I am just starting to do some research for the time period toward the end of the Cold War, and I wanted to get some information on the following topic so I can decide where to go next.

I would like to know how each of the following countries felt about both the US and USSR and their place in the world (power) during the 80's.

England
East and West Germany
Italy
Canada

Thank you for any help you can provide.

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Lost Souls

Mate, I don't think you're gonna get a good mark on your homework if you're gonna base it on the opinions of TAs! (Most of whom were probably too young in the 80s to give you a proper answer and not some bullshit they've just invented in their heads!)

Saying that, considering the fact that you think there is a country called England, maybe asking other people to do your homework ain't such a bad idea!

(there has not been a country called England for over 300 years!!)

UK sorry. This isn't for homework. I simply am trying to get a start on some research, and it doesn't hurt to get a broad overview before attacking specific topics.

And the whole 80's point is completely moot.

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Lost Souls

Erm well unless you wanna be a bit more specific about what information you're looking for I'll put forward the following summary:

On American power in the world:
England - Good
West Germany - Good
East Germany - Bad
Italy - Good
Canada - Good

On Russia power in the world:
England - Bad
West Germany - Bad
East Germany - Good
Italy - Bad
Canada - Bad

(Like I said, you might wanna be a bit more specific over what you're looking for! )

Sorry about that, I appreciate the effort. To be more specific, I'm researching Chernobyl and what countries would have thought about USSR before and immediately after.

I'm interested in it because obviously fallout reached far beyond Soviet borders and countries that may have harbored ill feelings toward the Soviets before the accident would surely have been calling for the heads of Soviet leaders.

Plus, the failed cover up and ensuing silence from the Kremlin after the incident probably didn't go to far in winning sympathy.

I'm curious to see what the rest of the world thought as the super powers of the US and USSR were clashing in the cold war. Was there the same kind of disdain for both countries flexing their muscles, as there has been in recent times for the US?

Thanks

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Lost Souls

Well, I can honestly say I have no idea whatsoever!

I think there are some radioactive sheep somewhere in Scotland tho due to Chernobyl...

On whether or not there was the same level of disdain for the super powers as there is today against America, I'd probably say yes to an extent. I guess the same type of people that are opposed to the US today (ie anti-war/globalisation/anarchists/etc) were around back then, maybe in greater numbers due to the popularity of socialism, especially amongst the universities (maybe more in Europe than in the US?) and student activism was pretty high, compared with today. There were also Marxist terrorist groups operating from most European countries that opposed the US and received support from the USSR (which were probably popular amongst the leftist students). Then there were all the Vietnam protests which were pretty anti-American (altho I'm not sure if you mean attitudes during the Cold War or after Chernobyl or whether they changed as a result of Chernobyl?)

On the other side, I would imagine a large proportion of Americans hated the USSR/Communism as much as they hate Muslims today!

ps. the above are assumptions, I don't really think you'll find what you're looking for from TA members (and I'd be suspicious of the information given to you by someone who wasn't around at the time, or old enough at the time) You might be better off asking your parents or better yet your history teacher (or someone similar)

quote:

Originally posted by George Smiley Erm well unless you wanna be a bit more specific about what information you're looking for I'll put forward the following summary: On American power in the world: England - Good West Germany - Good East Germany - Bad Italy - Good Canada - Good On Russia power in the world: England - Bad West Germany - Bad East Germany - Good Italy - Bad Canada - Bad (Like I said, you might wanna be a bit more specific over what you're looking for! )

Thats just your opinion. If you ask the world, they would mostly add USA and UK to their hate list, and I am not being biased here like you are. Plus I am in Canada, and we are far more friendlier to Russia than UK or USA ever was.

