RUNNING HEAD: Winston Churchills Iron Curtain Speech 1

Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech

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Threat to Self-determination

Winston Churchill believes that the expansionist desires followed by Russia will be a

threat to the national political self-determination. In this context, self-determination means the

right of the citizens to determine their political future in regards to leaders and policies. Churchill

established the fact that the Soviet Union intended to grow and create a communist government

in Western Europe. However, Churchill sought to develop a solution that would protect the

county from the Soviets expansionist tendencies to prevent a war in future. Their expansion in

Europe would limit political freedom, and it should be stopped before the county union grew any

further. Churchill believes that the United Nations (UN) is in a position to deal with the

impending threat (Kreis, 2014). This would rely on a united force to combat Russia. The League

of Nations was not effective in preventing the second world war, and Churchill believes that the

UN is in a better place to do so. This would ensure that the Soviet Union does not challenge the

Western principle of self- determination.

Inconsistency

I believe that Churchill is not inconsistent in his speech. This arises from two reasons.

The first is that the Soviet Union was growing at a tremendous rate while dominating a myriad of

countries in Europe. However, the Union did not have power over Germany even though

Churchill supported the notion that it should protect itself from German aggression. Secondly,

Churchill fails to present sufficient reasons to support his views about Soviet justifications.

Churchill does not believe that the Soviets have a right to secure their borders, even though he

says that he understands the needs to protect themselves from German aggression. Moreover,

even though the Union should protect itself from Germany, it does not need to be dominant over

Europe. He does not provide sufficient reasoning for his beliefs about the Soviets. Indeed, there
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is a difference between forcing totalitarian governments and trying to protect a country from

external aggression (Kreis, 2014). If it is a fact that the Soviet were using a totalitarian

communism in Eastern Europe, while also pressurizing Iran and Turkey, then it would be

sufficient reason for being worried about the Soviet expansion.

Advocacy for military strength

Churchill considers the Russians as courageous individuals who can endure despite the

differences. He speaks of Russias isolationist tendencies even though he also mentions that the

country should be praised. Mostly, Churchill is praising Russia, and he is not necessarily calling

for a military confrontation. By stating that the Soviets are in need of strength while having little

respect for countries with a weak military. Churchill means that other European countries also

have to show their military might. This will be something that the Soviets will respect and

admire, and it will not lead to war, but it would act as a deterrent to German aggression. This is a

new strategy that would avoid a new war, resulting in a peaceful Europe. Moreover, he says that

if the material and moral forces of English speaking nations are united, then Britain will become

a force to reckon with in Europe, and it will gain the respect of Russia (Kreis, 2014).

Audience

Churchill picked the US because it was an English-speaking country and it had the

capacity to deal with the issues affecting Europe. Fundamentally, the success of his speech relies

on the ability to consider both sides of the argument while coming up with a peaceful way to

resolve the issues. He called for the need to prevent another war by dealing with communist

aggression in Europe. Moreover, the US was in a better position to work with its allies in Europe,

such as Britain to prevent a permanent war that could arise. Moreover, a war with nuclear
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weapons and unequal powers would lead to a demise of humankind, and it was essential to

prevent its development (Kreis, 2014). Mainly, he anticipated a war that is now known as the

cold war.
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References

Kreis, S. (2014, December 27). Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain Speech. Retrieved from The

History Guide: Lectures of Twentieth Century Europe:

http://www.historyguide.org/europe/churchill.html