pleasure-seeking
– Internationalization of American blue
jeans & tv; European music & fashion
Post-WWII: the East
Soviet Union as Superpower
• As evidenced by:
– Expansion
– Heavy industry & military development
– Strategic alliances & support of
communist regimes
Soviet Empire in E. Europe
• Although technically independent,
weakness of E.Europe & Soviet army
allowed USSR to become dominant
force in region
– Limited church & opposition
– Common economic plan w/
collectivization, industrialization, central
planning
↳Warsaw Pact
Evolution of Domestic Policies
• Suspicion of U.S. & strong gov
resulted in:
– Industrial growth
– Cultural & economic isolation
– Extension of social services
Soviet Culture
• Explicitly fostered industrialization,
loyalty of citizens, scientific thought
– Valued science & education
– Mass ceremonies
– Classical ballet & literature
– Secularism
• Yet severely limited cultural freedom
& expression
Economy & Society
• Urban & industrial w/ heavy state
control
– Lacked individual motivation & peasant
success
• Industrialization led to social
similarities with West
– Unique traits:
• Long lines for consumer goods
• Emphasis on authority
• Greater female participation
De-Stalinization
• Khrushchev eventually replaced
Stalin
– Generally loosened policies
• Central planning & communist
control remained
• Economy & science remained
competitive
• Diplomatically pushed for “peaceful
coexistence” (usually)
• Without Stalin’s harshness, worker
motivation dropped
Global Connections
• Cold War dominated world history
post-WWII
• Both societies spread science,
secularism, weapons, & female
equality
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