Cold War Pattern of Conflicts and Its Influence on International Relations - Dissertation Example

?Cold War pattern of conflicts and its influence on international relations in the context of Vietnam War Introduction The close of the Second World War led to the emergence of the two great superpowers in the world viz. Russia and United States. These two countries earned such supremacy in terms of military resources that can bring catastrophe to the world in regards to any conflict between them. Moreover this period also found the emergence of several small powers like Vietnam and Cuba which gained regional supremacy through the help of the capitalist and communist systems (Sen, 1975, p.101). The conflict between United States and Russia came into light with the emergence of the ‘domino effect’ as stated by President Eisenhower. ‘Domino Effect’ was stated in viewing Russia’s increasing influence over the South East Asian regions, which was taken by America as a major threat against it (Kane, 2006, pp. 101-102). The Cold War was the most significant diplomatic concern in the post war era. The beginning of the cold war made the European countries from a dispute between them in supporting the capitalist and communist regimes. This dispute between the European nations culminated into the division of the European continent into two ideological factions. Marshall Plan, which was developed by John Marshall during 1947, signified America’s economic cooperation to develop the European continent and form a reunion. The plan signified America’s continuous interests in political, strategic and economic interests over Western Europe (Northrup, 2003, p.177). President Truman during 1947 passed his doctrine which proclaimed Cold War with the Communist regions of the world along with Soviet Russia. This anti-communist program of President Truman observed as a global policy for maintaining security targeted the communist nations as plausible threat towards obstructing America’s dominion over the East Asian countries (Murrin, Johnson, McPherson, & Gerstle, 2007, pp.1012-1013). The tension and competition between the two countries United States and Russia gained ground along their nuclear and space programs. America and Russia focused on enhancing their space technology programs to further strengthen their security dynamism and gaining political and strategic advantage. Both the countries started specializing on the development of rockets and spaceships to gain supremacy in outer space (Sagdeev & Eisenhower, 2008). In the field of nuclear technology the two countries also contested heavily with the discovery of atomic materials. America was found opposing the Soviet stands in gaining supremacy over entering into new atomic areas and discoveries (Crockatt, 1996, p.57). The Cold War conflicts between the superpower nations belonging to the Communist and Western powers accumulated to the spreading of war in the Korean and Vietnamese territory. Russian attacks on South Korea were heavily counteracted by the American troops through the sending of required resources to the newly independent colonies, which were under French rule. United States government in their move to restrict the ascension of Russian troops to gain control over South Korea strongly conducted the opposition, which resulted in heavy combat. United States also took a firm stand of restricting Communist factions from gaining their stand in the Vietnamese regions. The government of America took control of the Southern region of Vietnam and defended further Communist aggression (Wouri, 2000). Further the region of South East Asia reflected conflicts between countries like Russia, United States and China. The end of the Cold War period led to the downfall of Russia and the rise of United States to gain supremacy over the East Asian region. The period of Cold War also led to the emergence of China as a regional power through the increased collaboration of United States. Both countries United States and China however helped each other in removing Russia and gaining dominance over South East Asia (Ross, 2009, p.47). The paper attempts to find out how the cold war conflicts influence the international relations especially in the context of Vietnam War. Consequences of Cold War conflicts – rise of the superpowers Essentially the Cold War was the outcome of a continuous rivalry between the United States and USSR centering on the ideal political and economic system which could promote liberty, and affluence. The emergence of the Cold War period brought with it the emergence of new type of social and political conflicts between the participating nations. To this end, Wouri (2000) observes that the modern conflicting patterns brought about by the Cold War period called for innovative actions of the local nongovernmental organizations operating in different countries and development of newer strategies for mediation of such. Pattern of conflicts taken during the cold war period involved targeting of civilian population of the different nations through exploitation of resources. The main participative countries being the superpowers disrupted the social fragmentation of these countries by the introduction of refuges and creating war of ideologies in gaining access to independent lands (Wouri, 2000, pp.1-2). The event of Cold War that gained importance after the end of the Second World War between the two main forces viz. the Communist nations and the nations belonging to the Western world set different patterns of conflicts among them. Morgan (2004) observes that Conflicts, which mainly flourished during the Cold War period, were ‘proxy’ fights between the nations. In such ‘proxy’ fights a nation belonging to the Communist superpower would lay its combat with another nation representing the