One thing for a fact though, I've been to East Germany, and I did comprehensive reading on the situation there during and after Soviet Union's demise. East Germany was actually one of the most developed and successful states of the Eastern Bloc, politically, socially and economically. In fact, Soviet Union actually owed money to them. Once Germanies united, there was a massive decline in East Germany, primarily in industrial sectors, and military production. As a result, a lot of people lost jobs, and the Eastern system was dropped in haste in favour of the western one, and a lot of people became worse-off as a result, at least temporarily, and the Western Germany was the greater beneficiary (cheaper labour in East Germany and more business expansion possibilities). Standars of living in East Germany dropped, and even today a considerable number of East Germans have good thoughts about their former state (I forgot the numbers and dont have the link, but I am sure it was at least 25% of East Germans who miss their communist era)

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Last edited by Magnetonium on Jul-26-2007 at 23:51

I'm actually about to start reading The Legacy of Chernobyl which from what I gather is the definitive book on this topic. But, Magnetonium, you bring up some interesting points about East Germany that I was not aware of. If Russia owed them money during this period, and perhaps they were experiencing more success, how did they feel about Russia? Could they have seen it as a weight in their allegiance or was it something different?

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Lost Souls

Well, Canada sold Soviet Union a lot of Canadian wheat. Plus Trudeau did his best to scale down Canadian involvement in NATO in Europe.

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quote:

Originally posted by chinamon not true. i say "ugh" but i am a tranny.

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Originally posted by kotsy lol colour me retarded

quote:

Originally posted by kush paintings I'm actually about to start reading The Legacy of Chernobyl which from what I gather is the definitive book on this topic. But, Magnetonium, you bring up some interesting points about East Germany that I was not aware of. If Russia owed them money during this period, and perhaps they were experiencing more success, how did they feel about Russia? Could they have seen it as a weight in their allegiance or was it something different?

When you say "they", do you mean the attitudes of governments or attitudes of the general public? If you're talking about the attitudes of governments then fine, shouldn't be too hard to find out about or for anyone to comment on. If you're talking about the attitudes of the public, then I don't think anyone on here is in any position to comment, myself included, as we simply were either not around at the time or too young to have had any valid opinion on it. (Maybe Firestarter cos he's old!)

quote:

Originally posted by Magnetonium Thats just your opinion. If you ask the world, they would mostly add USA and UK to their hate list, and I am not being biased here like you are. Plus I am in Canada, and we are far more friendlier to Russia than UK or USA ever was.

We're talking about attitudes during the Cold War, not now. On a governmental level, the NATO countries would have supported America and the Warsaw Pact countries supported the USSR (but not the populations of Eastern Europe, they were against the Soviets). Plus then you have the affiliations around the world, those wanting socialism like the Arab states for example, would support Russia. Those wanting rid of Russian influence would have supported America if not already in NATO.

As for the public, well who knows, probably a good mix of opinions (unless they were being directly oppressed by the Soviets!)

quote:

One thing for a fact though, I've been to East Germany, and I did comprehensive reading on the situation there during and after Soviet Union's demise. East Germany was actually one of the most developed and successful states of the Eastern Bloc, politically, socially and economically. In fact, Soviet Union actually owed money to them. Once Germanies united, there was a massive decline in East Germany, primarily in industrial sectors, and military production. As a result, a lot of people lost jobs, and the Eastern system was dropped in haste in favour of the western one, and a lot of people became worse-off as a result, at least temporarily, and the Western Germany was the greater beneficiary (cheaper labour in East Germany and more business expansion possibilities). Standars of living in East Germany dropped, and even today a considerable number of East Germans have good thoughts about their former state (I forgot the numbers and dont have the link, but I am sure it was at least 25% of East Germans who miss their communist era)

When you say "comprehensive" reading, what do you mean? I was under the impression that German reunification caused economic decline because East Germany was already so poor and dragged West Germany down with it. As for 25% missing the Communist (capital "C" please) era, well that must be everyone who was on the payroll of the Stasi! East Germans were the most spied upon people in the world and iirc had the greatest proportion of collaberators to population!

But a yearning for the Communist past is something a lot of eastern Europeans seem to want. Under Communism there was no crime and minimal unemployment. When they changed to a capitalist economic system, unemployment went up and crime shot up, so don't blame em really for thinking life might be better under the USSR - says a lot about our economic system really when people would prefer to live in a dictatorship!!