i dislike 40 mark questions

How far do you agree with the view that it was primarily the existence of contrasting economic systems that prevented the relaxation of super-power tensions in the period 1945-62?

introduction

The origins and continuation of the Cold War can be traced back to the differing and incompatible ideologies of the two post-war bi-polar super-powers. Russia, which had been devastated by war, viewed a strong communist sphere of influence in Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle-East as crucial to protecting national security and preventing further attacks and aggression upon its homeland. America, meanwhile, feared exactly the opposite. Its economy was fuelled by international trade, but as had been witnessed in World War 2, the discontinuation of trade due to unstable political movements had lead to the first attack on American soil in Pearl Harbour, and shattering any illusions of American invulnerability to domestic attack. It was a nation which proudly declared its groundings in freedom and democracy, both of which would be under threat should the Soviet influence threaten a favourable capitalist balance of power. As can clearly be seen, the need for strong national security for each side lead to two contrasting ideologies, born out of polar opposite economic systems, thus forming the significant basis of the Cold War; a sentiment certainly voiced by Marxist historians. Alongside, there remained throughout the conflict a great sense of long-term mistrust between the two, aided by such occurrences as the Red Scare from 1919 and the Nazi-Soviet Pact of 1939. Ultimately, it was to be the pursuit of national security achieved through economics which clashed which would prevent the relaxation of tensions between America and the USSR.

and no, i dont care either