Monopoly: The Cold War

The goal at the end of WWII was prevent further disputes that splashed over a global playing field. Thought to be a goal within reach, it just wasn’t possible. Not even five years later had the Cold War commenced. A war “marked by ideological hostilities and a daunting arms race, [the Cold War] was chiefly between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies” (Goff 282). This global war induced many effects in Europe and East Asia, from division of lands, struggling economies to a massive power struggle for influence. The Cold war was a wrinkle in time that created similarities despite having dissimilar experiences relating to land divisions, economic strife and power struggles.

Both Europe and East Asia received financial

aid during times of war for giving them something in common. Coming out of WWII the European economy wasn’t at the panicle of success, with money going to war reparations little was left to rebuild the shambles that Europe was left in. Programs like the Marshall Plan backed by the U.S. offered economic assistance to European countries during the war. After loaning Europe about 13 billion in aid it was said that “The Marshall Plan [had] been rated a success; [with] the economy of Western European nations recovered rapidly” (311). Financial aid gave Europe the chance to recover and rebuild, also allowing for their government to stabilize. Similarly in East Asia an economic struggle arose, though this one over decolonization. While liberation came to many countries in eastern Asia so did conflict. As countries like Korea and Vietnam fought to determine rule, war broke out between divided nations. In countries like South Vietnam funding was needed in order to even withstand war. Similar to the situation in Europe, financial aid was provided. It is evident that during the time of the Cold War the economy of European and East Asian countries were going through downfall and the only thing to save it was provided financial aid.
The Cold War was much like a big game of Monopoly on a global playing field.

In Monopoly the goal of the game is to be the best and much alike seemed to be the goal of the Cold War. As far as the economy and the power struggle for influence goes there was no limit when it came to being the reigning superior, this goal to become the best led to a multi-billion dollar arms and technology race as European countries fought to get their hands on the newest and most efficient pieces of armory and technology. In Europe the Soviet Union pulled ahead early in the war with new innovations like Sputnik, and the ICBM, and so the power struggle commenced, “In face of public outcry the Eisenhower administration moved quickly. It poured money into scientific research in universities” (318). Though research proved to be a forward stride towards being the best it wasn’t enough, western allies poured millions upon millions of dollars into space exploration, sending satellites into space and creating programs like NASA. In Europe there was always competition when it came to the Cold War and the power struggle was a contrasting point for East Asia. In Europe where the power struggle was between the communist and the liberals, in China the power struggle was within the country. When leader Mao Tse- Tung came into rule, the power struggle moved from a competition between sides (The CCP and the KMT), to a struggle to maintain control over China. A newly communist country China was forced to

implement policies like a five year plan and teaching to the younger generation in order to maintain power. The Cold War was an era of immense power struggles that were both similar and different in Europe and East Asia.
War has always been based around an us vs. theme mentality and this is the exact mentality that led to the division of countries in both Europe and East Asia. In Europe ideas like the Iron Curtain and the division of Berlin drove Europe to become a divided nation. The Iron Curtain was the beginning of division in Europe. When Winston Churchill came to Fulton Missouri he gave a speech claiming “that an ‘Iron Curtain’ had fallen, dividing a Moscow- controlled Eastern Europe from a ‘free’ Western Europe” (309).This division led to a competition that we have seen in many other aspects of the Cold War. Later in the Cold War a division was created in Berlin where Churchill’s words were proved to be true. This division reigned to create tension in Europe that created even more division. Much like in Europe, division developed in East Asia. In the countries of Korea and Vietnam. In Korea division formed causing the creation of North and South Korea. This division (like Europe) was fueled by competition between communist vs. Liberalist, this also was the case in Vietnam. These divisions both in Europe and East Asia proved that division created rivalry and led to tension.
The Cold War proved to have many comparing and contrasting points when faced with economic endeavors, divisions of land and power struggles. The economies of Europe and East Asia were just beginning to be rebuilt with the help of financial aid. Land divisions proved to cause tension and rivalry. While power struggles seemed to be one of the only things that differed when it came to Europe and East Asia, with Europe in competition and East Asia fighting for control. All in all these similarities and differences validated the point that the Cold War was period in time that established similarities despite having dissimilar experiences relating to land divisions, struggling economies and power struggles.