Was the Cold War an Identity Conflict?

Was the shabby state of contend an Identity Conflict?The C doddery War was a controversial war. Unlike previous wars the of import actors never really frontally fought separately(prenominal) other. By using knob states to fight on their behalf, the USA and Soviet conglutination fought for their beliefs and identities. 1Identity in IR clear be associated with nationalism, and that is one of the reasons that the Cold War is moderaten as an individualism conflict. The Cold War was in fact an opposition of different cultural, political, power and ideological identities.2This show tries to clarify the semantics of the record book identity, when this word started to ingest richness between the scholars an3d in particular wherefore it is so important in order to downstairsstand better worldwide Relations.4 In this essay the primary(prenominal) protagonists and events related to the Cold War go forth also be go overed. After this important context is explained, the r go forthine of identities in the Cold War forget be examined and described. By using some examples it should be clear why the Cold War was in fact an identity conflict.What is Identity?To understand the part of identities in the Cold War it is first necessary to understand what identity really means, in particular related to IR. Defining identity is not halcyon and if we look at the word in the Cambridge Dictionary we find this definition who a person is, or the qualities of a person or group that tally them different from others 1. But as James D. Fearon relates in his manuscript 2 dictionary definitions fail to capture the meaning of identity in every day and tender science contexts.According to m all an(prenominal) scholars, identities play a central role in politics. Anthony Burke, for example, affirms that there would be no world politics, no race, no states and no world(prenominal) system without identity3. Before extending to groups such states or the international sys tem5 it is important to remember how the concept of identity starts from the individual. It is said that identity is what we make of it. Culture, education, family environment, media and many other factors manufacture every persons identity. Another aspect that should be pointed out is that rarely is identity forever fixed, and in fact identities set up change throughout places and sentence. Relationships, for example, are a powerful factor able to change ones identity. Personal and national identities have a close connection as both mutually influence each other. A persons identity is influenced by the national identity of the country he/she was born in, and at the same time national identity is formed by putting together the single deals identities of its inhabitants. 6But as Jervis Robert asks Can we treat national identity as singular in the face of internal differences? 4. That is the reason why understanding the individuals identity and how they develop is important to und erstand how a group of identities work. We feces refer to many aspects as identity. Identity in IR can often be related to nationalism, and this will be explained better later on. If we refer to cultural identity it is necessary to remember Huntingtons theory about the copse of Civilisations 5He argued that modern conflicts would happen mainly because of conflicts between civilisations. Regarding civilisations as cultural identities is evidence of how Huntingtons theory also applies to this case.Brief summary of the Cold WarBesides explain the definition of identity, it is also important to understand the reasons for and the protagonists involved in the Cold War. As is well kn avouch, the Cold War happened mainly because of the tension between the dickens opposing superpowers, the USA in the West and the Soviet Union in the East. The Soviet Union was a communist system where, based virtually a central ideology, everyone owned the means to create a Commonwealth7 while the United States was a capitalist system where almost everything was privately owned and run for profit. These 2 powers never really frontally fought against each other, instead, after World War II they started spreading their influence through the world and fighting each other using proxy wars, intimidation, propaganda and espionage. The Soviet Union and the United States spread their influence in the Middle East, Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia, trying to overthrow the old European colonial regime. home(a)ism and identityAs human worlds we are considered to be social creations and for this reason we feel the desire or the necessity of belonging to a fellowship. As explained before, an identity is something that belongs to a person and it is indivisible. Everyone has his/her own identity but everyone as human being has the need for belonging to a greater community or identity. Extending this fact to a national view we can understand how nationalisms are born. The pride of belon ging to a nation and the desire to make ones own country the greatest is a way of making yourself belong to a national identity, making your identity complete by being part of a greater identity.In western counties, in particular in the US, the idea that ones own country was better than other was common. And although Karl Marx believed that nationalism was something to avoid, communist countries, such as China and the Soviet Union, were strongly nationalist as well.Nationalisms and wars are often connected to each other or even though necessary for the creation of the other. 