The Effect The 'Miracle On Ice' Game Against The USSR
Given the length of the paper (2,800-3,000 words), you would do well to focus on one aspect of sport and the Cold War and analyze it with as much depth, specificity, and originality as possible. The paper should present an original hypothesis (i.e. not simply take someone else's ideas) and try to prove that hypothesis with arguments and textual proof. In describing cultural phenomenon I encourage you to place an emphasis on analysis of cause and effect and on evaluation of hypothetical cases.
Use of Secondary Sources: You will use secondary sources for background, but your paper must give credit for any interpretative information or ideas received from these sources and must go beyond them with your own hypotheses, arguments and conclusions.
All papers must follow MLA or APA guidelines for research paper writing.
In order to conduct a meaningful historical analysis and interpretation please use the following principles while working on your papers:
Compare and contrast differing sets of ideas, values, personalities, behaviors, and institutions by identifying likenesses and differences.
Consider multiple perspectives of various peoples in the past by demonstrating their differing motives, beliefs, interests, hopes, and fears.
Analyze cause-and-effect relationships bearing in mind multiple causation including (a) the importance of the individual in history; (b) the influence of ideas, human interests, and beliefs; and (c) the role of chance, the accidental and the irrational.
Draw comparisons across eras and regions in order to define enduring issues as well as large-scale or long-term developments that transcend regional and temporal boundaries.
Distinguish between unsupported expressions of opinion and informed hypotheses grounded in historical evidence.
Compare competing historical narratives.
Challenge arguments of historical inevitability by formulating examples of historical contingency, of how different choices could have led to different consequences.
Hold interpretations of history as tentative, subject to changes as new information is uncovered, new voices heard, and new interpretations broached.
Evaluate major debates among historians concerning alternative interpretations of the past.
Hypothesize the influence of the past, including both the limitations and opportunities made possible by past decisions.
Effects of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” Game in the Socio-Political Relations of the Cold War
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December 11, 2017
Introduction
It was the 22nd of February 1980, when the legendary game between the US and USSR has happened in Lake Placid, New York. Also widely recognized as the “Miracle on Ice”, this sport event has reverberated all over the world, whereas many journalists, sports enthusiasts, and even scholars have called this even as “the greatest sports moment of the twentieth century” (Abelson). Nevertheless, as recognized internationally, the grandeur of this game was not simply due to the players nor the fame of hockey as a sport itself. This one time sporting event in history has been drawn the attention of the whole world for its deeper implications, which is founded on the tension underlying the events of the Cold War between the United States and the USSR. Due to this, the said game was indeed politically imbued with the pride of each nation, as both of them tries to outwin the other one in every aspect imaginable. In line with the US Men’s Hockey Team’s win, it should also be noted that this has had a deeper implications in the Socio-political state of each nation, in the coming years after the event. More notably, it must be recognized that despite the fact that Coach Brooks and his team has refused to be a part of the United States political agenda, the pride that their victory has brought would then bring various effects, and even politicized by the state for their own advantage (Abelson).
Throughout the years, most studies dedicated to provide a deeper analysis of the game “Miracle on Ice” hinges on three aspects, namely (1) political, (2) social, and (3) economic. For the first section, a short but concise overview of the game “Miracle on Ice” would be provided. This is to acquaint the readers to the events that transpired in Lake Placid, New York. In light of the political repercussions of the event, the author of this article would discuss the changes that have happened, particularly with respect to the policies that were made possible (and feasible) due to the US’ victory in a hockey game. This section would include the method “political romanticism” that the state has done in order to justify policies that would later affect the world. In the succeeding section, the social effects of the miracle on ice would also be discussed. However. Since the effects related to this particular aspect is too numerous to be included, the author would like to limit this idea to the strengthening of the concept of “nationalism” that has ensued after the United States struck the gold. Lastly, another section would also be dedicated towards the enduring economic effects that the political and social repercussions of the game have dealt. This particular focus is provided since it is generally believed that the Miracle on Ice, as a hockey game, would not deliver much economic impact towards the two behemoth states. Rather, it is the social and political effects that were made possible by the game, that then brought economic shifts to the US, the USSR, and perhaps the rest of the world.
Following from the sections provided above, what could be seen is that this paper is aimed at providing a holistic – economic, social, and political – effects of the Miracle on Ice to the two opposing states, and perhaps the whole world. In line with these three aspects, the author of this article believes that while the 1980s Miracle on Ice Game has been one of the greatest sports moment in history, it has also laid the foundation for the establishments of political agenda that would then affect the world, thus leading to one that we know of today.
The Miracle on Ice
Led by Coach Herb Brooks, the US Men’s Hockey Team dominated the 1980s game as they were able to bring home the gold medal against Finland, while the USSR was only able to get silver against Sweden (Klein). However, despite the United States ability to pride themselves of this win, it wasn’t exactly what most people was waiting for. This is because even if the US has already won a significant number of Gold medals during the Olympics, the Russian team was composed of Gold medalists who were also seasoned players in many other competitions around the world. Some of the most notable players whom the US team’s faced includes Vladislav Tretiak and Viacheslav Fetisov, who have been considered as notable names in the sport for a number of years before the match (1980ushockeyteam.com). This made most people vie for the Soviet’s team to win, especially when considering that Brook’s team was mainly composed of collegiate students who were considered amateurs relative to the Soviet’s all-star team. Nevertheless, this perception that the US team was an ‘underdog’ has created an even greater sense of pride as the team has scored their winning point in the last minutes of the round.
The Political Backdrop
The 1980s was a part of the Cold War period, which was then characterized with heavy political tensions between the US and the USSR. Particularly, both of the nations were fighting towards increasing political alliances, improving scientific innovation (arms race), as well as dominating international relations. However, what differentiates the politics between the previous world wars and the Cold War period was that during these days, the concept of the Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), brought about by the presence of nuclear weapons, has kept any “direct violence” between the nations to occur. However, this then led to a shift of the “zones of battle” towards other states. One of the events that has led to further tension was the Soviet’s invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979 (Encyclopædia Britannica). Despite being fought in a different front, this was considered as a defeat for the United States since Afghanistan was one of the countries that they’ve supported both politically and financially to prevent any advances in the Communist Ideologies that the Soviets are trying to establish.
Aside from the Soviet-Afghanistan war, the “Iranian Hostage Crisis”, which happened from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981, has also led to the increased tension between the superpowers. It was during this period when 52 Americans were held hostage in Iran by the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam’s Life, which are also one of the main groups that supported the Iranian revolution, responsible for the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty. In line with the events of the Cold War, this hostage crisis would seem to be isolated from the ensuing competition between the two states. However, because some of the founding groups that led the Iranian revolution prioritized the support o...