...ruler that comes to mind such as Joseph Stalin. Joseph Stalin epitomizes the ideas put forward by Machiavelli by depicting that being neutral is never an option, going to war, and having discipline. Joseph Stalin is a certain individual who made the Soviet Union a world superpower. Joseph Stalin is commonly known for his harsh ways and his leadership skills. At a tender age, Joseph Stalin felt he has been treated unfairly his entire life, as a result it led to the desire for greatness and respect in his future. In 1922 Joseph Stalin was appointed as the General Secretary of the Communist Party’s Central Committee. Stalin utilized this new position to overpower the less fortunate. Stalin’s tenure as dictator was so harsh that when Nikita Khrushchev took over in 1953 he started a policy of “de-Stalinization.” Stalin, having the utmost fear of being overthrown he executed some of his best medium ranked leaders. Machiavelli was noticed for Realpolitik, a political and judicial action that fits the circumstances but is not moral and it would be considered a crime. Most European societies and nations have adapted to the idea that politicians behave like cheats, liars and thieves, because certain circumstances require it. Machiavelli is also known for introducing the idea of having the lesser evil, this is what many politicians abided by. The Prince is still used as a supportfor heads of government to keep the reputation...
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...STALIN, THE GREAT PURGE, AND RUSSIAN HISTORY: A NEW LOOK AT THE ~EW by MARSHALL SHATZ Paper No. 305 1984 CLASS' STALIN, THE GREAT PURGE, AND RUSSIAN HISTORY: A NEW LOOK AT THE 'NEW CLASS' ~ MARSHALL SHATZ Paper No. 305 1984 Marshall S. Shatz received his B.A. from Harvard College and his M.A., Certificate of the Russian Institute, and Ph.D. from Columbia University. He edited The Essential Works of Anarchism (New York: Bantam Books, 1971; Quadrangle Books, 1972) and is the author of Soviet Dissent in Historical ¥erspective (Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press, 1980). He is Professor of History, University of Massachusetts at Boston. 1 STALIN; THE GREAT PURGE; AND RUSSIAN HIsroRY: A NEW IOOK AT '!HE • NEW CLASS' Though nearly fifty years in the past; Stalin •s Great Purge of the 1930s still loans as one of the nost enigmatic events of the twentieth century. Whether we think of the Great Purge as a IOOre or less continuous process fran the assassination of Kirov in 1934 to Ezhov's replacement by Beria as head of the secret police at the em of 1938; or limit it to the EzhoVshchina of 1937 and 1938; When the terror reached its peak; operation is astounding. the sheer nagnitude of the The nuniber of arrests; deportations; imprisonments; and lives lost in these years is impossible to measure; and attempts to do so have varied wildly. Even the lOi/est estimates; however; are staggering.l It ...
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...or simplified, on the solutions of two men – president of the United States of America, John F. Kennedy and president of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev. I will try to focus on the particular question, which is – why did the Soviet Union decide to place nuclear missiles in Cuba. I have chosen this question because it is the principle of the crisis. Looking on it from different points of view will secure the objectivity of the conclusions. First, I will analyze it with using the theory of Constructivism, then I will use the Game theory. Realism In realism, states are the principal actors in the international system, which is anarchic. States look on their own interests and they are rational unitary actors. Placing of the missiles in Cuba was in conflict of the Soviets behavior and their statements: The Soviets gave every indication of sensitivity both to American strategic interests and to the president's political needs. In their September 4 meeting, Ambassador Dobrynin called on Robert Kennedy to relay a confidential promise from Chairman Khrushchev that the Soviet Union would not create any trouble for the United States during the election campaign.(reading the lessons page 3)Moreover, a Soviet official in Washington used by Khrushchev as his personal courier to the White House, conveyed a message directly from Khrushchev and Foreign Minister Anastas Mikoian. They assured Kennedy that "no missile capable of reaching the United States would be placed in Cuba."(reading...