8The pride of ones own culture and identity that comes with nationalism can cause people to believe that their own country is always right and keeps motivated people to make sacrifices for their own country and be willing to fight for it.We build our identity by excluding characteristics we dont like. If we extend this concept to IR we can see how identities had a major role in the Cold War. Soviet identity, as an example, was shaped in opposition to the capitalist world as well, as Americans were constantly panic-struck of the spread of Communism (the Red S administer6). Americans believed that democratic ideology was the best , and that by globally spreading their ideologies they would assist the world to modernise and improve it. Communists from the Soviet Union had the same feelings about communism. By thinking like this it was inevitable that the ii super powers would be pitted against each other.Geopolitical divisions = clash of identitiesDuring the Cold War the clash of identities was physically and geopolitically visible. Germany, Vietnam and Korea are clear examples of how there was a clear division and conflict between the two super powers identities. During the Vietnam War, the line of products between the two political and ideological identities was clear. South Vietnam was anti-communist and for this reason it was supplied by the US, while North Vietnam was pro-Communist a nd by using weapons from the USSR and China they fought against the south and against the US. The same scenario occurred in Korea and Germany,9 in this move one by creating the material and physical division of the wall.This clash of identities was sometimes also immaterial10. An example of this is the Red Fear that was spreading in the US during the war. The business organisation of the other and the fear of the contagion of unwanted ideologies, in this case, communism was a daily reality in the US during the Cold War. This fear was extended international US bordersBy this point it should be clear that the Cold War was an attempt of preservation of national identities. The curious thing after all was said, as Jervis Robert 4 debates, is that the Soviet Union and the US had in fact a lot of similarities or parallels. As he ascertains, both implied a form of universalism and both were founded on ideas instead of nationalities or myths of common heritage or blood. Robert testifies that in a country where mostly everyone was an immigrant,11 like the United States, it was possible to not be considered an American just by not believing in the correct ideas12. Another aspect that they13 had in common was that both believed they were the standard to be followed in order to go for global progress and modernity.How the Cold War endedThe way the Cold War ended is another clear example of the importance that identities had in this war. In fact, the Cold War ended and when one of the two sides identities ended as well. As this war was happening mainly because of the contrast of the two main identities, when one of them failed there was no more reason for conflict to exist.CONCLUSIONTo summarise, it has been noted that conflicts of identities, if extended to an international level, had a major role in the Cold War. This particular war cannot be explained by classic IR. Just by analysing the role of identities in the global system this particular war can be understood properly. As was explained, identity can assume many different forms (political, ideological, cultural), and it is clear now how preservation and spread of identities were the two main reasons that for the Cold War. The two main ideologies of capitalism and communism started from the United States and the Soviet Union but rapidly spread globally creating internal conflicts in countries such as Vietnam, Korea and Germany. These clear distinctions and divisions, the development of the War and finally the way the Cold War ended make indisputable the fact that the Cold War was an identity conflict.BIBLIOGRAPHYAdler-Nissen, R. Stigma Management in International Relations Transgressive Identities, Norms and Order in International Society, International Organisation 68/1 (2014) 143-176Berenskoetter, F. Identity in International Relations in R. Denemark (ed.), The International Studies Encyclopedia (Oxford Wiley-Blackwell, 2010) 3594-3611Burke, Anthony. Identity/Difference. In M. Griffiths (ed.) Encyclopedia of International Relations and Global Politics. London Routledge, 2006 pp.394-6Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary Thesaurus Cambridge University machinates.v. Identity http//www.dictionary.cambridge.org/dictio/english/identityFearon, J. What is Identity (as We Now Use the Word)?, unpromulgated manuscript (Stanford University, 1999)Jervis Robert. Identity and the Cold War. Cambridge University Press, 2010 pp.22-43Samuel P. Huntington 1996, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, Touchstone Books.Zachary Keck 2013, How Geopolitics fated the Clash of Civilizations, The Diplomat, .Individual, transnational(means in the space between) identityDignity and covert in health direction Literature ReviewDignity and hiding in Health Care Literature ReviewAnnotated Bibliography To complete this assignment I am going to complete an Annotated Bibliography. An annotated bibliography is a bibliography of sources of nurture such as books, websites, ledgers, obliges. However under each source is an evaluation paragraph that is a brief description about the source that has been used. During this assignment the sources used will be based upon on the subject of solitude and dignity, and overall 15 sources will be used including one national policy. Finally the evaluation paragraph of each source will focus on a few points 1) what the main points of the source are. 2) Are the main points of the source clearly presented to the reader? 