International Relations Essay: Cold War Ideologies and Peace

This essay delves into the ideological division between the USSR and the USA during the Cold War, focusing on how these differences influenced the Cuban Missile Crisis and the pursuit of peace. The paper examines the core tenets of realism and idealism, highlighting how each ideology shaped the actions and goals of both superpowers. It analyzes the impact of ideological conflict on international relations, exploring the role of these competing philosophies in shaping events and influencing the decisions made during the Cold War. The essay evaluates the extent to which either realist interests or idealist values contributed to maintaining peace throughout this tumultuous period, providing a comprehensive analysis of the complex interplay between ideology, power, and international stability. References include works by Frankel, Kubálková, Ross, Sarantakes & Westad, Baylis, Smith & Owens, Caute, and Russett.

Running head: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Q1.
For years cold war has been has been understood as events that proved the rivalry
between USSR and the United States without ever having a direct conflict (Sarantakes &
Westad, 2019). After analyzing the ideological clash is seen as the major reason of the war that
has impacted the entire world. The paper aims to discuss the two of the ideologies that have
resulted to conflict between the US and the USSR.
It is important to understand the bases of each theory in order to understand the way the
two ideologies oppose each other. International relations have existed as a discipline ever since
the World War I occurred. Along with it came the need to explain the events that occurred across
the globe (Kubálková, 2015). In order to achieve the analysis the two theories are undertaken to
fit the requirement of the discipline.
Occurred in October 1962 the Cuban Missile Crisis of was a direct as well as
dangerous confrontation between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War.
The cold war is however considered as war of ideologies. The theory of realism is widely known
for its anthropological pessimism that appears when it is faced with the likelihood of collective
interests. Since anarchic is the pattern of international system, the rise of realism was natural. It
naturally aroused specifically for the idea that all nations seek ways to increase their power.
Also, the other significant factor of this theory is the national interest that was based on the fact
that the US is the main actor and its security is the prime concern of it. Through these following
characteristics the conclusion can be made that in realism is a theory that cannot be applied to
political actions (Frankel, 2018). According to the liberal thinkers, international cooperation
must be promoted for the purpose of achieving peace, justice and welfare across the world.

2INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Considering this theory, international relation is possible. The theory provides a goal that can be
reached through institution that can regulate the actions of the United States.
According to Ross (2016), the cold war an ideological conflict between US and USSR or
it can be stated that it was a conflict between capitalism and communism. While the USSR
determined themselves as socialists, the North Americans were communists. It was one of the
main issues that led to the Cold war. The national interest of the two nations was different with
different type of methods. The speeches of John F. Kennedy that was delivered when compared
with the soviet leader Khrushchev, the difference between the terms is reflected. Realism as a
theory in the field of international relationship began rising during the cold war. It occurred
during that period due to much of its approach consisted to justify the actions of the United
States in order to maintain its hegemony. Idealism, on the other hand, is a tradition in which
international relations head towards the concept of freedom, prosperity and peace and progress.
The rise of this ideology was from the assumption that the transformation of international
relations coming from modernization and the other political, social and economic changes that
occurred in the recent centuries.

3INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
References:
Frankel, M. (2018). Learning from the Missile Crisis. In Cuban Communism, 1959-2003 (pp. 80-
90). Routledge.
Kubálková, V. (2015). International relations in a constructed world. Routledge.
Ross, R. S. (2016). China, the United States and the Soviet Union: Tripolarity and Policy
Making in the Cold War: Tripolarity and Policy Making in the Cold War. Routledge.
Sarantakes, N. E., & Westad, O. A. (2019). The Cold War: A World History. Naval War College
Review, 72(1), 164-174.

4INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Q2.
The cold war certainly affected the whole world in every aspect including socially,
economically and politically that shifted around the moment of peace that was hoped by the UN
(Baylis, Smith & Owens, 2017). The essay aims to discuss the ways it was a realistic or idealist
values that maintained the peace.
According to Russett (2018), the two main ideologies that clashed and resulted to the war
between the nations are realism and idealism. It was one of the critical time when the Missile
crisis occurred and the population panicked. Throughout the continuous chaos that occurred from
the cold war, the system finally managed to settle down (Ross, 2016). It was the idealistic path
that was followed. The United States made alliance for fulfilling their goals. However, it was
then when things turned into complications. The United States cooperated in order to accomplish
certain goals however the world was divided into two: The USSR and its allies (Warsaw Pact)
and the US and its allies (NATO). In order to maintain the game and take the most advantage the
military alliance was present. According to idealism, the selfish nature do not have space along
with the crave for the constant need for power however, the theory of realism had these
characteristics. The conflict was clearly between two ideologies which made everything
complicated. The theories were considered again in order to find solution to the war.
According to Caute (2017), there was never a direct war with direct arm between the two
superpowers however it was conflict between the ideologies that took place during this specific
period. It is important to taken in consideration the two undertake the conflict of ideologies and
the countries involved. While one country wanted to gain power through realism, the other
country wanted the same with the ideology of idealism. The rivalry between the two nations led

5INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
to the strife of power which is talked about immensely and the in the process of it. Although the
idealistic path that was followed the realism did not step down while making the decision.
Considering the characteristics of the two ideologies, there were difficult situations leading to
difficult decision making.

6INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
References:
Baylis, J., Smith, S., & Owens, P. (Eds.). (2017). The globalization of world politics: An
introduction to international relations. Oxford University Press.
Caute, D. (2017). Politics and the Novel during the Cold War. Routledge.
Ross, R. S. (2016). China, the United States and the Soviet Union: Tripolarity and Policy
Making in the Cold War: Tripolarity and Policy Making in the Cold War. Routledge.
Russett, B. M. (2018). No clear and present danger: a skeptical view of the United States entry
into World War II. Routledge.