Essay On The Nature And Development Of The Cold War

1081 Words3 Pages

The nature and development of the Cold War was largely dependent on the role of significant leaders throughout the period.

The Cold war was a period of sustained political and military duress and unrest between the Western Superpowers, and the communist world. From its conception in the mid 1940s to its end in 1991, the world saw many prominent leaders in both the USSR and USA whose leadership style influenced the nature and development of the Cold War during their incumbency. There are significant leaders of other nations such as Fidel Castro, leader of Cuba and Tito of Yugoslavia. However when assessing that the temperament of the Cold War was largely dependent on significant leaders, the evidence suggests that dependence to a large extent, is specifically applicable to the leaders of the two superpowers.

American President Harry S Truman and leader of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin were significant leaders in the beginning of the Cold War, as they introduced the antagonistic quality of US-Soviet relations that would dominate throughout the period. Stalin’s attitude towards the West and towards Easter Europe largely determined the nature and …show more content…

However, from an assessment of the leaders of the USA and USSR throughout the period, and their role in America-Soviet relations, it is valid to affirm that leadership rather than individual events, was the most significant factor in influencing the nature and development of the cold war. Despite the superpowers ideological disposition to conflict and the circumstances after WW2 negating peace, the Cold War’s unique quality and rate of progression was largely dependent on the roles of leaders; their peaceful or ‘tough’ aims, their paranoid and witty personalities and their tactful or brilliant (Bay of Pigs) actions, as suggested by the historical evidence and message of the

Open Document