Communist Bloc Expansion in the Early Cold War: Challenging Realism, Refuting Revisionism Author(s): Douglas J. Macdonald Reviewed work(s): Source: International Security, Vol. 20, No. 3 (Winter, 1995-1996), pp. 152-188 Published by: The MIT Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2539142 . Accessed: 09/01/2012 01:31 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact
[email protected]. The MIT Press is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to International Security. http://www.jstor.org Connunist Bloc DouglasJ. Macdonald Expansionin the EarlyCold War Challenging Realism, RefutingRevisionism W as there ever a unifiedcommunist threat facing the UnitedStates during the Cold War?Or did U.S. decision-makersmisperceive Soviet and communistbloc "defensive- ness"and "caution"as expansionistthreats? Did U.S. leaders,realizing that the Sovietsand theirideological allies posed no securitythreat to theUnited States and its allies,create such claimsfor various domestic political reasons? Such questionshave dominatedanalyses of the Cold Warin theUnited States for thepast thirtyyears. To thesurprise of some and theconsternation of others, thedemise of theCold Warand theresulting flow of new evidencefrom the Eastin recentyears has reinvigoratedmany of these arguments over its origins, theprimary responsibility for its creation, and U.S.