The liberals in the cold war held an optimistic perspective that is attributed to a number of causes. One of the most prominent causes of this optimism lies in the fact that the liberals mainly campaigned in the favour of liberal democracies and against the use of force.
The cold war was causing considerable losses and was motivating the country’s people and their perceptions against the incidence of such wars in the future. As a result, the liberals perceived that the termination of this cold war would place people in a state of mind where they would disapprove of the government if it took part in force-based measures (Risse-Kappen 1990). The liberals believed that the prevalence of this stance amongst the people would help create a positive springboard for the liberals’ movement.
In addition, the liberals also believed that the state has misinterpreted the threat from the Soviets. The liberals argued that the threat was not present in the form of the Soviets but in the form of the rigidity with which Stalin had chosen to conduct his reign (Risse-Kappen 1990).
The liberals were optimistic about their success following the end of the cold war, but they made sure that the need for protection and self-defence was not forgotten. However, even in this aspect, the liberals paid special attention to the victims of war and campaigned aggressively to highlight the damage caused by war. The liberals did not oppose the war effort outright and supported the need for a strong stance against the Soviet threat.
While the liberals were not highly appreciative of the Cold War itself, the liberals looked forward to the conclusion of the Cold War. It was believed that the Cold War would help to bring forth the face of aggression that the liberals campaigned to reveal to the general public.
The liberals did not approve of the war, but welcomed the end of the war because they believed that the war had had seriously diminished the probability of the regeneration of a Reich such as that against which the Allies fought. The liberals therefore believed that the victory in the Cold War was not that of military powers but represented the strength of liberal democracy (Risse-Kappen 1990).
Furthermore, the liberals also believed that the post Cold-War period would give way to liberal democracy and the lessons learned from the Cold War would help to support liberal democracy in the future. The liberals believed that the incidence of the Cold War would help ensure that the need for such a war would not arise in the future. It was perceived that the prevalence of liberal democracy would be stimulated by world leaders in an attempt to avoid the incidence of the same in the future.
The liberals believed that the incidence of the Cold War would enable political powers to realize the necessity for a balanced power and economic structure. The liberals also believed that the end of the Cold War would drive world leaders to adopt discourse driven policies rather than transgress to war.
Essentially, the liberals believed that the damage caused to the allies in the Cold War would clarify the stance of the liberals. They expected to acquire an increased support from the reaction of the people to the damage caused by the war.
List of References
Risse-Kappen, T. (1990) Predicting the New Europe. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists , 46 (8)