Chapter 5: The Cold War Context: Lessons and Legacies
U.S. foreign policy during
the Cold War is characterized by three key periods:
- The Early Cold War period
- The Vietnam-Détente-Economic
- The Reagan-Gorbachev period
Through each of these
periods, American foreign policy witnessed both continuity and change.
The Vietnam War shattered
the consensus present during the early Cold War period. Many high ranking
government officials, including Robert McNamara, expressed doubts and
criticisms about the war. The Vietnam War was a failure of foreign policy
strategy on all of the 4 Ps. The war also altered the balance of power in
presidential-congressional relations as Congress became more aggressive in
asserting itself over matters of foreign policy, most notably with the War Powers
The Cold War during the
1970s was marked by the advent of détente. Détente was made possible by
shifts in all 4 Ps, as well as in foreign policy politics. The driving force
behind détente was the desire for Peace by both the Americans and the Soviets.
Prior to détente, the Cold War was marked by the largely unregulated nuclear
arms race. Several events, however, let to the downfall of détente, including
the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the limits of arms control progress, and
the flaring of US-Soviet Third World rivalries.
The 1970s also experienced
profound economic shocks that shattered the myth of assured prosperity. During
this period, the "Nixon shocks" affected America's economic relationship with
its allies and reignited the debate over free trade vs. protectionism. The OPEC
embargo worsened many of the economic woes America was already experiencing and
demonstrated America's economic vulnerability. Trade politics during this
decade became so contentious that Congress created a legislative mechanism to
expedite trade issues.
Ronald Reagan's presidency
heralded a new era during the Cold War. Reagan came into office firmly
believing that American foreign policy had to be reasserted along all four
dimensions of national interest. The Reagan Doctrine was developed as
the basis not only for taking a harder line on global containment, but also for
going further towards rollback. Reagan painted the Soviets as the evil enemy of
the modern world.
During the Reagan years,
presidential-congressional relations changed into a pattern of confrontation.
The Iran-contra scandal pitted the executive branch directly against Congress,
and the failings of the War Powers Resolution became increasingly apparent
during the Reagan administration. By Reagan's second term, however, the number
of common-ground issues increased, especially as the Cold War began to thaw.
The origins of the end of
the Cold War have two distinct theoretical interpretations. US Triumphalism
credits the US, and particularly President Reagan, for having pursued a tough
and assertive foreign policy that pushed the Soviets to collapse. The theory
emphasizes American power, the Reagan Doctrine, and the triumph of American
principles. In contrast, revisionist theories of the origins of the Cold War
give much more credit to Gorbachev's leadership. The theory also stresses the
importance of other international actors, such as individuals like Lech Walesa
and European peace movements, in bringing about the end of the Cold War.