Classical Geopolitics III: The Cold War

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Context
Causality
Constructions
Rimland
Classical
Containment
Kennan
NSC-68
Codes
1980s
Chokepoints
Shatterbelts
Crush Zones

Classical Geopolitics: a family tree model

Organic State

Geostrategy
(US) Mahan (~1890)

(GER) Ratzel (~1880)

(UK) Mackinder (1904, 1919)

(GER) Kjellen (~ 1899)

(GER) Haushofer (1923-1939)

Regionalist School

(US) Spykman (1940-1944)

(US) Kennan (1946-1950)
(US) Saul Cohen (1973 - )

Globalists

(US) Ray Cline (1980 - )

(US) Barnett (2003 -)

discursive diagrams

Heartland vs. Rimland

geopolitical constructions: 1945

Context. Causality. Continuity.

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Who caused the Cold War?

Orthodox School: USSR
Revisionist School: USA
Post-Revisionist School: USA + USSR
World-Systems School: unequal exchange

Cold War?
Five Phases of the Cold War
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First Cold War (47-53)

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Oscillatory Antagonism (53-67)

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First Dtente (67-79)

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Second Cold War (80-86)

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Second Dtente (86-89)

critical perspectives. alternative views.

Time Magazine, 1952

Classical? Popular? Low-brow?

Containment
Kennans Policy Prescriptions
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Reduce Soviet capacity to project external influence

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Encourage self-confidence against USSR expansion

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Dont fuel Soviet paranoia via antagonism

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Alter USSRs worldview from confrontation to negotiation

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Diplomatic: Restore European balance of power

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Economic: Rebuild war-torn economies (Europe/Japan)

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Dynamic: Selective containment (W. Europe/E.Asia/Mid-East)

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Divide international communism

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Use local troops

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Not monolithic strategy; adapt to local context

global threats

Strategic Soviet Objectives According to NSC (1950)

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Secure Communist regime and USSR

Maintain E.Europe + China in Soviet Bloc
Eliminate American influence from Eurasia; isolate USA
Expand Communist power throughout Russia
Eliminate USA as competing power
Spread Communism worldwide as fanatical faith

Formal Codes

(a) Kennan vs. (b) NSC-68

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American Geopolitical Codes

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Truman Doctrine (47-49):

-Kennans regional containment
NSC-68 (50-53):
-Globalist containment
Eisenhower-Dulles (53-60):
-New Look
Kennedy-Johnson (61-66):
-Flexible Response
Nixon-Ford-Carter (69-79):
-Dtente
Reagan Cold War II (80-87):
-Rollback

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Geopolitical Strategy
a) Deny USSR key areas
b) Do not give an inch
USSR as threat
a) Only if balance upset
b) Constant threat
How to fight Communism
a) Economic
b) military
USA capabilities
a) Limited
b) Unlimited
Role of diplomacy
a) important
b) not important
Role of strength perceptions
a) Not important
b) important
Goals of US policy vs. USSR
a) Act to maintain equilibrium
b) frustrate Kremlin design
Local vs American troops
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locals w/US support
b) commit Americas

pop culture as prism

Reagan

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Central Arguments in Reagans Geopolitical Analysis

Form all-oceans alliance vs. USSR; focus on seapower via chokepoints
Ally with regionally strong states (South Africa; Brazil)
Soviet threat is geostrategic + ideological
Power: objective (population; economy; military)
Power: subjective (national strategy; national will)

chokepoints

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Cape Horn

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Panama Canal

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Cape of Good Hope

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Suez Canal

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GIUK Gap

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English Channel

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Baltic Straits

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Strait of Gibraltar

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Bosporus/Dardanelles

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Bab El Mandeb

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Strait of Hormuz

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Malaccan Straits

shatterbelt regions (Cohen)

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Complex ethnic/cultural mosaic

Location of global resource (oil)
History of local conflicts
Attracts interests of world powers
Global-local alliances via regions/realms/gateways
Potential for major extra-regional conflict

Ordering the Crush Zone (OLoughlin)