Ira Chernus
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- June 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780804758079
- eISBN:
- 9780804768467
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Stanford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.11126/stanford/9780804758079.001.0001
- Subject:
- History, American History: 20th Century
For eight years President Dwight Eisenhower claimed to pursue peace and national security. Yet his policies entrenched the United States in a seemingly permanent cold war, a spiraling nuclear arms ...
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For eight years President Dwight Eisenhower claimed to pursue peace and national security. Yet his policies entrenched the United States in a seemingly permanent cold war, a spiraling nuclear arms race, and a deepening state of national insecurity. This book uncovers the key to this paradox in Eisenhower's unwavering commitment to a consistent way of talking, in private as well as in public, about the cold war rivalry. Contrary to what most historians have concluded, Eisenhower never aimed at any genuine rapprochement with the Soviet Union. The discourse always assumed that the United States would forever face an enemy bent on destroying it, making national insecurity a permanent way of life. The “peace” he sought was only an endless process of managing apocalyptic threats, a permanent state of “apocalypse management,” intended to give the United States unchallenged advantage in every arena of the cold war. The goal and the discourse that supported it were inherently self-defeating. Yet the discourse is Eisenhower's most enduring legacy, for it has shaped the United States' foreign policy ever since, leaving it still a national insecurity state.Less
For eight years President Dwight Eisenhower claimed to pursue peace and national security. Yet his policies entrenched the United States in a seemingly permanent cold war, a spiraling nuclear arms race, and a deepening state of national insecurity. This book uncovers the key to this paradox in Eisenhower's unwavering commitment to a consistent way of talking, in private as well as in public, about the cold war rivalry. Contrary to what most historians have concluded, Eisenhower never aimed at any genuine rapprochement with the Soviet Union. The discourse always assumed that the United States would forever face an enemy bent on destroying it, making national insecurity a permanent way of life. The “peace” he sought was only an endless process of managing apocalyptic threats, a permanent state of “apocalypse management,” intended to give the United States unchallenged advantage in every arena of the cold war. The goal and the discourse that supported it were inherently self-defeating. Yet the discourse is Eisenhower's most enduring legacy, for it has shaped the United States' foreign policy ever since, leaving it still a national insecurity state.
Walter C. Clemens
- Published in print:
- 2016
- Published Online:
- January 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780813167466
- eISBN:
- 9780813167756
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Kentucky
- DOI:
- 10.5810/kentucky/9780813167466.003.0007
- Subject:
- Political Science, International Relations and Politics
Chapter Seven focuses on the relationship between national insecurity and human insecurity in North Korea. Clemens mentions that while some citizens regard their supreme leaders as demigods, most are ...
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Chapter Seven focuses on the relationship between national insecurity and human insecurity in North Korea. Clemens mentions that while some citizens regard their supreme leaders as demigods, most are long-suffering, sensitive individuals oppressed by harsh economic conditions, and stern discipline and intimidation. Throughout the chapter Clemens discusses North Korea’s economic repression, hunger and health related issues, and gross violations of human rights. Clemens reveals stories of violations and examples of the stern rules imposed upon North Korean citizens. Clemens ends the chapter by examining the findings of the US Human Rights Commission inquiry and the continued debates between the DPKR and the UN on the state of North Korea’s human rights.Less
Chapter Seven focuses on the relationship between national insecurity and human insecurity in North Korea. Clemens mentions that while some citizens regard their supreme leaders as demigods, most are long-suffering, sensitive individuals oppressed by harsh economic conditions, and stern discipline and intimidation. Throughout the chapter Clemens discusses North Korea’s economic repression, hunger and health related issues, and gross violations of human rights. Clemens reveals stories of violations and examples of the stern rules imposed upon North Korean citizens. Clemens ends the chapter by examining the findings of the US Human Rights Commission inquiry and the continued debates between the DPKR and the UN on the state of North Korea’s human rights.
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- June 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780804758079
- eISBN:
- 9780804768467
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Stanford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.11126/stanford/9780804758079.003.0005
- Subject:
- History, American History: 20th Century
This chapter concentrates on one great speech, “Atoms for Peace.” The so-called New Look in the U.S. approach to the world was determined by new economic, political, geopolitical, and military ...
More
This chapter concentrates on one great speech, “Atoms for Peace.” The so-called New Look in the U.S. approach to the world was determined by new economic, political, geopolitical, and military realities, and was also the strategy and discourse of apocalypse management. Its policies would preserve the discourse of national insecurity, and its most conspicuous characteristic was nuclearization of military policy. To attain its strategic goals, the New Look depended on its linguistic promise of “massive retaliation.” It is noted that the administration of President Dwight Eisenhower was gearing up to its most famous image of cooperation—“Atoms for Peace”—while the New Look was being developed. The speech, which was born from the unforeseen conjunction of the New Look and Operation Candor, had to aim at evoking greater cold war fear at home while keeping that fear at a controlled level because it had came out of Operation Candor.Less
This chapter concentrates on one great speech, “Atoms for Peace.” The so-called New Look in the U.S. approach to the world was determined by new economic, political, geopolitical, and military realities, and was also the strategy and discourse of apocalypse management. Its policies would preserve the discourse of national insecurity, and its most conspicuous characteristic was nuclearization of military policy. To attain its strategic goals, the New Look depended on its linguistic promise of “massive retaliation.” It is noted that the administration of President Dwight Eisenhower was gearing up to its most famous image of cooperation—“Atoms for Peace”—while the New Look was being developed. The speech, which was born from the unforeseen conjunction of the New Look and Operation Candor, had to aim at evoking greater cold war fear at home while keeping that fear at a controlled level because it had came out of Operation Candor.
