Fear

Fear

Fear

1960’s Russia and 1960’s America are very different from 1960’s Russians and 1960’s Americans. The first pair are governments, the second are the individuals that make up the fabric of their societies. During the cold war it was not in the interest of either of these governments to have individuals within their perspective societies learning about their adversary’s culture or worst of all tolerating each other.

Understanding the difference between socialism and capitalism is a good place to start when trying to understand why it was so important to motivate the masses to distrust, fear, or even hate one another without ever having had the opportunity to actually meet.

Capitalism is an economic system that protects private property, private ownership of businesses, and the freedom to buy and sell goods and services, with a minimum of government intervention

Socialism is a collective ownership of the means of production, distribution, and service .

These forms of government are polar opposite. 1960’s Russian and American officials had no intention of introducing any element of either form of government into what already existed. What they chose to do instead was spread fear by highlighting the worst aspects of capitalism and socialism.

The varying styles and beliefs of these two governments can be seen in letters exchanged by the Soviet Union and the United States regarding Berlin in August, 1961.

Excerpt from United States note to the USSR in Berlin;

It is to be noted that this declaration states that the measures taken by the East German authorities are in the interests of the German peoples themselves... It is evident that no German, particularly those whose freedom of movement is being forcibly restrained, think this is so. This would become abundantly clear if all Germans were allowed a free choice, and the principle of self-determination were also applied in the Soviet sector of Berlin and in East Germany.

The United...