Western powers. The pattern of conflict induced helped the two main groups to get control over contested lands and territories. ‘Proxy’ combats between the nations were conducted through the induction of refugee population in civilized societies. Morgan (2004) further states that the civilians of these nations were totally exploited through the activities of war factions of the super power groups. Cold War or the War of Ideologies started by the Communist and Western Superpowers were manipulated by them to gain access to newer territories and larger empires. Further the events like the division of Europe and the commencement of the Korean War paved the way for intensification of such conflicts. The effect of such conflicts spread towards Africa wherein nations of the continent started bargaining for gaining sides between the Communist and the Western Countries. Conflicts during the Cold War also estranged the relationship between the Asian nations like Afghanistan with the world at large with the growth of terrorism in its soil. Morgan (2004) mentions that the Communist and Western Powers also played part in restricting the switching over of the nations belonging to one group to another through continuous surveillance. End of the Second World War helped the nations in gaining independence. These nations during the Cold War period proceeded to enhance their nation’s structure through the gaining of new lands and setting of new ideologies. In turn the above activities contributed in the spearheading of tensions and conflicts which were given further impetus by the superpower nations (Morgan, 2004, pp.31-34). The emergence of the cold war happened to attract the attention of the superpower nations like America and Russia to the emerging economies of the world. These superpowers started gaining ascension to these countries through the system of proxy war. In this regard, Wiest and Barbier (2002) observe that the superpower nations through the use of proxy war ventured into expansionary activities in these countries. Especially the activities of the Soviet Union countered expansionary moves, which were heavily countered by the American power. This conflict of political ideologies between the nations countered heavy economic and social pressure on the whole world. Through the system of proxy warfare the communist and western superpowers desired to conquer new territories, which led to the large scale loss of lives and property. Wiest and Barbier (2002) state that during the end of the Second World War both the superpower forces entered the Korean landscape to defeat the Japanese forces acting in such regions. However as tensions started climbing between the Korean borders with the expansionary drives of North Korea backed by Communist power to invade South Korea, United States government asked help from United Nations. The war in Korea between the two superpowers was further enhanced by the work of the Chinese troops, which retaliated against America’s action. China in its bid to save North Korea from being invaded by the American forces rendered heavy combat against them. Thus the Korean War occurred due to joint conflicts between three nations America, China and Russia each trying to safeguard its own territory from being invaded (Wiest & Barbeier, 2002, pp.119-122). The period of cold war also brought into light political and economic differences that categorized the status of different world nations. Burnell and Randall (2008) observe in this regard that owing to the emergence of the cold war the nations of the world earned new forms of categorization like ‘fist’, ‘second’ and ‘third world’ countries. The first category symbolized the powerful nations like United States, United Kingdom and their allies. Again, the second group contained of nations, which belonged to the Soviet Republics and countries of Eastern Europe. However the third group of nations included those countries, which were economically weak and belonged to the class of emerging nations. This group mainly engulfed nations belonging to the Asian and African continent and also other countries like Brazil and Mexico. Burnell and Randall (2008) state that the major economic powers of the world like United States and United Kingdom continuously countered some diplomatic and strategic moves, which bore conflicts with the second category countries. This conflict between the superpower nations renders strong implications on the economically weak developing countries of the world. The pattern of such conflicts reflected different type of cases like military interventions by the stronger nations on the weaker ones. The range of military activities taken by the stronger nations on the emerging economies resulted in the happening of events like Korean and Vietnam War. Again without the use of armed forces the developed nations of the world also worked in curtailing the economic aid to some countries helped by other conflicting countries. This type of indirect effect drained the economically weak countries of the small economic aids received from these foreign nations. Burnell and Randall (2008) further state that the developed economies of the world in addition to the above factors in order to combat the conflicting nations can take to ‘proxy’ attacks in the emerging economies. The government of United States of America in order to combat the conflicting Russian nations started funding the terrorist factions in Afghanistan to counter attacks on Russian occupied regions (Burnell & Randall, 2008, pp.73-74). The rise of the Cold War period after the close of the Second World War divided the global political system into two main facets viz. communist and capitalists. To this end, Wenger and Zimmerman (2003) observe that the Superpower countries within the two separate bloc