Attitudes and ideologies (AQA GCSE History): Revision Notes
Attitudes and ideologies
The ideological divide after World War II
When the Second World War ended in 1945, the wartime alliance between the Western powers and the Soviet Union began to crumble. The fundamental reason for this breakdown was that these former allies held completely different beliefs about how society and government should work. These conflicting ideas, known as ideologies, would become the foundation of the Cold War.
An ideology is essentially a set of political beliefs and ideas about how society should be organised and run. Understanding these competing ideologies is crucial to grasping why the Cold War developed and lasted for nearly half a century.
Capitalism versus communism: two opposing worldviews
The ideological split centred on two fundamentally different economic and political systems: capitalism and communism.
The Western approach: capitalism and individual freedom
The United States and Britain championed capitalism, which they believed was built on the principles of freedom and democracy. In their view, this system offered several key advantages:
Economic freedom: Capitalists argued that everyone should have the right to make money for themselves through private enterprise. They believed that when individuals were free to pursue their own economic interests, it would benefit society as a whole through increased prosperity and innovation.
Individual decision-making: Western leaders emphasised that individuals were better equipped to make decisions about buying and selling than government officials. This reflected their belief in personal responsibility and the efficiency of free markets.
International trade: Capitalists promoted the idea that trade between countries would make everyone richer by allowing nations to specialise in what they did best and exchange goods freely.
The Soviet approach: communism and collective equality
The Soviet Union, in stark contrast, promoted communism based on what they saw as fairness and equality. Their ideology emphasised:
Economic equality: Communists argued that capitalism only made some people rich while exploiting everyone else. They believed that wealth should be shared more equally among all members of society.
Collective strength: Rather than focusing on individual success, communism emphasised that people were stronger when working together towards common goals. This collective approach was seen as more effective than individual competition.
State control: Communists believed the government should control the economy and run it for the benefit of everyone, rather than allowing private individuals to accumulate wealth at others' expense.
Political systems: democracy versus dictatorship
These economic differences were reflected in contrasting political systems that each side believed were superior.
Capitalist democracy
Western nations promoted democratic systems that featured:
- Individual freedoms: Citizens enjoyed personal liberties including freedom of speech, movement, and religion
- Multi-party elections: People could choose between different political parties in free elections
- Popular sovereignty: Citizens had the power to decide their own fate through democratic participation
- Limited government: The state's power was restricted to protect individual rights
The American flag became a powerful symbol of these freedoms, with its stripes representing the original thirteen colonies that had fought for independence from British rule.
Communist dictatorship
The Soviet system operated very differently:
- Collective purpose: Everyone was expected to work for the 'common good' rather than personal gain
- Single-party rule: Only the Communist Party was allowed to govern, eliminating political competition
- Revolutionary goals: The system aimed for workers to eventually overthrow capitalist systems worldwide
- State surveillance: The government maintained strict control through censorship and a police state
The Soviet flag, featuring the hammer and sickle, symbolised the workers and peasants who had risen up in revolution against the old order.
Historical context: the Russian Revolution of 1917
To understand Soviet attitudes, it's essential to know about the Russian Revolution of 1917. This pivotal event established the world's first communist state and created lasting tensions with capitalist nations.
The revolution was based on communist principles that called for a worldwide uprising against capitalism. Communist leaders believed that workers around the globe would eventually overthrow their capitalist rulers and establish similar communist states. This revolutionary ideology naturally put the Soviet Union in conflict with capitalist countries.
When the Bolsheviks (Russian communists) seized power in 1917, they immediately pulled Russia out of World War I, abandoning their allies Britain and the United States. This betrayal during wartime created deep resentment and distrust that would persist for decades.
Capitalist powers had supported the Russian government during the war, but were then defeated by the communist revolutionaries, creating lasting animosity between the two sides.
The Red Scare: Western fears of communist expansion
The 1917 Russian Revolution shocked capitalist countries and created what became known as the Red Scare. Western nations, particularly the United States, became deeply concerned about the spread of communist ideas and revolution.
This fear was based on several factors:
Ideological threat: The communist promise of worldwide revolution directly threatened the capitalist system that Western nations relied upon for their prosperity and way of life.
Domestic concerns: Capitalist governments worried that communist ideas might spread to their own populations, particularly among workers who might be attracted to promises of greater equality and shared wealth.
International instability: The sudden withdrawal of Russia from World War I and the abandonment of their allies created fear that communist governments could not be trusted to honour international agreements.
Espionage fears: The Red Scare included widespread suspicion of communist spies and agents working to undermine Western governments from within.
This fear of communism would drive much of American foreign policy for the next several decades and help explain why tensions escalated so quickly after World War II ended.
Timeline of key events
- 1917: Russian Revolution - Bolsheviks seize power and establish communist government
- 1917-1920: Russian Civil War - Western powers support anti-communist forces
- 1920s-1930s: Red Scare spreads across Western nations
- 1941-1945: Wartime alliance between USSR and Western Allies against Nazi Germany
- 1945: End of WWII - Ideological tensions resurface as common enemy defeated
Key Points to Remember:
- Ideology was the root cause: The Cold War fundamentally began because of opposing beliefs about how society should be organised - capitalism versus communism
- Economic systems reflected values: Capitalism emphasised individual freedom and competition, while communism focused on collective equality and cooperation
- Political systems mirrored economics: Democratic freedoms in the West contrasted sharply with communist single-party control in the East
- Historical trauma mattered: The 1917 Russian Revolution and subsequent Red Scare created lasting distrust between former World War II allies
- Fear drove policy: Western fears of communist expansion and Soviet fears of capitalist exploitation would shape decades of international relations