Reflective Assignment
The article “The Source of Soviet Conduct” was published in July 1947 using the Pseudonym “Mr. X”. This article was written by George F. Kennan, who was a Deputy Chief of mission. This article was published when the Soviets were practising communism and were trying to spread it to the rest of the world. In this article, he analyzed Soviet behaviour and was of the view that the motive behind expansionism by the Soviets and their aggression is deeply ingrained in their traditions and their feeling of insecurity. Soviets believed that capitalism would create an unmanageable economy which would destroy itself. He presented a policy of containment, provided a conceptual basis for the new US foreign policy, and helped shape the Truman Document. He assumed that the Russians could not be trusted as they were America’s worst enemy and that America should take firm steps against the Soviets and should make a policy of firm containment which could confront Russia in every step they took. America has the power to overcome the USSR.
It is an agreed fact that Russian foreign policy leads to many destructive internal and external events all around the globe, but I don’t agree with his argument and feel that he put too much emphasis on the Russians’ attitude and traditions and failed to consider the actions and impact of America as well. George F. Kennan portrayed America as if America was doing nothing to instigate reactions from the USSR. The behaviour of the USSR was shaped by external pressure from the USA, but George only highlighted the internal behaviour and their traditions. I believe that the views of George F. Kennan have shaped American foreign policy, which is quite aggressive, as can be seen by America’s involvement in wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and other countries (Hook and Spanier).
Works Cited
Hook, Steven W., and John Spanier. American Foreign Policy since World War II. Cq Press, 2018.