viz. Russia and United States threatened one another through the show of nuclear power. In the initial stages the Cold War was locked within the European countries. However with the passing of a decade the cold war spread along different countries of the world and thus gradually turned out to be a global phenomenon. The period ranging from 1955 to 1965 further witnessed the easing up of the relations between the superpower nations of the world. Wenger and Zimmerman (2003) further observe that after the period of 1975 the effect of Cold War regained its strength that caused the emergence of separate economic and political forces around the world. The rise of separate world orders signified the ideological conflicts among such nations. Communist philosophy in the light of such new economic and political orders received a huge blow while the philosophy of capitalism gained its stand amongst the western nations. The plight of the newly emerged nations in the international scale became closely interlinked with the action of the superpowers. These countries were rated as losers and gainers in the context of their relations with the superpower nations. The easing up of relations between the superpower countries saved the world from the use of nuclear weapons, which would have called for massive destruction (Wenger & Zimmerman, 2003, pp.4-5). The rise in the Cold War period helped United States of America to gain strategic control over key nations of the world. In this regard, Yahuda (2011) states that United States observed its growing control over the Asia-Pacific region as a major strategic drive, which could pose both global and regional impacts. On the other hand, the countries belonging to the Asia-Pacific region also enjoyed the increased cooperation from United States in terms of showcasing of power in the local and regional context. United States of America also started deploying forces in the west Pacific region to sustain inner stability. The Republic of China also restrained from quitting the American support at least within the current term period. However the increasing relations between America and these pacific nations started turning complex owing to the rise of American criticism. Yahuda (2011) observes that these pacific regions started facing disputes and conflicts related to trade matters with United States. Furthermore the existing social and political systems of these nations also suffered from the fear of increasing political and social control by the American regime. This led to the growth of criticism of the American counterparts by these nations gaining due support. The cooperation of the superpowers like Russia and America were encouraged in these countries, but with reservations. Diplomatic actions of these countries managed the cooperative dimensions and it also signified the assistance of third parties to restrict the further territorial and communal aggression. United States in this note helped its allies in providing military support to help restrict the aggression of Soviet Republic to gain control of their territories. Apart from rendering needed military support, Yahuda (2011) also states that United States provided considerable economic and market support to help in the improvement of the trading and economic conditions of their allied nations. Estimates made along that period reveal that United States alone contributed to around 40 percent of the total trading transactions with the East Asian nations. The value of the total trade of America with Asian nations was valued at around $ 158.8 billion. These trading values also encompassed huge amounts of deficits and surpluses for America which were significantly comparable to that obtained in the trading practices between the Asian nations. However the acts of America in rendering strategic military and economic support to these Asian nations were started questioning regarding the continuity of the same after the end of Cold War era. Experts opined that America’s growing assistance in rendering public commodities to countries like Japan would draw to an end during the end of the Cold War era. Thus Yahuda (2011) mentions that though assistance obtained from the American side helped the South East Asian countries to develop in their economic and social front yet there was a constant source of conflict between the governing ideologies of them with the American superpower. This fact only helped in making the matters far more complex, which led to the retreatment of United States from their borders (Yahuda, 2011, pp.14-16). The Cold War conflict and Vietnam War United States’ position against communist regime is best reflected in the Vietnam War. This war is an archetypal instance of the conflict arising from the Cold War. Communism was strengthening its base in China and the East part of Europe was also under Soviet’s regime. In this scenario United States feared that communism might take its hold in Vietnam. Prior to the Second World War, Vietnam was included in the French Empire. It was taken over by the Japanese during the World War but when they withdrew forces, Vietnam took initiatives to establish its independent government under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh. When the war ended the Allies who had occupied South Vietnam returned the region to the French and the North was still in the reign of the non communist Chinese. The people were treated so badly by the Chinese that on a general consensus support became stronger for Ho Chi Minh who was previously overthrown from authority. When the Chinese withdrew power from the North in 1946, Ho Chi Minh gained control over Viet Minh. Meanwhile the French forces began to claim the North and this implied that Viet Minh’s forces had to fight against the same. This war began in 1946 