b) Containment

The U.S. policy of containment, a strategic blueprint to curb the spread of communism during the Cold War, was a cornerstone of American foreign policy for nearly half a century. Articulated by diplomat George Kennan, this doctrine shaped U.S. international relations from the late 1940s through the end of the Cold War. Kennan’s perspective on containment was initially outlined in his famous “Long Telegram” from Moscow in 1946 and further expanded in his 1947 article, “The Sources of Soviet Conduct.”

The policy was a response to the perceived threat of Soviet expansionism and was aimed at preventing the spread of communism to other countries. It was not necessarily about rolling back communism where it already existed but rather about preventing its further spread. This approach led the U.S. to engage in various global conflicts and initiatives, reflecting the intense ideological struggle between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Key elements of the containment strategy included the Marshall Plan, which sought to rebuild war-torn Europe and prevent communist influence by fostering economic recovery and stability. The Truman Doctrine, another facet of containment, pledged support to countries resisting communist takeover, as seen in Greece and Turkey. The Korean War (1950-1953) and the Vietnam War (1955-1975) were direct military applications of the containment policy, where the U.S. intervened to support non-communist governments.