The hottest Cold War Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

JFK & George Kennan on the Ideological Fundamentalism of the US

Glenn’s Substack • 779 implied HN points • 12 Aug 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Ideology Cold War International relations Historical Figures
  1. Ideological fundamentalism makes enemies out of other countries based on labels instead of their actual actions. This can lead to misunderstanding and conflict.
  2. George Kennan criticized how the U.S. viewed the Soviet Union, saying the portrayal was extreme and didn’t reflect reality. He warned that this type of thinking is dangerous for political actions.
  3. Seeing adversaries as simple 'bad guys' stops us from understanding their complexities. It's important to recognize shared challenges, rather than just focusing on conflict.

2024 could be the pivotal year for Cold War 2

Noahpinion • 10529 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics Cold War Global Economics Alliances
  1. 2024 could be a pivotal year for Cold War 2, with China's weakening economy and potential U.S. instability altering the global balance of power.
  2. China's economic strength is the core of New Axis power, posing a significant threat to the liberal world order by potentially overwhelming the U.S. in a war.
  3. The economic rise of China is a key factor driving Cold War 2, with its manufacturing might elevating the threat posed by the New Axis.

Toshiba’s Big Technology Export Scandal

The Asianometry Newsletter • 4737 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Technology Trade Geopolitics Export Controls Cold War
  1. During the post-World War II era, the Soviet Union acquired Western technologies like modern American equipment, affecting global trade dynamics.
  2. Export controls evolved over time in the United States, influenced by historical events, concerns over national security, and international cooperation.
  3. The Toshiba-Kongsberg Incident in 1980s highlighted the challenges of enforcing trade restrictions, the impact on companies like Toshiba, and the need for effective, fair enforcement measures.

Soviet Ruins and China's Future

ChinaTalk • 474 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
🌍 World Politics Soviet Union China Cold War Political Economy International relations
  1. China looks to the lessons of the Soviet Union to understand its own economic strategies and potential risks. By studying the past, they hope to avoid similar pitfalls in governance.
  2. The distribution of resources in an economy is crucial for success. If too much is spent on heavy industry and not enough on consumer goods, it can lead to dissatisfaction and inefficiencies.
  3. Khrushchev's time saw a shift in the Soviet mentality from military competition to economic competition with the West. This idea of competing systems is still relevant today, especially in how China views its place in the world.
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Towards A Church Of The British Empire: World Government As British Empire Revivalism

Matt Ehret's Insights • 2633 implied HN points • 06 May 23
🌍 World Politics Global Governance Alliances Imperialism Cold War United Nations
  1. The British Empire agenda towards a world government revivalism is being pursued through figures like King Charles III and Pope Francis, shaping a tribalist global governance system.
  2. Historical figures like Cecil Rhodes aspired to restore British imperial power through unipolar world government controlled by a new priest class.
  3. Nationalist efforts to promote cooperation among sovereign nation states for mutual development were challenged by imperial forces seeking a British-led New World Order.

Things Worth Remembering: The Woman Who Captured Russia’s Pain

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2949 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
💾 History World War II Cold War
  1. The historiography of World War II has shifted to highlight the significant sacrifice on the Eastern front, bringing a more balanced perspective to the contributions of all parties involved.
  2. The opening and closure of Russian archives in the 1990s, along with the translation of Vasily Grossman's works, helped reveal the full extent of the Russian sacrifice during the war.
  3. Russian artists played a crucial role in recording and reflecting the Soviet experience during the Second World War, preserving a vital part of history.

The Berlin Wall Never Fell

Thinking about... • 567 implied HN points • 09 Nov 24
💾 History Cold War Communism Political resistance
  1. The Berlin Wall did not actually fall; it remains a symbol rather than an event. People rushed to cross it in 1989, but the wall itself stayed standing.
  2. The story around the wall simplifies a complex history. It ignores the important protests and the teamwork that helped end communist rule in Eastern Europe.
  3. Thinking the wall fell suggests freedom just happens without effort. True change comes from people cooperating and working together towards freedom.

