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The fact that atomic war may break out, isn't that class struggle? There is no alternative to class struggle. This is a very serious question. The be-all and end-all is not peaceful coexistence. After all, we have been holding on for some time, and under Stalin we held on to the point where the imperialists felt able to demand point-blank: either surrender such and such positions, or it means war. So far the imperialists haven't renounced that.

Vyacheslav Molotov#11

Class struggleCold warIdeologyInternational relationsNuclear weapons

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About this quote

What does it mean?
Molotov links atomic war to class struggle. He argues peaceful coexistence is not ultimate and imperialists still demand surrender or war.
In plain terms
Atomic war is class struggle. Peaceful coexistence is not enough because imperialists still threaten war.
What can you take from it?
Class struggle persists and imperialist threats remain unresolved.

Where it applies

  • cold war discourse
  • security policy

Putting it to work

  • framing nuclear policy ideologically

Questions to consider

  • Is nuclear war class struggle?
  • Can peaceful coexistence end conflict?

Another view

It conflates class struggle with global security issues.

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