3) Who is the source directed at- who is the audience? 4)Is the information in the source supported by someone or is the source unsupported. Alaszewski, H, Holdsworth, L,Billings, J, Dr Wagg (2009) Privacy and dignity in continence care investigate review care for Residential Care. 11 (8) pp 393-396. http//internurse.com Accessed fifth December 2009This article is written by three health professionals who specialise in research two of whom are research associates and one who is a researcher and one health professional who is a elderly lecturer at a university. Therefore due to the nature of the authors the article is primarily based to health professionals. More specifically as it was published in care for and Residential care the health care professionals who work in nursing and residential homes. The layout of this article is very simple and the information is presented clearly with the use of subheadings to describe the different parts of the study. This article reviews a study that was carried out in relation to privateness and dignity in continence care. This review highlights that there four major themes identified from the study one of them being privacy. With the review commenting that maintaining privacy during toileting and continence care is vital to maintaing dignity. In addition that it was easier to maintain privacy in care homes that provided en-suite bathrooms for the residents. This article is not supported as it only gives reference to what the Health Care commission report caring for dignity says about dignity. Foss, T D (2006) Grave Bearing how dignity will be dealt with on wards. British Journal of Nursing. 15 (9) pp 481 http//www.internurse.com Accessed 5th December 2009This article is written by the editor of the British Journal of Nursing and bases the article around the new duty that the government has imposed on nurses, the new duty of the Dignity nurse. In the article the author argues that nurses simply have too many duties and adding another will make the nurses even more overstretched. In addition it is pointed out that nurses already show the patients respect and dignity in basic care as nurses play an important role in keeping up dignity in mixed wards, so why does it need to be real stated as a new duty. The article concludes with the view that the government cannot deal with this with continuing learning courses as the nurses do not have the time nor do the trust have the money to send the nurses on them. As th is article is published in the British Journal of Nursing and written by the editor of the journal this article is aimed at Health Care professionals especially who work on wards. As no reference is made to anyone else or any other publications this article is unsupported. McParland J, Scott, PA, Dassen, T ,Gasull, M, Lemonidou, C, Valimaki, M , Leino-Kilpi, H ( 2000) Atonomy and clinical practice 2 patient privacy and nursing practice. British Journal of Nursing. 9 (9) pp 556-559. http//www.internurse.com Accessed 5th December 2009 This article is written by a number of health lecturers and outlines privacy and the nursing practices to enable the policy of privacy is adhered to. The article is presented clearly with an swindle box at the beginning of the article to inform the reader what information the article is going to contain, and all the information under sub headings. The article begins with a number of definitions of privacy and then informs the reader of patient privacy. A number of situations and examples of patient privacy are given in the article with it also stating how nurses can maintain patient privacy. This article is primarily aimed at the nursing profession as it was published in the British Journal of Nursing. This article may be extremely useful to student nurses to enable them to learn about privacy to maintain a good understanding of it and how to make sure it is maintained why they are on placement. Throughout this article many references are made to many people who have researched this area before, indeed this article is supported. Charles- Edward, I, Brotchie, J (2005) Privacy what does it mean for childrens nurses? Paediatric Nursing. 