A Spy Among Friends

Castalia • 339 implied HN points • 21 Apr 24
💾 History Cold War Espionage Intelligence Biographies Conspiracies
  1. The series _A Spy Among Friends_ explores the relationship between Kim Philby and Nicholas Elliott, highlighting their deep friendship and how it complicated the betrayal Philby committed against British intelligence.
  2. There is a debate about why Philby became a spy for the Soviets. Some think it was ideological, while others believe it was more about seeking elite social status or personal connections.
  3. The idea of intelligence sharing among spies suggests that they may have operated more like a close partnership rather than strict adversaries, raising questions about loyalty and the nature of espionage.

France's Historic Bond with China and De Gaulle's Grand Design

Matt Ehret's Insights • 648 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics France China Cold War
  1. Charles de Gaulle fought against pro-NATO fascists and worked to ensure France's independence.
  2. De Gaulle recognized the importance of reaching out to Russia and China for cooperation and world development.
  3. De Gaulle's alliance with Kennedy aimed for advancements in science and technology to liberate Africa, Asia, and South America from colonial structures.

Do I Like Ike?

Castalia • 479 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidential History Political Leadership Civil Rights Cold War Political parties
  1. Eisenhower's leadership style was gentle and focused on teamwork. He aimed to create a positive political atmosphere and avoid conflict.
  2. He was criticized for not taking a strong stance on key issues like desegregation. Some people felt he should have shown more moral leadership during his presidency.
  3. Despite being popular in his time, Eisenhower's legacy is often overlooked today. Many aspects of his presidency, like budget balance and civility, are worth reflecting on as they contrast with today's politics.

The New York Times Runs a Bad Article on Globalization

Drezner’s World • 864 implied HN points • 21 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Globalization Inequality Ukraine China Cold War
  1. The New York Times article on globalization was criticized for lacking evidence and exaggerating vulnerabilities
  2. Globalization has contributed to reducing global inequality, particularly due to the economic rise of China
  3. Fears about the negative impacts of global supply chains during the pandemic were largely exaggerated

Chinese balloon was not spying, US gov't admits months after manufactured crisis

Geopolitical Economy Report • 797 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy Cold War Surveillance National Security
  1. The US government admitted that the Chinese balloon incident was not related to spying, but likely due to strong winds, debunking the initial accusations.
  2. The media and US government exaggerated the situation, using it to create a Cold War-like propaganda against China, though evidence later proved otherwise.
  3. Despite the claims of surveillance capabilities, subsequent analysis showed that the balloon's sensors were never activated over US territory, making the entire scandal a manufactured crisis.

The U.S. Pivot to Asia: Cold War Lessons from Vietnam for Today

Through A Glass Darkly • 353 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Cold War Vietnam CIA
  1. The U.S. utilized paramilitary activities and psy-ops in Vietnam as part of the Cold War strategy.
  2. The CIA and Pentagon worked closely together in clandestine activities, blurring the lines between military and covert operations.
  3. The heroin trade in Vietnam was manipulated by the CIA for geopolitical purposes, leading to addiction among U.S. soldiers.

The global defeat of democracy: a scenario

Wyclif's Dust • 1073 implied HN points • 19 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Democracy International Conflict Autocracy Cold War
  1. A new conflict is developing between Western democracies and non-Western autocracies.
  2. Defeat in the global conflict between democracy and autocracies could lead to a potential erosion of liberalism.
  3. Emerging weaknesses in democracy could put the system at serious risk, especially in the face of a changing international landscape.

Atomic bombing of Japan was not necessary to end WWII. US gov't documents admit it

Geopolitical Economy Report • 697 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
💾 History World War II Cold War Nuclear Weapons War Crimes
  1. US government documents admit that the atomic bombing of Japan in WWII was not necessary
  2. The decision to use nuclear weapons against Japan was aimed politically at the Soviet Union, rather than solely to end the war with Japan
  3. Many top US military officials, like General Eisenhower, opposed the use of atomic bombs on Japan, suggesting it was unnecessary and could have been avoided

History Unknown: The CIA Bought (and Changed) George Orwell's "Animal Farm"

JoeWrote • 46 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
💾 History Cold War Propaganda CIA Socialism Literature
  1. The CIA has been involved in many controversial and extreme actions, such as planning false flag attacks, making it hard to speak about American foreign policy without sounding extreme.
  2. George Orwell, under his real name Eric Arthur Blair, had a complicated political history, shaped in part by his experiences during the Spanish Civil War.
  3. Orwell's book 'Animal Farm' is not just about communism but a critique of the Soviet Union's style of governance, as he wanted to highlight its flaws rather than dismiss socialism altogether.