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...Antionette Lopez World Since 1945 11/21/13 Power point question How does Kruschev’s message differ from that of Stalin in substance and tone? What is the significance? When repression hit the Soviet Union, millions of Soviet political prisoners were released from Gulag labor camps, due to Nikita Khrushchev's policies of de-Stalinization and peaceful coexistence with other nations. . Khrushchev denounced Stalin in "The Secret Speech" at the 20th Congress of the Communist Party, then banned the pro-Stalinists during his power struggle. The Thaw initiated irreversible transformation of the entire Soviet society by opening up for some economic reforms and international trade, educational and cultural contacts, etc; it was a chain of steps to free people from fear and dictatorship under Stalin. Although the power struggle between liberals and conservative pro-Stalinists never stopped, it eventually weakened the Soviet Communist Party. Khrushchev's Thaw allowed some freedom of information in the media, arts and culture; international festival, foreign films, uncensored books, and new forms of entertainment on the emerging national TV, ranging from massive parades and celebrations to popular music and variety shows, satire and comedies. Such political and cultural updates all together helped liberate minds and changed the public’s view of the government. So many people took to Khruschev’s policies because unlike Stalin he was less cruel and suspicious...
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...or indirectly. The significant ones are the United States and the Soviet Union which were directly involved in the crisis and actively participated in the negotiations. Additionally, Cuba and Turkey concerned by the crisis because of their role of holding the missiles of the Soviet Union and the United States in their own soil; and Germany was indirectly concerned because of the possible attack of the USSR to Berlin (1). At the outbreak of the crisis, the most important and deterministic positions were the United States’ and the Soviet Union’s ones. The Soviet Union decided to start a deployment of nuclear weapons (MRBMs and IRBMs) in Cuba which was accepted and found “interesting” by Fidel Castro ; later in the crisis period Premier Khrushchev would define the weapons as defensive precautions. While Cuba and the Soviet...
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...I had three participants in my interview about the Cold War. They varied in age and gender. Jane Doe is a 40 year old mother who completed high school. Jim Johnson is an 18 year old male who just began his Associates degree. James Black is a 52 year old man who finished high school. Each had similar and differing answers depending on the question asked. To get a basic understanding of their knowledge of the Cold War I asked, “Did you ever study the Cold War in school? If so, what are some aspects of the Cold War that you remember?” Responses to this question seemed to change according to age. James, being the oldest of the interviewed subjects stated that he honestly did not know if they learned about it in school. He stated with a chuckle, “That was a long time ago, but I think the Berlin wall was involved.” He stated that everyone seemed to be anti-communism. Jane, also felt that school was so long ago that she was unsure. She did state that she felt fairly certain that she did learn about this subject while in school. Jim, the freshest out of school was much more confident in his answer. Jim stated, “Yes, the Cuban missile crisis was the peak of the Cold War. It was a time when Soviet Russia set up a missile base in Cuba, which was the closest to America. It caused great distress.” When I asked the subjects, “What words or phrases come to mind when you think of the term Cold War”, the answers were similar. James’s answer was the most basic stating, “Russia and nuclear war...
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...soldiers setting up nuclear-armed missiles. Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, had promised repeatedly not to send offensive weapons to Cuba after John Kennedy warned the Soviet Union that if they ever introduced offensive weapons, 'the gravest issues would arise.’ These photos were proof that Khrushchev had been lying. It has been reported to us that the USA has 25,000 nuclear weapons and the Soviet union have much less. Kennedy has decided that it would be seen as an act of war if he attacked the missile site hence the decision for him not doing so. Furthermore, if nuclear weapons were used it would cause humans in the northern hemisphere to perish, as found out by Kennedy's predecessor, Dwight Eisenhower. Kennedy made a decision, with the help of Excomm (Executive Committee of the National Security Council) about what should happen and they decided on a blockade to prevent the missiles getting into the missile base, this seemed like a good idea because it wouldn't be seen as an act of war but it would stop the missiles. John Kennedy told the USSR that the USA would sink any missiles that attempted to go through the blockade The USSR know that if they did so it would cause a war, yet they didn't back down at first. Khrushchev sent twenty soviet ships to the blockade however when they got there they turned around and went back home. Was the crisis over? It seemed like it. Kennedy was feeling positive because Khrushchev sent him a letter saying that he would remove these missiles...
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...In the book Countdown by Deborah Wiles, the setting is a huge part of the story, especially the time. On page 21, there is the practice air raid siren which shows that this is a time where war can happen at any time and on page 351, it was mentioned that the Cuban Missile Crisis had finally ended further proving that this was a time of nuclear war. The time period was clearly stated a few times such as on page 111 claiming it was “3:13 pm on Saturday afternoon, October 20, 1962,” and on 370 “October 31, 1962.” The terms used also determined the time period as on page 48, two moving guys were referred to as “two colored men” as opposed to not stating the skin color status like we do today which shows we were still in a time of civil rights for African Americans in this book. Another term used was stationwagon instead of car on page 26 showing once again that this book took place in older times. The final thing determining time period was the fact that Mercurochrome is commonly used on page 36. Mercurochrome isn’t deemed safe anymore for medical uses as of the nineties so this book has just proved itself ultimately to be in 1962. In the book, the geographic setting and specific setting is fairly important as for missiles and air raid drills. On page 188, Uncle Otts mentions that they are “too close to Washington D.C,” expressing that they are in Maryland and near the White House so they have a higher risk of being hit with missiles. On page 19, it is mentioned that the school...