17 ( 5) pp 38-44. http//www.proquest.com Accessed sixth December 2009 Although this article is appropriate for paediatric health professionals due to where it was published and the authors. Imelda Charles- Edward being the programme director for the Bsc (Hons) in child health nursing and it being p ublished in the Paediatric Nursing journal, it is most appropriate for Paediatric Nursing students. The main reason for this being that includes a number of activates that could be completed in order to gain a good understanding of the subject of privacy and dignity while working class training. Due to this being aimed at paediatric nursing students the layout is very clear as it includes tables and is sectioned off with what the author calls Time outs at the end of each section for the reader to complete. This article covers many issues to do with privacy and dignity including the different definitions of privacy, physical privacy, privacy of information and adult secretes. Throughout the article the author makes reference to many other health professionals and authors who have their own views on this subject and who have carried out studies on the subject previous, therefore this article is supported. Matiti, M R, Trorey, G M ( 2008) Patients expectations of the maintenance of th eir dignity Journal of clinical nursing. 17 (20) pp 2709- 2971. http//www3.interscience.wiley.com Accessed 6th December 2009This study was carried out to research into patients expectations of dignity while they were in hospital and how it was maintained. Due to both the authors being health lectures at universities in England and the article being printed in a nursing journal this article is aimed at any health professional who works in a hospital setting as this is where the study was carried out. The information about the study is clearly presented in this article as the information is divided into the different sections of the study. For example the article provides information background to dignity, information on the methodology of the study, the study population, data gathering and information on the findings of the study. As this is a study that was conducted it is not supported in the traditional sense as it only makes reference to what other people perceive privacy and di gnity to be. Nazarko, L, (2007) Bathing Patients with care and dignity. British Journal of Health Care Assistants. 1 (2) pp 73-76. http//www.internurse.com Accessed 6th December 2009 An abstract box at the beginning of this article informs the reader that healthcare assistants play an important role in maintaining the hygiene of clients in their care and this role should be carried out with sensitivity to maintain the clients dignity. The article comments on this in more depth informing the reader that one of the main ways of respecting the clients dignity is to assess the risk of the client of getting in the bath/shower as if they can complete the task themselves then they should be left to do so. This article was written by a nursing consultant for older people and was published in the British Journal of healthcare Assistants therefore it is aimed more specifically at Healthcare Assistants. Nursing students however may find this useful as the article is simply written and explain s what needs to be done to bath a client, therefore a student nurse may find it useful to use to find out how to bath a patient. As the article is like a guide to bathing clients no reference is made to any other publications therefore this article is unsupported. Thomas, S, (2008) RCN Lets get political for patient dignity. British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing. 4 (5) pp 243-244. http//www.internurse.com Accessed 6th December 2009 The author of this article Sue Thomas a nurse policy adviser for the Royal College of Nursing writes this article to inform health professionals about the barriers that face nurses when trying to make policy changes and how maintaining patient dignity can bring about policy change. The information is clearly presented with sub headings and quotations being easily distinguished by being in bold. The article highlights the barriers to dignity such as the obstacles that stop the nurses providing the dignity that the patients want. The article then provides recommendations that the RCN would like to see in place in order for the nurses to provide the dignity the patients want such as no more mixed wards and curtains around beds that actually close. Although this was published in the neuroscience journal this article is aimed at all health professionals especially them in the Royal college of Nursing. Throughout this article there are many quotations by health professionals and results of a survey carried out therefore this article is supported. Pownall, M, ( 2009) Privacy and dignity eliminating mixed sex accommodation in hospitals. Nursing Times. 105 (44) pp 15. http//www.proquest.com Accessed 6th December 2009This article is written by a freelance health journalist who uses the issue of mixed sex wards as an example of how individual trusts can monitor how they are maintaining privacy and dignity in relation to overall performance. The author states that this is achieved in three ways 1) A committed board of directors e.g. providing the senior management with the right information and recourses to ensure privacy and dignity is maintained to patients in their care. 2) The care environment e.g. separated sleeping areas and washing facilities for men and women on mixed sex wards. 