Introduction to The Soviet Jew

Yasha Levine • 589 implied HN points • 28 May 23
💾 History Soviet Union Immigration Cold War Nationalism
  1. The Soviet Jew memoir is being restarted and will be released in installments for paid subscribers.
  2. The Victims of Communism Foundation focuses on educating about the evils of communism and collaborating with various anti-communist figures and activists.
  3. The author realized the personal connection of his family's immigration from the Soviet Union to the broader theme of America weaponizing nationalist diasporas.

Is neoliberalism really dead? Or does it live on like a zombie?

Geopolitical Economy Report • 318 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
🌍 World Politics Neoliberalism Debt Monopolies Globalization Cold War
  1. Neoliberalism continues to evolve and adapt, with different variations over the decades.
  2. Debt has played a significant role in the rise of neoliberalism, with exponential growth especially in the neoliberal era.
  3. The current global dynamics reflect a new Cold War, where neoliberalism faces off against alternative economic models represented by countries like China and Russia.

The Nuclear Deterrence

kamilkazani • 294 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Game Theory Cold War
  1. The dynamics of nuclear deterrence involve paradoxical game theory concepts.
  2. Human factor plays a significant role in the effectiveness of nuclear deterrence.
  3. Counterintuitive solutions, like limiting choices, can be effective in nuclear deterrence strategies.

The Berlin Wall has fallen, but Germany remains divided

Back To Sifar • 59 implied HN points • 14 Apr 24
🌍 World Politics Germany Cold War Economics Ideology Infrastructure
  1. Western and Eastern Germany remain vastly different today due to historical events like the Cold War and post-World War 2 division.
  2. Significant disparities exist between Western and Eastern Germany in areas like religion, GDP per capita, and political tendencies, reflecting the lasting impact of past economic and political decisions.
  3. Investments in developing the Eastern part of Germany are ongoing, aiming to bridge the gap and achieve true unity in the country.

Win the War, Lose the Battle

The Radar • 59 implied HN points • 09 Apr 24
💾 History Military Cold War Decision-making Innovation
  1. Firing military commanders without clear explanations can have significant strategic consequences and impact an organization's long-term success.
  2. The responsible exercise of authority is crucial for the best interest of military organizations and the importance of transparency in such decisions.
  3. Unwarranted firings can not only destroy individual careers but also detrimentally affect the entire organization and potentially alter the course of history.

In neocolonial rant, EU says Europe is 'garden' superior to rest of world's barbaric 'jungle'

Geopolitical Economy Report • 239 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🌍 World Politics Global South Cold War
  1. The speech by EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell highlighted a colonialist mentality still present in Europe, with him portraying Europe as a 'garden' that must civilize the 'jungle' of the rest of the world.
  2. Borrell hinted at the EU's involvement in a new cold war, aiming for regime change in Russia to create a 'post-Putin Russia' that aligns with Western interests.
  3. Borrell expressed disappointment at 'too many' countries abstaining in a UN vote against Russia and made strong remarks about the potential of nuclear war in the conflict, stating the Russian Army would face annihilation.

Nuclear close calls: times we almost blew the world up

Back To Sifar • 39 implied HN points • 31 Mar 24
💾 History Cold War Nuclear Weapons
  1. The Suez Crisis in 1956 almost led to a nuclear conflict between the Soviet Union and the US-led NATO forces due to misunderstandings and false alarms.
  2. The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 brought the world to the brink of nuclear war, with a Soviet submarine captain nearly launching a nuclear torpedo in response to perceived threats.
  3. The Norwegian Rocket Incident in 1995 highlights how even after the Cold War, minor misunderstandings can escalate dangerously, as seen when a Russian alert was triggered by a Norwegian scientific research rocket launch.

The collapse of the Soviet Union: no one knew the numbers

Demodexio • 132 implied HN points • 01 Jan 24
💾 History Soviet Union Collapse Data Manipulation Economy Cold War
  1. The collapse of the Soviet Union involved top leadership being blind to the country's financial facts.
  2. Soviet economic data was unreliable and widely fudged, making it difficult to understand the economy.
  3. The CIA had to rely on their own estimates since even those in the Kremlin did not have accurate numbers on the Soviet economy.

