The Study Of U.S. Policy-Making During The First Berlin Crisis

The First Berlin Crisis is an important event in the international relations history of the post-war. It is the first game of confrontation what rely on the military force between the United States and the Soviet Union after the outbreak of the Cold War. The origin of the crisis is different opinion and practice on the problem of German post-war politics unify or divide in the future under the condition of divided occupation of Germany. The United States, Britain and France cooperate to set up an independent country and carry out the monetary reform in western Germany. Then the Soviet Union blockade Berlin as the response to the action of the three western countries. Escalation of conflict between east and west evolved into a confrontational crisis at last.This article try to in-depth study the policy-making of the United States during the first Berlin Crisis basic on the comprehensive utilization the Various types of official records of the United States and the United Kingdom which be declassified and Published from 20th century 70s to the beginning of this century. And the study of this article also will combine with the memoirs biography diary and so on of the parties. Then author will follow the research ideas of diplomatic history and from the angle of policy makers, decision-making body and inter-state relations to go on the study. On the paradigm of study, This article will the traditional analytic method of three-stage decision-making which including determine the agenda policy making and implementation of policies. Author also will reflect the decision-making characteristics of integration on three stages.The foreword will introduce the topics of significance, the recalling the state of relevant research at home and abroad, and author will give some brief descript of the research methods and reference. Then according to the decision-making process, main body of the article will divide four chapters to study.Chapter one firstly analyses the historical background of the First Berlin crisis's outbreak according to the German problem and the Berlin problem. The analysis is basic on the relations between the United States and the Soviet Union during he early postwar period, the evolution of the United States' policy on Germany. It also added the introduction the mechanism evolution of the United States to deals with international crisis. "The April Blockade" is prologue of the crisis, "West German Government's construction" and "west occupied area currency reform" are the principal contradiction. Then analyzes the U.S.'s primary reaction to the crisis is another research key of the chapter. The inspection will concentrate with emphasis after "deals in April Blocks", "the blockade subsides the following policy" as well as "to the Soviet general blockade primary reaction" three stages, Main elaboration Central authorities and in Germany Agency Military Government two stratification plane behavior body, in this process manner, standpoint and in related question countermeasure and agent and significance.Chapter two will focus on the United States how to take shape the basic policy, explore the standpoint similarities and differences of different bureaucracies, and find out the essence of the basic policy. Discussion focus on the following questions, such as the problem of note Soviet Union, Whether dispatch the B-29 bomber aircraft to implements the nuclear deterrent to Soviet, whether to strengthen the airlift, and whether adopt the military escort to break Soviet Union's blockade. At last the United States establish "Two-track countermeasure", that meanings to takes the key emphasis in work the diplomacy coordination by airlift. The policy is the product of the combined effect of all kinds of factors. The factor including the policy-maker individual factor for instance Truman; the effect of international factor; domestic political factor for instance 1948 presidential election. On the other hand, carry out the policy of "Two-track countermeasure" need the support and coordination of the United Kingdom. So the US goverrnent go on frequent diplomatic consultation and get agreement with British government on how to deal with the crisis at last.Chapter three main study the implementation of the decision-making, and also analysis the new problem and Contradictions, and also make a thorough inquiry on the Further decision-making of the United States. At first, under the coordinate of airlift, the United States try to deal with the crisis combine with the Britain and France through the way of negotiations. But after the negotiation phase of Moscow and Berlin, there are all kinds of differences on the problem of set up the western German government and the Berlin' Currency, transportation, trade. All of these make the United States have to reflection and adjustment the specific strategies on how to carry out the basic policy. The intervene of the United Nations didn't get the effect of resolve crisis. At the same time, Berlin city split into two separate political entities with the municipal elections by the end of 1948. The United States also revise its own strategy with the constant developments in specific response to the course of action.Chapter four main elaborate a series of policy-making discussion and initiatives of the United States during the process towards reconciliation. With the synthesis influence of all kinds of domestic and international factors, Soviet governmental hard-line policy become more and more moderate started from the beginning of 1949. The United States give positive response to the change of the Soviet Union. Through several times ambassadorial level secret negotiations, the two countries reached a settlement agreement. The Berlin blockade be relieved gradually from May 12. But the United States still worried that Soviet Union possibly resumes the blockade before the agreement be confirmed by US, UK, French and Soviet in the Paris ministerial meeting of foreign ministers which held in June. Then the United States decision-making in the phase is the last discussion. On the other hand, the First Berlin Crisis has some important effect on the diplomatic and domestic politics of the United States.In the conclusion section, author will use the theory of diplomatic policy-making to analysis the United States how to make policy during the crisis from international system and national behavior body stratification plane, as well as from domestic politics and policy-making organ stratification plane. Makes the overall inspection to US's in crisis decision-making and the influencing factor and the deep level reason, and will make certain discussion and the theoretical analysis to the American crisis decision-making's achievement.