HOW DID THE CREATION OF NEW SPHERES OF INTERESTS INTENSIFY COLD WAR TENSIONS BETWEEN THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AFTER 1945? Refer to Source 1A - NSC History - Question 1 - 2016 - Paper 1

According to Marx, capitalism was fundamentally flawed as it led to the exploitation of the working class (proletariat) by the owning class (bourgeoisie). This resulted in vast inequalities, where wealth and power became concentrated in the hands of a few, leading to social unrest and economic instability.

Stalin viewed capitalism as a threat to the stability and security of communist nations during the Cold War. He argued that capitalism led to competition and conflict among nations, ultimately fostering an environment ripe for war. In this context, Stalin sought to promote communism as a means to create solidarity and security among socialist states.

Stalin requested sacrifices from the Soviet people to recover from the devastation of World War II and to rebuild the economy. He argued that these sacrifices were necessary to defend against Western capitalist encroachment and to maintain the strength of the Soviet state.

The cartoon presents Stalin as distrustful and defensive regarding the Marshall Plan, perceiving it as a tool of American economic dominance. It suggests that Stalin saw the Plan as a threat to Soviet influence in Eastern Europe and as an attempt to undermine socialist governments.

The sickle and hammer emblem symbolises the unity of industrial and agricultural workers in a communist society. It represents the ideologies of socialism and communism, emphasizing the importance of the working class.

Stalin had to play the role of a defender because he needed to maintain the legitimacy of the Soviet regime and prevent Western influence from spreading. By adopting this stance, he reinforced his image as a protector of socialism, which was crucial for gaining support among Soviet citizens and other communist countries.

The programme that Stalin implemented to counter the Marshall Plan was known as COMECON (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance), which aimed to integrate the economies of socialist countries.

Source 1C emphasizes the ideological struggle between the Soviet Union and the United States, highlighting Stalin's determination to expand communism as a counter to capitalist expansion. In contrast, Source 1D focuses on the immediate political reactions to the Marshall Plan, showcasing Stalin's defensive posture toward Western economic policies and the need to preserve Soviet influence in Eastern Europe.

The establishment of new spheres of interest following World War II deepened Cold War tensions by creating a clear ideological divide between the capitalist West, led by the United States, and the communist East, led by the Soviet Union. As both superpowers sought to expand their influence, countries around the world became battlegrounds for ideological competition. The U.S. initiated the Marshall Plan to curb the spread of communism in Europe, while Stalin countered with the establishment of COMECON to bolster socialist economies. This relentless struggle for dominance not only heightened distrust but also led to military and political conflicts in various regions, solidifying the bipolar world order that characterized the Cold War era.