and the French army attacked the port of Haiphong and killed 6000 people in the course. The French forces tried to offer independence to the northerners and in the course gain their support. However they had to obey the French leadership. They appointed a new leader called Bao Dai. This rule was not acknowledged by the Russians or Eastern Europe. They still wanted Ho Chi Minh as the ruler. While Minh was supported by Russia, China and East Europe, that is, the Communist power, the North was still supposed to be under Bao Dai’s rule with support from the Western world. Attacks of French forces failed to affect Ho Chi Minh’s guerillas and the nation was divided into North and South Vietnam politically (Bao Dai in the South and Ho Chi Minh in the North). Meanwhile, as there was no election in 1956 as proposed, Minh sent his trained guerilla forces (Viet Cong) to the south to preach in favor of communism and they had the support of communist China. These forces did not treat the South Vietnamese harshly or were dominant but were rather quite helpful. This region was previously under the domination of dictatorial leader Ngo Dinh Diem who had the US support only because he was anti-communist. Diem was later overthrown and killed by the South Vietnamese owing to his unpopularity and attempt to move the farmers to fortified villages in the defense camps in order to save them from Viet Cong’s attack. This was in contrast to the tactics played by the Viet Cong who promised peasants more territories for farming. This was the period of “Domino Theory” which was suggested by the Americans. This theory proposed that when one country or domino falls under the rule of Communism, the others also follow suit. In this context the fact that Minh was sending his forces to the soft target locations in the South to spread the word of communism was not taken easily by the Americans (Trueman, 2011). American Interests in Vietnam From the above section it follows that the rise of Communist China after the Chinese Civil War of 1949 and its disturbed relations with United States coordinated in forming another Cold War regime. China focused on rendering support to Vietnam in the form of generating terrorist forces. The Republic of China under Mao’s regime contested with Russia in extending support to Vietnam. The Chinese leaders observed rendering of possible economic and military support to Vietnam as a combat with the imperialist power of United States (Westad, 2003, pp.317-318). The communist reigns in North Vietnam sent fears to the government of United States. Communist activities of North Vietnam people were gaining impetus for their potential to launch similar movements in regions like Laos and Cambodia. President Eisenhower in the light of the Communist potential to launch like movements in several regions stated their strategy as the ‘Domino Effect’. Through the ‘Domino Effect’ the Communists planned to gain control over several regions and nations (Kane, 2006, pp. 101-102). The Truman Doctrine launched by President Truman of United States focused on uprooting Communism in regions like Greece and Turkey. President Truman sought an aid of around $400 million for funding military and economic activities for fulfilling the objective. During 1947 President Truman through his doctrine proclaimed Cold War with the stated Communist regions along with Soviet Russia. This anti-communist program of President Truman observed as a global policy for security standards is often referred to as Containment (Murrin, Johnson, McPherson, & Gerstle, 2007, pp.1012-1013). During 2nd September, 1945 the Communist leader, Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam to be an independent nation from the French dominion. He also formed the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to counter their communist moves. The Communist moves of Ho Chi Minh also received huge support from China in the form of economic and military aid. Thus with the help of Russia and China the Vietnam soldiers won over the French army during 1954. The war against France also focused on defeating America for continual American support to France to cease Communist aggression (Best, 2008, pp.296-297). United States war against the Communist countries like Russia took new turn with the inception of the Vietnam War. President Nixon started granting huge amounts of military and economic aid to South Vietnam to win over the Vietnam battle as a show of aggression to the Soviet forces helping the North Vietnam region (Cold War-Russia vs. US, 2011). The United States of America from the 1960 period started helping the non-communist regions of South Vietnam with host of economic and military support to combat the Soviet aggression. During the period of 1962 under the leadership of President John F. Kennedy around four thousand army men were sent to South Vietnam. Further during 1964 the Defense Secretary of United States put further stress of enhancing the economic and military support to the Southern region of Vietnam. However further extension of American support to South Vietnam commenced from around March 1965 when around 500,000 soldiers were sent to the region to fight both communist aggression from North Vietnam region and also to combat the Chinese forces. The young troops found it difficult to understand who their real enemies were and who could be trusted. These soldiers sent through air and sea routes to South Korea rendered significant obstruction to North Korean and Chinese regime. President Nixon during 1969 stressed on the extension of rendering better weaponry and training facilities to the South Korean people to help them in combating against the Communist North Vietnam troops (Vietnam War, n.d.). The granting of aid to the North Vietnam region by the Russian