A Study Of John Lewis Gaddis's Historical Thought

John Lewis Gaddis is a noted historian of the Cold War and grand strategy ,representatives of both the post-revisionist Cold War history is the new leader of the study. What is surprising is that both the object of study, basic concepts, research methods, have a big difference. what is Gaddis' main point about the Post-Revisionist School? what is Gaddis' main point about the New Cold War History? Why does Gaddis change his ideas on history? What aspects do the change reflect? With these questions, I try to explain in the following aspects:Firstly, it discusses the post-revisionist thinking of Gaddis. Gaddis' s post-revisionist thinking mainly involves two aspects:On one hand, about the discussion of the origin of the Cold War. Gaddis considers that the Soviet Union and the United States after World War II both want peace, the two sides pursue peace in the different ways result in the Cold War. On the other hand ,about the interpretation of the containment strategy. Gaddis consider the containment strategy is the United States has been carrying out national security policy, It is not only the reaction of the Western Group to the Soviet Union, but also the basic policy of national interests of the United States to establish global hegemony after the war.Secondly, it discusses the new cold war history of Gaddis.It mainly involves three aspects: First of all, there is a new idea about the origin of Cold War.He thought Stalin was the source of the outbreak of the Cold War. It is inevitable if only Stalin rules Soviet. The next is the conflict between good and evil.Gaddis believes that for many people the Cold War is a contest between good and evil. The normal life experience and life experience is the decision to end the cold war. The Soviet Union's brutal determined its inevitable failure. Once more, Gaddis think the United States should be invited to establish the empire in Western Europe, got the support of the occupied; and the Soviet Union established the empire after the "liberated" Eastern Europe, got the objection of the occupied. Authoritarian nature of the Soviet empire made the lack of long-standing legal basis to determine the outcome of the Cold War - the Soviet empire collapsed.Once again, it discusses the changes in the performance of Historical Thought of Gaddis. Gaddis' History ideological transformation reflects in three aspects: Firstly, the changes reflects in the methodology level. In the post-revisionist period, Gaddis always follow realism theory , its core uses the power and the basis of power to define the interests of the state. In the history of the new Cold War period, soft power is the key factor leading to the cold war . Secondly, the changes reflects in the research object. In the post-revisionist period, Gaddis' object is the United States, Any other country is mentioned as the goal of U.S. policy. In the history of the new Cold War period, Research object is diversified strength. Thirdly, the changes reflects in the conclusion of the important problem of the cold war history study. In the post-revisionist period, Gaddis pointed out that the misconception for both foreign policy is the root cause of cold war. The Cold War, in essence,is the two camps in the areas of economic, political and military full confrontation. In the New Cold War History period, Gaddis point out Stalin's personal factors are the cause of the outbreak of the Cold War, the essence of the Cold War is the dispute of ideology, institutional legitimacy.Finally, it analysis the reasons for changes in Historical Thought of Gaddis. There are two main reasons for the changes. Firstly, the formation of the new post-Soviet space-time framework provides a new research perspective for the changes. Secondly, the emergence of multilateral file history provides a historical basis for ideological transformation of Gaddis .