Containment Policy

Definition

The containment policy was a United States foreign policy doctrine adopted by the Harry S. Truman administration in 1947, operating on the principle that communist governments will eventually fall apart as long as they are prevented from expanding their influence.

Related terms

Iron Curtain: A term popularized by Winston Churchill describing the division between free and communist societies taking shape in Europe after World War II.

Detente: A period of improved relations between the United States and Soviet Union that began tentatively in 1971 and more decisively in 1972 with new strategic arms limitation talks (SALT) agreements.

Arms Race: An international competition for superiority in development and accumulation of weapons, especially between the US and former USSR during Cold War.