The Real Reasons Behind Western Opposition to Communism

Economic Interests and Market Access

Western powers, including the United States, were not fighting communism itself but were combating authoritarian foreign governments that sought to destroy and occupy their countries and install their own regimes. This conflict was not about economic models, as evidenced by the USSR even engaging in wars with China, despite both being communist. The primary concern for capitalist states was the restriction of access to domestic markets by communist governments, which posed a significant issue for Western businesses.

For instance, the US and UK toppled the government of Iran because it wanted to nationalize its oil production, which would have negatively impacted Western oil companies and production chains. Similarly, Venezuela, with restricted access for American companies to its oil reserves, is considered an enemy of the US, while Saudi Arabia, a good business partner, is an ally. These examples highlight how economic interests played a crucial role in shaping foreign policy.

Political Alliances and Power Dynamics

The United States and its allies had no issues being allied with capitalist dictatorships, indicating the conflict was not purely about democracy opposing dictatorship. Many socialist states became authoritarian dictatorships as they were the only ones not immediately invaded or couped by the US and its allies. Democratically elected socialist leaders were often removed by military coups supported by the West, as seen in historical and recent examples like Peru and Bolivia.

Communism is fundamentally at odds with the interests of capitalist businesses, leading to capitalist states never accepting it. Communist ideals threatened the upper class and big money, prompting efforts to shut them down at all costs. This opposition was not just about ideology but about maintaining political and economic power.

Military and Strategic Concerns

At the beginning of World War II, the Soviet Union was an aggressor, conquering and spreading in Europe and Asia. After the war, the USA and Western powers were concerned that the Soviet Union, which remained strong, might continue conquering Europe. The Soviet Union's expansion into Eastern Europe and Asia posed a growing threat as it gained more territory and resources.

The USA's decision to drop bombs on Japan during World War II had the added bonus of sending a message to the Soviets. The rise of the Soviet Union as a powerful nation led to the association of the communist threat with the Soviet Union. Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev's "we will bury you" speech exacerbated fears and tensions regarding communism.

Domestic and Ideological Factors

Communists existed in the US since the early 1900s and were not initially seen as criminals or ostracized but were not well-liked. The Western powers' fear of communism was driven by a combination of economic interests, political power dynamics, and concerns over authoritarian regimes gaining strength and threatening their security. Nominally communist governments were generally harsher to their people, which was undesirable.

Communist countries were uniting into a large political block that threatened US dominion, leading to military conflicts. The Western opposition to communism was multifaceted, involving economic, political, and ideological factors that collectively shaped the global landscape during the Cold War era.