THE GENERAL WHO WOULD NOT BE SILENCED

Seymour Hersh • 48 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Intelligence Cold War Foreign Relations
  1. James C. Pfautz had a successful military career, flying combat missions in Vietnam and holding high-ranking positions in Air Force intelligence.
  2. Pfautz was known to push his staff hard, aiming for excellence in the intelligence work they produced.
  3. An intriguing story revolves around the 1983 shootdown of Korean Air Lines Flight 007 by a Soviet pilot, highlighting the critical question of whether the pilot knew he was targeting a commercial airliner.

BRICS? Can't Beat Em? Join Em?

C.O.P. Central Organizing Principle. • 6 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🌍 World Politics International relations Global Trade Colonialism Cold War Geopolitics
  1. BRICS is creating a new way for countries to trade using their own currencies, setting a different standard from the Western-dominated forex market. This means countries like Zimbabwe can now better showcase and sell their resources.
  2. Western nations are starting to realize they need to adapt to this new order or else risk continued isolation and loss. This shift suggests they might ease tensions and reconsider their sanctions against BRICS countries.
  3. The growing influence of BRICS could lead to stronger relationships with non-Western countries, potentially hurting US dominance. However, there are discussions about fairness and reparations for past colonial actions that might complicate future dealings.

Commentator

Castalia • 99 implied HN points • 11 Jan 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Ukraine conflict Cold War Military Strategy Academic Freedom
  1. Free speech is a hot topic, especially in schools. There are big debates about what should be allowed, and many believe we need to follow the rules of free speech laid out in the Constitution.
  2. In Ukraine, the fighting continues with no clear resolution in sight. While there are talks of peace, both sides seem determined to keep fighting, making it hard to reach an agreement.
  3. Science is struggling to make big breakthroughs, especially in areas like Alzheimer's research. Many believe that instead of finding new solutions, scientists are mostly just making small improvements.

ESPionage: When the CIA Attempted Telepathy (Project Stargate)

Tripsitter • 39 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
💾 History Supernatural Espionage Research Government Cold War
  1. Two scientists convinced the CIA to fund research on telepathic ability in 1973, believing it could be used for spying on other nations.
  2. The feds funded the research secretly as 'Project Stargate' for almost 20 years, with strange and unexplainable successes in the program.
  3. Former President Jimmy Carter leaked the existence of the research in 1995, leading to the end of 'Project Stargate.'

YOU CAN’T TALK TO A PRESIDENT THAT WAY!

Seymour Hersh • 53 implied HN points • 23 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Assassination Vietnam War Cold War Nuclear Weapons Diplomacy
  1. President John F. Kennedy's legacy was overshadowed by his support for the war in South Vietnam.
  2. The Vietnam War saw devastation with millions of tons of bombs dropped, escalating under President Lyndon Johnson.
  3. Kennedy's diplomatic success with Khrushchev during the Cuban Missile Crisis was overshadowed by subsequent decisions made by Johnson during the Vietnam War.

History Unknown: The American Invasion of Soviet Russia

JoeWrote • 19 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
💾 History World War I Cold War
  1. American troops invaded Soviet Russia after World War I to displace the communist government.
  2. The American intervention in Soviet Russia during World War I left a lasting impact on the Soviet people and their allies.
  3. The Allied Powers, including the United States, aided the White faction in the Russian Civil War against the Bolsheviks.

VOL 59: Behind Enemy Lines: When a US Spy Plane Was Shot Down Over the USSR

MAP's Tech Newsletter. • 9 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
💾 History Cold War Espionage
  1. In 1960, an American U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union, leading to tensions and significant consequences in US-Soviet relations.
  2. The U-2 spy plane was a top-secret aircraft used for high-altitude reconnaissance missions to gather intelligence behind the Iron Curtain.
  3. After the U-2 incident, the US government initially lied about the mission, but eventually had to admit it was a spying operation, leading to diplomatic fallout and a prisoner exchange.

VOL 60: Fidel Castro, The Cuban Leader Who Survived 600 Assassinations

MAP's Tech Newsletter. • 4 implied HN points • 05 May 23
💾 History Revolution Cold War US Relations
  1. Fidel Castro survived over 600 assassination attempts, including explosives in cigars and pistols disguised as cameras.
  2. Fidel Castro, known as the greatest foe of America, holds the record for delivering the longest UN speech.
  3. The CIA made numerous unsuccessful attempts to assassinate Castro, with different US presidents involved in the plots.