Cold War: A War of Wills and Violence

摘要

The above unintended, on-the-air, radio remark made by President Reagan in the 1980s, 'We've decided to destroy the Soviet Union; bombing begins in five minutes' captures the frightening aspect of the Cold War and just how close the world may have come to total annihilation. However, since this destruction never came in the form of a Hot War, the Cold War has been viewed by many as something very different from real war. But was it really. What would the renowned thinker, Carl von Clausewitz, who defined 'What is War', have to say about our modern day Cold War. Could he explain it. Would it fit the nature of war as he theorized war should be. In this short paper, I will explore and analyze the Cold War in light of three key Clausewitzian elements and show that indeed, the Cold War was a real war. (star)Wars Are Violent. Was the Cold War period really non-violent. Does blood and intensity in war matter to Clausewitz. (star) Wars Are a Test of Wills. Was the Cold War a battle of wills. How important is will to Clausewitz. Can it be sustained for half a century. (star)Wars Are Won in the Minds of Men. Why did the Cold War end. Does Clausewitz's thoughts on how will can be broken explain what actually occurred in the Soviet Union.