When did the Cold War become global?

The 20th century was shaped by three wars, each global and utterly destructive in its own way. The first took the world by surprise and crushed the romantic ideal of heroism with industrialised brutality. The second stained the very core of mankind with unimaginable evil and cruelty, with death and suffering on an unprecedented scale. The third brought disruption to the world and the planet to the brink of nuclear catastrophe. This is the story of the role that the atomic bomb played in this third global conflict within a few decades, which we have come to call the Cold War.

The impact of nuclear weapons on international relations in general and on the Cold War in particular is too little understood. Especially for us millennials, who were socialised after the breakdown of the Soviet Union, the pervasiveness of nuclear danger is hard to conceptualise. Yet, it defined an era of global volatility and a Zeitgeist of glooming apocalypse that manifested itself in the political, cultural and social spheres of its time.

In this paper, the author will reconstruct how nuclearisation was both cause and consequence of the Cold War, cemented its dichotomy and eventually made it global. The argument is this: while it may have been the Korean War, or the emergence of proxy wars in general, that manifested the clash of expansionist ideologies on an international level, the Cold War became – and had to remain - global as a result of nuclearisation.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• When did the Cold War become global?
• Introduction
• The impact of nuclear weapons on international relations
• The pervasiveness of nuclear danger
• Reconstructing nuclearisation
• Defining the Global System
• The concept of the global system
• The Cold War as a global condition
• The Roots of the Cold War
• The contested subject of the Cold War's origins
• Tension between the West and the Soviet Union
• Opposing ideologies and expansionist goals
• Four Historical Cases
• Nagasaki and the beginning of the Cold War
• Soviet acquisition of the atomic bomb in 1949
• Development of long-range ballistic missiles in the mid-50s
• The Baruch plan and its failure
• Nuclearisation: Cause and Consequence
• Nuclear armament and its impact on international cooperation
• The Baruch plan: A scientists-inspired effort
• The consequences of the Baruch plan's failure
• The legacy of nuclear armament and its impact on the Cold War
• The Global Quality of the Cold War
• The significance of nuclear weapons and atomic diplomacy
• The impact of nuclear threat on global security
• The role of proxy wars in the Cold War
• Neutrality as an option
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper aims to explore the role of nuclearisation in transforming the Cold War from an international conflict to a global one. It argues that the nuclear threat, as a necessary element in the calculations of all states, fundamentally altered the dynamics of international relations, leading to a globalised Cold War.

• The evolution of the Cold War from an international to a global conflict
• The impact of nuclearisation on international relations
• The role of atomic diplomacy and its influence on the Cold War
• The concept of a global system and its applicability to the Cold War
• The failure of international cooperation in addressing nuclear threats

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: This section introduces the argument that nuclearisation was both a cause and consequence of the Cold War, ultimately making it global. It highlights the significance of nuclear weapons in shaping the Cold War's dynamics and the importance of understanding their role for contemporary generations.
• Defining the Global System: This chapter defines the concept of a 'global system' by analyzing the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition and Bull's theory on international systems. It emphasizes the importance of considering how a condition, like the Cold War, becomes a necessary element in the calculations of all states to be considered global.
• The Roots of the Cold War: This section explores the historical tensions and ideological discrepancies between the West and the Soviet Union, establishing the groundwork for the Cold War. It examines the development of mutual distrust, the influence of expansionist ideologies, and the role of events such as the Russian Civil War and the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact.
• Four Historical Cases: This chapter examines four key events that shaped the nuclear character of the Cold War. These include the bombing of Nagasaki, the Soviet Union's acquisition of the atomic bomb in 1949, the development of long-range ballistic missiles, and the failed Baruch plan.
• Nuclearisation: Cause and Consequence: This chapter analyzes how nuclearisation both fueled and perpetuated the Cold War. It explores the implications of nuclear armament for international cooperation, the failure of the Baruch plan, and the impact of mutual distrust on Cold War dynamics.
• The Global Quality of the Cold War: This chapter explores the impact of nuclear weapons on the Cold War, arguing that the threat of nuclear war transformed the conflict into a global phenomenon. It discusses the significance of atomic diplomacy, the global implications of Mutually Assured Destruction, and the limited role of neutrality in a nuclearized world.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The paper revolves around the core concepts of nuclearisation, Cold War, global system, atomic diplomacy, Mutually Assured Destruction, international cooperation, and proxy wars. It examines the impact of nuclear weapons on international relations, the evolution of the Cold War from an international to a global conflict, and the challenges of managing nuclear threats in a globalized world.

Details

• College: Oxford University
• Grade: 1
• Author: Jan-David Franke (Author)
• Publication Year: 2015
• Pages: 5
• Catalog Number: V411975
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668631984
• ISBN (Book): 9783668631991
• Language: English
• Tags: nuclear bomb cold war nuclearisation korean war