American Prestige E207 - The Sino-Soviet Split, Pt. 1 w/ Jeremy Friedman
Apr 15, 2025
In this discussion, Jeremy Friedman, an assistant professor at Harvard and author of Shadow Cold War, dives into the Sino-Soviet Split during the mid-20th century. He illuminates the geopolitical shifts following Khrushchev's secret speech, revealing how decolonization influenced the divide. The conversation explores missed opportunities for détente, the ideological rifts in communism, and the critical turning points that reshaped both China and the Soviet Union's approaches to socialism. Expect deep insights into the tensions and strategies that defined their relationship.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Beria's Removal Ended Early Detente
- After Stalin's death, Lavrentiy Beria was the Soviet leader who supported détente and neutralizing Germany.
- His removal by rivals ended the real possibility of early detente between the USSR and the West in the early 1950s.
Soviet Coexistence vs. Chinese Revolution
- Soviets favored peaceful coexistence to rebuild post-WWII economies and avoid conflict.
- China prioritized anti-imperialism and supported revolutionary movements in the developing world.
Divergent Visions of Communism
- Khrushchev envisioned communism as achieving Western-style consumer prosperity.
- Mao rejected this, emphasizing building a new society focused on collective good, not consumerism.
