On The Establishment Of American National Security Council In The Early Cold War

This paper mainly concentrates on the creation of the United States National Security Council, especially about the aspects such as its background, process, content and significance. The United States National Security Council was created by the National Security Act of1947, and it is the advisory body of the United States President. Usually, it is regarded as the highest decision-making body concerning to national security, especially about the integration of domestic, foreign and military policies."Diplomatic history" and "International history", which is the mainstream of traditional Cold War History, mostly centers on the two superpowers or the two hostile camps about their military, political, economic and other aspects of the struggle, at the same time it ignores the strategy behind the domestic political and institutional factors. In fact, in cold war there is also part of domestic process. In early cold war period, the Truman administration established national security mechanism, which covering the various aspects of politics, economy, military, diplomacy and defense. We can say that it is a major innovation for U.S. national security system and institution building. The paper, based on the Truman Library archives and historical textual material, gives an analysis of the background and the birth of the U.S. National Security Council, as well as reveals the important position of the National Security and provides some advices for China’s decision-making mechanism.This paper is divided into four parts:The first chapter discusses the background information about the foundation of the National Security Council. From the macro perspective, it gives a general study of the evolution of the national security concept and the establishment of security coordination mechanism from founding to World War Ⅱ. From the micro perspective, on the one hand, since the end of the World War Ⅱ and the cold war, U.S. national security concept had been experienced great changes, which is the most profound historical backgrounds; on the other hand, because of the Separation of Powers, congress urgently need a mechanism to limit the expansion of presidential power, which is the institutional context.The second chapter deals with the establishment of the U.S. National Security Council. Rely mainly on the archives of the Truman Library about the establishment of the National Security Council, some historical texts such as "Eberstadt Report"“National Security Act of1947", and memoirs. In order to demonstrate the conflict between the various departments in the process of the creation of National Security Council, and through compromise, they eventually agreed. Finally, the National Security Act of1947established the National Security Council’s legal status.The third chapter discusses the significance and impact of the establishment of the National Security Council. The setup of the National Security Council is a major achievement of the U.S. system of innovation in the World War Ⅱ. During the Cold War every president use the council differently, but it was playing an important role in making national security strategy and leading covert actions.The fourth chapter is mainly about the thoughts and revelation the foundation of the National Security Council can provide us. The creation of the National Security Council is closely related to the concept of national security. After World War II the concept of national security is not limited to the absolute security, but also includes military, economic, political, psychological and other aspects. State institutions must also be made to adjust to the changed situation. National Security Council came in time, that’why it can exist for a long time. Also the study on the creation of U. S. National Security Council can provide some reference and indication to us.