Cold War flashpoints

From its origins and early problems, including the Berlin Blockade, we assess some of the main flashpoints, such as the Korean War, the invasion of Hungary, the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War. We consider why they occurred, their seriousness and their consequences and examine the events leading to the end of the Cold War.

This course assesses some of the main flashpoints of the Cold War and considers why they occurred, how serious they were and how they shaped our understanding of post-war global history. It starts with an examination of the historiographical debates that surround the origins of the hostilities between East and West, assessing the schools of thought concerning the question of who was to blame for the emergence of this conflict. It then examines early flashpoints of the Cold War, including the Berlin Blockade and the formation of NATO, the Korean War and the invasion of Hungary.  

These last events occurred in a decade where ‘peaceful co-existence’ between the superpowers supposedly governed, and thus this definition of international relations will be considered. Two of the defining events of the Cold War – the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War – are then discussed, as the focus moves to the crucial decade of the 1960s. The course will then turn to détente in the 1970s and the changing nature of international politics in the 1980s with the emergence of a ‘second Cold War’. The revolutions in Eastern Europe and the collapse of the Berlin Wall will be the focus of the last part of the course, as we question why the Cold War ended.

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes for this course are:

• An understanding of the origins of the Cold War;  
• An ability to assess critically the historiographical debates in Cold War history;  
• An appreciation of the course and consequences of Cold War events;  
• An understanding of how the key themes of the Cold War shaped global history. 

Classes

1. From World War to Cold War: early flashpoints  
2. The 1950s: ‘peaceful co-existence’?  
3. The Cuban Missile Crisis  
4. The Vietnam War  
5. From détente to the end of the Cold War 

Please read at least one of the following: 

LaFeber, W. America, Russia and the Cold War: 1945-2006. McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2006. 
McCauley, M. Russia, America and the Cold War. Pearson Longman, 2004. 

Typical week: Monday to Friday

For each week of study you select a morning (Am) and an afternoon (Pm) course, each course has five sessions, one each day Monday to Friday. The maximum class size is 25 students. Your weekly courses are complemented by a series of two daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to the learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events.

Evaluation and Academic Credit 

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses. 

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £65 per essay.

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit.

Certificate of attendance

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically within a week of your courses finishing.