Historians on Cold War Daniel Yergin (USA, Orthodox) argues that USSR’s totalitarianism caused their ‘need’ for world domination. Blames USSR for start of Cold War as they wanted global communist spread. Gar Alperovitz (USA, Revisionist) argues that Truman spoke to Stalin with intimidation after using the nuke, no need for the nuke but to show USA’s strength and might. USA’s nuclear capabilities would influence the negotiations with Truman and Stalin. Williams (Revisionist, USA) argues that war caused by American determination to make most of atomic monopoly, industrial strength for global economic superiority. A.J.P Taylor (UK, revisionist) blames the US due to its usage of nuclear bomb that threatened USSR George Patterson (Post-revisionist) argues that USA and USSR need for postwar world domination makes them equally responsible for Cold War Gaddis (Post-revisionist, USA) argues that both sides are responsible for the outbreak of Cold War. Claims US policymakers were limited due to domestic politics. SAYS WILLIAMS IS WRONG, SHOULD ACCOUNT FOR SOVIET FOREIGN POLICY Historians on Russian revolution Hans Rogger (General of Nicholas II) argues that Nicholas II had no knowledge of politics, didn’t know what to do as Tsar of Russia. Sally Waller (author of the textbook) - argues failure in the management of economy (inflation, famine) as a primary cause of the 1905 revolution. - Paul Gregory - Argues that output rose faster than the population, meaning that there was enough to feed most of the population. Alexander Gershenkran - Argues that the 1905 revolution was “Forced through industrialisation”, having no regard for the Russian people. - Peter Gatrell - made calculations that showed a small overall growth rate in the economy, which he said translated to higher living standards. Raymond Esthus - Nicholas II tried to make Russia better but because of the lack in political training, he was a poor ruler who was incapable of handling the challenges that the nation was facing during his reign. Also believed that Autocracy should remain at all costs. Edward Crankshaw - ‘There was no hard centre to the reign. There was no discernible pattern. In the end everything turned sour.’ - About Alex II’s rule John Westwood - ‘With the possible exception of Khrushchev, no other Russian ruler did so much to reduce the suffering of the Russian people’ - About Alex II’s rule Alan Wood - ‘It was fear, not philanthropy, which forced him on a path that was essential for the economic and political survival of the empire’ - on Alex II’s reform of serfdom Alfred Reiber - Says that the Emancipation of the Serfs by Alexander II was linked to his desire to strengthen the autocratic state. Seton-Watson - Says that Alexander II was at a crossroads between Autocracy and Modern LIberal Constitutional development. Boris Checherin - “Alexander II set out to remodel completely the enormous state” Michael Reiman - The ‘Garrison Crisis’ was the reason for the October Revolution of 1917. Richard Pipes - Lenin’s drive was the main reason for the October Revolution of 1917 - Sheila Fitzpatrick - Questions the control that Lenin had on his party. Orlando Figes - Attributes the Bolshevik victory against the Whites during the Russian Civil War to the fact that it was easier for the Reds to recruit peasants. Historians for Diplomacy in Europe William Keylar - Said that the Treaty of Versailles was a “Workable Treaty”, but that the expectations were set too high. Nicolson - Said that there was a “duality of purpose” in the Peace settlements between Wilson’s 14 point plan vs. national interests. Also called Woodrow Wilson “slow-minded”. Paul Birdsall - Said Woodrow made mistakes, but few, and not entirely his fault. Birdsall places the blame of failure of the peace settlements on the “hypocrisy of major powers”. Ruth Henig - LON failed due to the absence of USA Prime Minister of Poland (Pedrovsky) - Disarmament is an honourable idea, but an incredibly difficult task. One nation will tell the other to disarm, but will not look at itself to disarm US Senator Nye - America has no interest in participating in war, let alone foreign war. (Explains isolationist perspective) AJP Taylor - “The real death of the League was in 1935. One day it was a powerful body imposing sanctions the next day it was an empty sham, everyone scuttling from it as quickly as possible.” Italian historian De Felice - Mussolini had continued to consider an alliance with Britain and France until 1940 (this historian seen as very sympathetic to Mussolini) ​Donald Watt - Chamberlain did not have the resources, had limited options, was given an impossible task AJP Taylor - Hitler didn’t know himself, was an opportunist, so how would Chamberlain know what he wanted? Robert Parker - Chamberlain was partly responsible for the failure of appeasement. Chamberlain did not listen to the advice of his officials and colleagues. Chamberlain betrayed Czechs. He overrated his skills. Churchill - Chamberlain had good intentions, but he completely misjudged Hitler and miscalculated him.