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...How important to the united states management of its cold war diplomacy were relations between the USSR and china in the years 1962-76?- why did sino-soviet relations begin? To what extent was the deterioration in sino-soviet relations in the years 1958-69 due to personal rivalries? (Why the split happened) * Ideological differences * Both sides disagreed over how best to pursue the notion of a communist revolution. * The Soviets had Cominform and China had her own version of communism based on a rural society. * When Khrushchev came to power he reassessed the Soviet interpretation of communism, taking it back to a purer Leninist view point, this intensified ideological differences further. * Khrushchev’s belief that Capitalism was doomed to fail and so expansionism and aggression were unnecessary (peaceful coexistence) was juxtaposed with Mao’s adherence creating a communist revolution and military involvement to protest communist comrades e.g. Korean War. * Mao also wanted to continue with Stalin’s Five Year Plans and devised his own version The Great Leap Forward campaign launched in 1958 to increase industrial and agricultural progress. The campaign involved building dams, reservoirs, roads and establishing communes and setting up small-scale steel and iron furnaces in country areas.- This policy was a disaster resulting in at least 17 million deaths and prompted, due to frustration, Soviet withdrawal of economic aid in 1960. Individuals ...
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...The Soviet economy after Stalin: how could Khrushchev de-Stalinise the Stalinist system? Author(s): Jonathan Davis Source: 20th Century History Review. 4.1 (Sept. 2008): p21. Document Type: Article Full Text: When Nikita Khrushchev came to power after Josef Stalin's death in 1953, the new Soviet leader hoped to restructure the USSR along less harsh Stalinist, lines. Khrushchev famously sought to de-Stalinise the USSR and part of his reforms saw him demand changes to an economy that had a less than successful agricultural sector and industries that prioritised heavy machinery over everything else. While some aspects of the Stalinist economy were regarded as successful and therefore continued (for example, heavy industry remained a priority), it was now recognised that other areas were in much need of improvement. Heavy industry had always been favoured over light industry and this led to a severe lack of consumer goods. The brutal methods used by the Stalinist government to collectivise the agricultural sector left millions of peasants bitter and resentful; the agricultural question remained one of the most difficult problems for leaders and policy makers. Moreover, the supposedly planned economy was, in places, more improvised than planned, causing numerous difficulties. Rectifying the problems in the Stalinist economy was crucial for Khrushchev, for the Soviet people and for the Soviet Union. The USSR had to maintain its position as a superpower during the Cold...
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...representative government and via these representatives ¡§govern themselves¡¨. During the period between 1961 to 1963, Nikita S. Khrushchev represented Communism and ruled Russia, while John F. Kennedy embodied democracy and lead America. The two leaders differed in their foreign policies as is evident by the Berlin Wall incident and the Cuban missile crisis, but both were somewhat radical in their domestic policies. Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev was first secretary of the Soviet Communist party from 1953 to 1964 and effective leader of the USSR from 1956 (premier from 1958) to 1964. He was born on April 17th, 1894, in the village of Kalinovka, Kursk province. As a young boy, Khrushchev worked long hours in the coal mines. Khrushchev seemed to be a revolutionist from a young age as he organized several strikes and in 1918 he joined the Bolshevik party and fought in the Civil War. Afterward, he was sent by the party to a technical institute to learn more about Marxism. Khrushchev rose steadily up the party ladder, always combining his talents as an administrator with his technical training. After assignments in the Ukraine, he became head of the Moscow regional party committee, and in 1934 he became a member of the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist party. In these positions he directed the construction of the Moscow subway. Although increasingly influential, Khrushchev was never an intimate associate of Joseph Stalin; he concentrated on technical rather...
