Jacobin Radio Confronting Capitalism: The US Started the Cold War
Jun 4, 2025
The podcast dives deep into the complexities of the Cold War, challenging the narrative that positions the U.S. as a pure defender of democracy. It examines America's imperial strategies to spread capitalism globally, often using the Soviet threat as a cover for expansionist goals. The hosts break down the historical rivalry between the U.S. and the USSR, revealing contrasting approaches to influence. They also discuss current geopolitics, suggesting fears of a new Cold War with China and Russia may be exaggerated as the world shifts towards multipolarity.
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Cold War as Imperial Rivalry
- The Cold War was an imperial rivalry between the U.S. and the Soviet Union with contrasting scopes of ambition.
- The U.S. sought global empire while the USSR remained a regional power focused on Eastern Europe.
U.S. Empire via Local Proxies
- The U.S. empire operated through local proxies and class alliances rather than colonial governors.
- This marked a shift from traditional colonial empires to an empire depending on allied domestic elites.
U.S. Started the Cold War
- The U.S. initiated the Cold War as a strategy to justify military expansion and global economic domination.
- Anti-communism rhetoric helped secure Congressional support and enabled U.S. global ambitions after WWII.