3) Individual action e.g. if it is unavoidable for a patient to be placed on a mixed ward try to relocate the patient as soon as possible and apologise for any inconvenience. The article is clearly presented and uses sub-headings to categorise the information. As it is printed in a nursing journal nurses and health care professionals may find this article beneficial. Walsh, K, Kowanko, I (2002) Nurses and patients perceptions of dignity International Journal of Nursing. 8 (3) pp143-145. http//www3.interscience.com Accessed 7th December 2009 The authors of this article, one being a senior lecturer and another being a senior researcher explains in depth the study and the results of the study they carried out in order to obtain nurses and p atients perceptions of dignity. This article highlights that after carrying out the study nurses believe that there are many aspects and many different characteristics of dignity, the most important ones being aspects such as privacy and respect. With the study also concluding that the characteristics the patients associated with dignity were very similar to the nurses. Although the article is of length it is clearly presented with the use of sub-headings and the use of quotations in italics. As the authors have used quotations of the participants in the study and have related to other health professionals during this study this article is supported. As it was published in the International Journal of Nursing this article is not only aimed at audiences here in the United Kingdom but health professionals all over the world. Ashurst, A (2007) Palliative Care maintaining dignity. Nursing and residential care. 9 (1) pp22-24. http//www.internurse.com Accessed 7th December 2009 This artic le has been specifically written for palliative care staff in nursing or residential care specifically for the care of the elderly and terminally ill. The author- a consultant editor for the journal highlights guidelines to follow to ensure dignity is maintained for the care of the terminally ill during their stay at residential homes. Ashurst sates to maintain privacy and dignity towards the end of the patients life emotional support must be obtainable which may include respecting the relatives wishes- this may include involving themselves in the care of their relative. He also sates that respect for the patients wishes should be at the forefront of the care for the patient regardless of what the nursing staff believes to be the best course of treatment. Ashurst clearly presents the main points of this article to the reader by using a simple layout with the uses of sub-headings, pictures, columns and quotations in bold and alter comers. As this is not legislation but merely guidel ines it is not supported in the traditional sense as the author only uses the opinions of members of the health profession. NHS Executive- Safety, Privacy and dignity in mental health units- guidance on mixed sex accommodation for mental health services. (2000). http//www.dh.gov.uk Accessed 9th December 2009 This policy is a National Health Service policy for all NHS trusts in England written by the NHS Executives. It provides guidance for the practical stairs that need to be taken out by all NHS staff to ensure that safety, privacy and dignity are maintained for the patients in mental heath units with regards to mixed sex accommodation. It is split into two main sections. Section A being operation policy. This provides the audience with guidelines to meet the overall objects of providing a safe environment and safe facilities for mentally ill patients which maintain their privacy and dignity. Section B being design guidance. This section elaborates on the guidelines given in the pr evious section by specifically relating it to mental health facilities. As this is a NHS policy and is therefore legislation it is not supported as it is not a matter of opinion. Although this policy is long in length it is clearly presented with the use of sections and sub-sections being clearly numbered. The policy also includes models as aguidance to possible accommodation arrangements for new/existing accommodation in order to maintain privacy and dignity in mental health facilities. Professor Ian Philip, National Director for old people, Department of health- A new ambition for old age- bordering steps in implementing the national service framework for older people. (2006) http//www.dh.gov.uk Accessed on 9th December 2009 This report written by the national director for old people outlines the next steps for implementing the national service framework for older people and follows on from a previous report on Better Health in old age. The author states that it is the department of healths ambition that within five years all older people will be treated with respect and dignity and in all care settings. He believes this will be achieved by following 10 programmes of activity. An example being improving dignity in care by strengthen activities such as ensuring the dignity towards and at the end of a persons life. As it is a government policy this report is primarily aimed at everyone in the United Kingdom, however more specifically those who work with older people and those in the health sector. The layout is easy to understand with each programme easy to bring up by the use of sub headings in a different colour. Bullet points are also used to keep the text short and direct in some areas with the use of pictures also to brake down the writing.