The Cold War and U.S. Diplomacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

The Cold War and U.S. Diplomacy - Essay Example President Truman requested the Congress to assist the Greek Government to wipe out communism. It was argued that if Turkey would be provided with both economic and military assistance, the US would be able to contain the spread of communism. The Republicans supported the policy, which later controlled the Congress and promised to send $400 million in aid to the Greek government. However, no military forces were to be taken to Greece. The effect was to terminate the Communist threat in Greece. In 1952, both Turkey and Greece joined NATO, an armed alliance that assured their protection. Following this action, the Doctrine was informally expanded to become the foundation of the American Cold War policy around the world and throughout Europe. It shifted the U.S foreign plan towards the Soviet Union from a relaxation of tension to the containment policy of Soviet expansion. The effects of the Truman Doctrine for the U.S and other nations The Long-term policy Truman’s doctrine stren gthened American Cold War policy all over the world, and more specifically, in Europe. It lasted because it looked into a broader cultural uncertainty concerning contemporary life in a globalized world. Truman Doctrine and its policies dealt with the concern of Washington over communism’s domino impact. It also facilitated a media-sensitive representation of a policy that won bipartisan support and it rallied US economic power to stabilize and modernize unstable areas without direct military involvement. In addition, it brought about modernization programs and state-building activities to the forefront of international policy (Cox, 1990). The diplomatic effort became a metaphor for tragedy aid to keep a country from the influence of communism. Truman applied the... This essay describes the policy of the United States towards the Soviet Union during the Cold War focusing on Truman Doctrine. It also seeks to articulate the advantages and disadvantages of this doctrine. The Truman Doctrine originated from President Truman’s speech before a joint meeting of Congress on March 1947. The instant cause for the speech was a prior announcement by Britain that it would not provide economic and military support to the Greek Government in its civil war with the Greek Communist party. President Truman requested the Congress to assist the Greek Government to wipe out communism. It was argued that if Turkey would be provided with both economic and military assistance, the US would be able to contain the spread of communism. The study concludes that the Truman Doctrine was generally a reaction to political issues in Greece, but later had an impact in Europe and the entire world. It was a demonstration of foreign policy as an outcome of the fears and insecurities of Soviet power filling the gap in Europe. The Doctrine had several major consequences. For instance, Turkey and Greece were given financial support and they did not give way to the further spread of communism. Further, the U.S became committed to internationalism with the containment policy, rather than the former isolationism. In addition, it increased tension between the USSR and USA, which formalized the Cold War since America took direct action against communism.