regime had its beginning after the close of the Second World War. At those times the grant was mainly rendered to help the Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh to help fight the French army. Grants of the amount ranging from $3.6 to $8 billion were extended to North Vietnam by Russia to fight against the South Vietnam troops. From the 1964 period the Russian grant extended to North Vietnam also included combating the United States army in South Vietnam. A huge regiment of Russian advisors of around 15,000 people was sent to North Vietnam during 1964. Russia also helped around 5000 North Vietnam people to become fighter pilots to combat the South Vietnam army (Soviet Aid to North Vietnam, n.d.). While Viet Cong troops were well trained, the American soldiers rather used technology and machineries to fight back the attack and innocent civilians died in the process since they considered everyone their enemy. Peace talks were held by both sides in 1968 and Ho Chi Minh wanted the foreign troops to move out of the south. Once USA (under President Nixon) pulled out majority of the troops from the south, gradually Peace of War was called for as the South could not encounter the strong attacks of the Cong forces. Thus Vietnam was united again and later Saigon (capital of the South) fell and renamed as Ho Chi Minh City. US withdrew involvement after suffering huge financial and moral loss along with the loss of lives and adjustment made in the budget for the welfare of the nation (Trueman, 2011). Vietnam War and Changing Patterns of relationship between United States, USSR and People Republic of China China and Russia both contested to extend their aids to North Vietnam to take control of the Communist region. The Chinese feared that Russia would gain better control of North Vietnam region through active cooperation with the Vietnamese communists. Further Russia continually accused China during the period 1966 to 1967 of disturbing their functions of providing aid to North Vietnam, which extended the dispute (Low, 1976, pp.227-228). Russia in the bid to wining over North Vietnam supported the region with heavy amount of military aid of around 55,000 tons during 1965. The Soviet Republic also rendered around 4000 Russian soldiers to North Vietnam. During 1967 the amount of military aid rendered to North Vietnam was around $550 million. Till the end of 1972 the total amount of aid given to Vietnam increased to around $3 billion which totally surpassed China’s endeavor to support the cause (Li & McMahon, 2010, pp.2-3). Soviet Russia desired North Vietnam to enhance its trading relationships with the United States. This feature of the war came to scene during 1969 owing to President Nixon’s threat of worsening the war situation if North Vietnam if the region did not enter into peace agreements (Gilbert, 2002, p.90). The Chinese Leader Mao Tse-Tung had expressed his opinion that America would not pose an attack on North Vietnam. Further China also wanted to avoid clash with United States, which they feared would develop into US-China war (Zhai, 2000, p.143). The continuous links of America with China broadened the dispute with Russia, which ended in the event of split in the relations between China and Russia. This strategy used by the United States helped in weakening the strengths of the Communist movement (Short, 2002, p.60). The relationship of China with America was found to counter several ups and downs owing to the anti-communist regimes of United States in times of Korean and Vietnam War. During the 1960s the relationship between China and United States countered major drifts owing to their opposite positions in Vietnam War. However the Nixon doctrine of 1969 endeavored to change America’s approach to China and Asia by reduction in military action. This resulted with the creation of Shanghai Communique to better up the relations (Sino-American Relations, n.d.). China and United States both wanted to reduce Russia’s growing dominance over South East Asia. China and Russia, both being communist, countries battled against each other to gain supremacy over the region. United States on the other hand desired to ward off the Communist power from the total region (Other Asian States, n.d.). The region of South East Asia reflected a tussle of power between countries such as Russia, United States and China. During the end of the Cold War period the region of Russia suffered and United States gained the control over the Asian region. Further from the period of Cold War, China a regional power due to United States intervention gained political supremacy over the region. Thus both countries United States and China helped each other in setting aside Russia and gaining political control over South East Asia (Ross, 2009, p.47). Conclusion The end of the Second World War resulted in the inception of the Cold War between the Superpower nations like United States, United Kingdom, and France with rather Communist blocs like China and Russia. This period thus led to the division of world power between the capitalists and communists. The region of Vietnam in order to gain freedom from French dominion ushered for help from the Chinese region. The Soviet Republic also started granting heavy amount of aid to North Vietnam region in the form of military and economic aid to help fight the French army. Further United States saw the Communist win over the Vietnam region as a ‘domino effect’, which could lead to further communist wins over other regions. Hence United States started helping the South Vietnam region to combat against the growing power of the Communists. China also started extending its hands with United States to become the regional communist leader by putting aside Russia. 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