EISENHOWER'S NEW LOOK POLICY

LIMITATIONS

failed to 'roll back' Communism as it claimed it would

didn't capitalise on unrest in Eastern Europe such e.g. Hungary 1956

wasn't as aggressive at it first appeared

SIMILARITIES TO CONTAINMENT

DIFFERENCES WITH CONTAINMENT

looking to contain Communism

heavy emphasis on military spending

military aid to countries combatting Communism - Truman Doctrine aid to Greece and Turkey, aid to KMT; Eisenhower aid to Diem 1954, Korea etc

reliance on nuclear weapons to reduce military costs - reduced military spending by $10bn from 1956, advocated massive retaliation and brinkmanship

'massive retaliation' and 'brinkmanship' - SOS John Foster Dulles - Truman ultimately unprepared to use nuke again e.g. Berlin Blockade and Douglas MacArthur in Korean War

Domino Theory - Indochina/Vietnam i.e. Cambodia, Laos, Thailand etc

people realised that 'massive retaliation' would inevitably result in nuclear holocaust

continuation of anti-Communist alliances - Truman formed Bizonia, NATO, used Marshall Plan; Eisenhower formed SEATO

CONCLUSIONS

LONG TERM - alliances would share responsibility of 'world policeman' with other allies

SHORT TERM - foreign policy relied heavily on nuclear power as 'Allies could supply conventional forces'

More peaceful - 'Open Skies proposal', Geneva Accords etc

USE OF THE UN

US sought to use the UN to dominate global politics and gain support for its anti-Communist policies

Vetoes held by France, UK, US, Russia and China - permanent members of the security council; given USSR boycotting due to Taiwan recognition as China, US/Western interests dominated

Dulles wanted to 'roll back' Communism

Eisenhower and Dulles also viewed the containment of Communism as a demonstration of US power globally