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...the missiles were 90 miles off the American costal line. Although it seems as if the Cuban Missile Crisis happened at a blinding pace, this crisis actually was a culmination of a much longer process. In this essay I will be focusing on the events that led up to the terrifying 14 day event of the Cuban Missile Crisis as well as looking at the crisis from an individual level of analysis and from a realist point of view. In order to fully understand the Cuban Missile Crisis, we must first take a look at all of the events that had lead up to the crisis. Among many of the factors leading up to the nuclear standoff between the countries, one of the factors, of course, was the genuine concern of defense of each leader, John F. Kennedy, Nikita Khrushchev, and Fidel Castro. Each leader would act in uncertainty trying to offset the actions of the other leaders out of fear of what the others might do. One major event that had raised lots of concern, was in April, 1961, during the Bay of Pigs. This was an unsuccessful invasion by the untrained CIA of the United States to overthrow the Cuban Dictator Fidel Castro. Due...
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...only two ways- either Peaceful Coexistence or the most destructive war in History. There is no third way." - Khrushchev After the death of Joseph Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev took over in control of the USSR. Khrushchev made multiple efforts to appear to work towards a serious “peaceful co-existence.” Though many of the events which took place during Khrushchev’s leadership brought the world closer to another major war than ever before, Soviet domestic and foreign policy during this time is often regarded as a “thaw” in Cold War tension. From this we can gather that his foreign policy was in fact successful. Not only did he manage to avoid nuclear warfare with the U.S, but he also gave a speech in 1956 where he formally announced a new policy of “destalinisation” - political prisoners were set free, Beria (Stalin’s Chief of Secret Police) was executed, giving up bases in Finland, abandoning vetoing admission of new countries to the UN, allowing greater freedom to satellite states and re conciliating with Tito in 1955. In 1961 Khrushchev declared that the period of 'the dictatorship of the proletariat' was at an end, and that he would bring in instead: 'the state of the whole people'. The rest of the world initially saw this is a huge change from what Stalin had attempted before and thought that it would lead to an entirely different style of leadership. Khrushchev believed the Soviets could match the living standards of that of the West and one of his key policies in order...
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...The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962 Throughout 1952- 1959 a right wing dictator called Batista was in power. The Americans supplied him with many resources and had large trading deals. In 1959 Fidel Castro led a revolt again Batista and came into power and began ruling in a communist way. Americans immediately stopped trading with Cuba so Castro looked for help from Kruschev. The Bay of Pigs 1961: The new young president Kennedy decided to launch a CIA plan to contain communism. He sent 1,500 cuban exiles into Cuba hoping to spark a revolt against the new communist regime. This was a fiasco as Kennedy had underestimated the popularity of Castro as well as the strength of the Cuban armed forces, he wanted to contain communism. Castro then asked Kruschev to help him with defend Cuba from any other attacks. The US had missiles in Turkey facing towards the USSR so Kruschev wanted threatening missiles as well. Kennedy sent U2 spy planes in which it was confirmed that the USSR were sending missiles to Cuba and the bases were being made towards the US. Kennedy called upon the committee of the National Security to help him decide how to deal with the situation. A naval blockade was then sent around Cuba to prevent the USSR ships containing the missiles to reach Cuba. The ships turned away when they met the American navy, however the missiles already on Cuba carried on being made. Kruschev sent a letter to Kennedy admitting there were missiles on Cuba but only for defence. Before...
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...During Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidential tenure, a disagreement with Fidel Castro caused friction between the United States and Cuba. The turmoil between the United States and Cuba continued after John F. Kennedy took office. Each one these men, Fidel Castro, President Eisenhower, President Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev struggled for power and almost led our nations to a nuclear war. What led to the Cuban Missile Crisis? Fidel Castro was a lawyer in Cuba, he was unhappy with Fulgencio Batista’s dictatorship and tried to use the law to remove Batista from power.1 After his failed attempts he became a rebel with the intent of overthrowing Cuba’s dictator Fulgencio Batista. His vision was to spread the wealth of the rich and give to the poor; and provide everyone with the same resources.2 Batista’s cruel behavior and murder of the Cuban people made him a target, he eventually fled.3 After winning public support and overthrowing their dictator, Fidel Castro began to spread the wealth among the Cuban people.4 This was a positive movement for the poor, but not popular among the more educated people who knew how to make money, so they began to flee Cuba.5 On April 15th 1959, Fidel Castro made an attempt to meet with President Eisenhower, instead, President Eisenhower went to play golf to avoid interaction with Castro.6 His intentions may have been to address the turmoil between the United States and Cuba. Instead, Vice President Nixon met with Fidel Castro, the vice presidents...
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