1945-1990, the USA and the Cold War:
INTRODUCTION
Power, superpower, hyper power, as much as terms to qualify the United Sates. It's today a power which is unavoidable in the world. But it's not new: Indeed it's a quite young state, 1776 points out the independence declaration, but it's a state which has been established from the nineties. As soon as 1914, the United Sates are defined as the first economical power of the world. Until the 40s, the united States become a mainly economical and financial power limiting political international interventions (It opts for isolationism).But the WWII(1939-1945) will represents a watershed in the American politic:
In 1941, power is assumed and is engaged for the first time in the world. It economical strength will allow the United States to develop other sides of the power (at a military/a technological/a cultural level). Then we can call it a multiform power.
The year 1947 shows the beginning of the cold war which bring into opposition USSR and the US. It is a particular conflict without direct confrontation. But it influence along the world remains a tangible reality.
So, how as American affirmed his power during the cold war?
In a first part, we will see: The assertion of the American power, then in a second part: from the fall to “America is back!” to finish, a third part: The American’s hyper power.
I – The assertion of the American power
a) The USA and the WWII
The surprise attack of pearl harbor (an american fleet) by the japanese the 7th of december 1941 is real turning point in the WWII .
The conflict which was away and indirect becomes close and direct.
This event brings the USA to join the alliance of the allies.
In this way the USA break the isolationism, in other words the politic cooperation with other countries.
From this, there is big economic and military mobilisation. Economy is in the service of the War
This is the victory program ….
A war economy program annouced by the president Franklin Delano Roosevelt the 6th of january 1942 allowing the american economy to become the «arsenal of democracies» and allowing the production of huge quantities of war material.
The USA are going to lead a more active diplomacie. Because they are going to dicide of the military operations and to think about the after war allongside allies
In 1945 the USA with de Allies win the war and in the objective of international peace the UN is created.
Because of this the american power is assumed
-the military power is shown by the two attacks of Hiroshima and Nagazaki. Moreover they are the only onces to possess the nuclear weapon until 1949.
-the economic power is reinforced by the agreements of Breton Woods in 1944. They guarantee the monetary stability because the dollard become the international currency and the only currency convertible in gold. Even thoug the USA already possess the two thirds of the world stock. This agreements push to the creation of the international bank and the FMI. They also favor the agreements of the GATT
So …. The USA are going in the direction of globalization
b) The USA and the cold war
Despite the creation of the ONU at the end of the second world war the peace doesn’t last…
This is the begining of the cold war : a particular conflict with inderect confrontations by interposed contry
This war bring into conflict two super power : the USA and the USSR.
This two superpowers have the wishes of broadcasting their universalism
For the USSR the broadcast of the communist model particulary in europe. Nevertheless this one is going to be stopped by the Truman or the containement doctrine of 1947.For example the Marshall plan (an economic help of 13 billon dollards for the reconstruction of europe after the second world war)
For the USA the broadcast of the democratie model, the peace and the liberty by the doctrin of the manifets destiny .
Owing to the context the USA are going to develop their political and geopolitical influence thanks to their unions and alliances and the policy of interventionism
The NATO in 1949 With europe
The OTASE in 1954 with the south-Est Asia
The treaty with the Japan and with San francisco and the pact with Bagdad
We speak of an american pactomania
There is also their intervention in the Korean war and in Cuba in 1962
Their military power is reinforced by the arms race with the USSR and the developement of the military industry
Their is also the cultural power reinforced by the Soft Power
The softer power is illustrated by this picture :
On this picture which is the cover page of the time magazine of May 1950
We can see on the background the coca cola logo in the form of a character who is carring the world as a baby with a coke bottle by way of a feeding bottle in his right hand .
We know that coca-cola is a famous american company with strong financial funds this is the perfect illustration of the american consomation society and the american ecomical confort
With company like coca-cola, the USA would be the country's success to the world, the country of all possible
On the picture we can see that the coca-cola charactere wants the world to drink some coke what involve that coca-cola wants to broacast his drink through the world. It means that americans company like coca-cola wants to broadcast them through the world to show the american power. In order that the United States become a haven, a country that seduced the world by his ability to broadcast an image of economically properous country.
II - From going backward to « America is back »
a) The downfall :
First, the USA, know a state of doubt and uncertainty. The americans don't escape the crisis. They know their first commercial deficit in the 70s 80s. Then, Brenten Wood system collapse. The dollar is no longer convertible in gold and it's devalued by 2.
So it's a difficult time with mistakes :
These consequences lead a political of desegregation but the states of mind are hard to change.
In 1964 : we see a military intervention of the America in the Vietnam according to the containment policy, that aim to stop the spread of communism :
The Vietnam war is unfamous, it meant manifestations and it's denounced by the western power. In 1975 the USA loose its first war and the army is rapatriate. Its image is finaly damaged.
What's more we see a multiplication of the revolutions in latin America. Marxist movement grows in some countries. To fight against it, the americans develop many « coups d'état ». But, in 1979, the USA sufer from heavy setback. Its ally the shah of Irak is going to be overthrow by an islamic revolution and the americains are taken in hostage in the embassy of Téhéban.
b) « America is back »
However the America react very fast.
This context favor the election of Renald Reagan. His slogan is « America is back ». He wants to reaffirm the american leadership and qualify the USSR of « evil empire ».
The America arms the Talibans called « soldiers of liberty » to fight against the Russians in the Afghanistant.
In 1970 : Russians spread missiles on the other side of the Iron curtain in the direction of the eastern europe. So the NATO and the USA riposte by installing missiles in the direction of western