Olin Center, Olin Conference. The Cold War and Afterward. May 1991

The John M. Olin Center for Inquiry into the Theory and Practice of Democracy

The Cold War and Afterward

May 17-19, 1991

Introduction

Who Won the Cold War?

Owen Harries, The National Interest
Richard Pipes, Harvard University

Who deserves credit for "winning the Cold War," American liberals or American conservatives? Or should both claims to "victory" be dismissed in favor of those of Gorbachev or the peoples of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union?

Nations and Nationalism After the Cold War

Pierre Hassner, Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques
Josef Joffe, Suddeutsche Zeitung
George Walden, M.P.

Does the end of the Cold War mean the return from the confrontation between liberal internationalism and Communist internationalism to the previous confrontation between antagonistic nations and nationalisms? Or have the old historical nations and nationalisms, especially in Europe, been consumed by international economism and ahistorical pop culture?

The Cold War and the American Polity

Walter Berns, Georgetown University
Eugene Genovese, University Center in Georgia
Samuel Huntington, Harvard University

Did the Cold War corrupt American political life and institutions, pushing them away from the principles that should guide them and toward repression, militarism, conformism, and authoritarianism? Or did it raise American morale, renew a valuable sense of mission, and compel the country to try harder to put its principles into practice at home as well as abroad? Conversely, will the end of the Cold War turn the United States (and other liberal democracies?) toward democratic renewal, thoughtful self-criticism, and self-improvement, or toward self-indulgence?

The Aims of American Foreign Policy During and After the Cold War

Walter LaFeber, Cornell University
Abram Shulsky, National Strategic Information Center
Nathan Tarcov, University of Chicago

What was the U.S. aim in the Cold War: containing Communism or Soviet influence, spreading democracy or American influence, deterring aggression generally or ensuring American security, or maintaining economic predominance? What will or should be the aim(s) of American foreign policy after the Cold War: completing the transition from Communism to democracy, deterring aggression generally and constructing a new world order, ensuring American security (against whom?), or restoring economic competitiveness?

Conference Schedule

Friday, May 17
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Who Won the Cold War? Owen Harries,
The National Interest
Richard Pipes,
Harvard University

Saturday, May 18
10:00 a.m. - 12 noon

Nations and Nationalism After the Cold War Pierre Hassner,
Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques
Joseph Joffe,
Süddeutsche Zeitung
George Walden, M.P.

The Cold War and the American Polity Walter Berns,
Georgetown University
Eugene Genovese,
Georgia Institute of Technology
Samuel Huntington,
Harvard University

Sunday, May 19
10:00 a.m. - 12 noon

The Aims of American Foreign Policy During and After the Cold War Walter LaFeber,
Cornell University
Adam Shulsky,
National Strategic Information Center
Nathan Tarcov,
University of Chicago

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