The Origins of the Cold War is a central topic for IB Paper 2. This podcast will cover the breakdown of the grand alliance and the emergence of superpower rivalry in Europe and Asia (1943–1949).

It will compare and contrast the roles of the US (especially) and the USSR (especially Stalin). It pays attention to the role of ideology; fear and aggression; and economic interests. Key thinkers such as Gaddis are mentioned, as are the differing views of orthodox, revisionist and post-revisionist historians.