Divinely Sanctioned: The Anglo-American Cold War Alliance and the Defence of Western Civilization and Christianity, 1945–48

Abstract

In the rhetoric of the Cold War, Christianity became a means of distinguishing between socialism and communism, of dramatizing and publicizing the Soviet regime as an evil power and the Cold War as a Manichean conflict and of consolidating the western alliance, the ‘special relationship’ in particular. Harry Truman's increasing tendency, and that of his administration, to view opposition to the Soviet Union from an ideological perspective is the key to understanding Ernest Bevin's now well-known series of papers to the Cabinet, beginning with ‘The First Aim of British Foreign Policy’ in early January 1948 and ending with ‘The Threat to Western Civilisation’ in early March, which outlined his ‘spiritual concept of Western Union’ and officially established IRD (Information Research Department). It is also a means of gaining insight into the tacit understandings and nuanced relationship that existed between the USA and Britain in the immediate postwar period in the joint implementation of containment. This article explores Bevin's plan for ‘a sort of spiritual federation of the West’, intended to overcome potential opposition in the USA from Labour backbenchers and from within the Cabinet to closer Anglo-American relations, to suggest that the only real importance Bevin attached to ideological aspects was as a way to consolidate Anglo-American relations. His actions contributed to an intensification of the Cold War, the transformation of Christian leaders into Cold War warriors and the transmogrification of Christianity into a politicized doctrine.

After Secularism

“…Some of the other sources within this body of literature are engaged as part of the discussion of discourse analysis. For further sources and discussions on the nexus between religion, US national identity and foreign policy, see the following : Amstutz 1987;Bellah 2005;Finke 1992;Fowler et al 2004;Harland 1966;Kirby 2000;Kurth 1998;Lifton 2003;Linenthal 1983;Little 1998;McDougall 1997;Mead 2001Mead , 2004Mead , 2006Milliken 1996;Niebuhr 1937;Niebuhr 1971;Paul 2002;Phillips 2006;Pullen 2000;Ribuffo 1998;Urban 2005; Weldes and Saco 1996. 5.…”

The state as citizen: state personhood and ideology

“…NATO was depicted as instrumental in consolidating 'ethical and spiritual forces' (Bevin in ibid. : 240; Kirby 2000) and even if certain agreements had to be formalised in treaties (that is in contractual, positive international law), this was not the primary driving force behind the organisation. Moreover, this spiritual community was seen as superseding the national communities it comprised.…”

The high wire act: a comparison of British transatlantic foreign policies in the Second World War and the war in Iraq, 2001–2003

“…France doubtless feels the same, although for prestige reasons would be unwilling to declare officially that she looks to us for leadership. (Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1945, 1; see also Kirby 2000; Blainey 1988; Harries 1993, for discussion)…”