Embedded Files
There are now two great nations in the world which, starting from different points, seem to be advancing toward the same goal: the Russians and the Anglo-Americans. Both have grown in obscurity, and while the world’s attention was occupied elsewhere, they have suddenly taken their place among the leading nations, making the world take note of their birth and of their greatness almost at the same instant. All other peoples seem to have nearly reached their natural limits and to need nothing but to preserve them; but these two are growing…. The American fights against natural obstacles; the Russian is at grips with men. The former combats the wilderness and barbarism; the latter, civilization with all its arms. America’s conquests are made with the plowshare, Russia’s with the sword. To attain their aims, the former relies on personal interest and gives free scope to the unguided strength and common sense of individuals. The latter in a sense concentrates the whole power of society in one man. One has freedom as the principal means of action; the other has servitude. Their point of departure is different and their paths diverse; nevertheless, each seems called by some secret desire of Providence one day to hold in its hands the destinies of half the world.
ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE, Democracy in America, ed. J. P. Mayer, trans. George Lawrence, vol. 1, part 2, Conclusion, final paragraphs, pp. 412–13 (1969). Originally published in 1835–1840.
The following are links to content and material to facilitate class discussions.
CNN The Cold War will be rebroadcast every two weeks on CNN. The schedule and press release is available here. CNN The Cold War
CNN Cold War video Series can be found here Episode 1 : Commrades
Links to the other 23 episodes are available at the above link
Course Pages for Cold War:
AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY DOCTRINES
SOVIET FOREIGN POLICY DOCTRINES
Cold War Links:
CWIHP -- Woodrow Wilson Cold War International History Project, academic and archival history of Cold War.
Cold War Files: Interpreting History through documents @ CWIHP
CNN Cold War -- CNN video series on the history of the Cold War. See Above.
National Security Archives -- Collection of declassified national security related documents hosted at George Washington University.
The Cold War History Learning Site (UK) --
Cold War - Atomic Archives , National Science Foundation
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