Policy of Containment Comecon (jan 1, 1947 – dec 31, 1947)

Description:

- Kennan's Long Telegram
provided the necessary impetus for the USA to shift its foreign policy away from isolationism and adopt the policy of containment. Kennan’s telegram emphasised that the Soviet Union’s ambition was to spread dominance over the world and the USA must adopt a tougher global strategy to deal with the Soviets.


March
- Announcement of Truman Doctrine
to justify American involvement in various countries that were facing economic and political instability to prevent their fall to Communism and the following ‘domino effect’-like spread. He portrayed democracy as superior to communism as communism was a violation of the free rights they stood for.

June
- Marshall Plan
To make communism less appealing and minimise the danger of European countries embracing communism, the Marshall Plan would offer economic assistance from the USA that would provide immediate relief and revitalise the European capitalist economies.

September
- Cominform
to unite the communist states in Europe and all satellite states of the USSR were members. Stalin’s aim was to tighten his control on the satellite states and the members were expected to implement Soviet-style communism and trade mainly with other member states. Economic aid was also offered to the satellite states to discourage contact with non-communist countries. However, the Soviet Union could not provide economic aid to the Cominform members on a similar scale as the Marshall Plan.

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