Truman Doctrine Theme of Good vs. Evil

The most classic theme out there:

  • Jedi vs. Sith.
  • Throwing away your gum in the trash vs. spitting it on the ground for an innocent pedestrian to step on.
  • The U.S. vs. the U.S.S.R.

Truman has a very particular understanding of who/what is "good" and who/what is "evil" in the world he is describing. The picture he paints in the Truman Doctrine of international good vs. international evil will be a lasting picture defining the Cold War.

Questions About Good vs. Evil

  1. So who/what is good and who/what is evil, according to Truman? How are the two sides defined?
  2. Is there a bias associated with these labels?
  3. What's supposed to happen if "good" wins over "evil"? What happens if things end up the other way around?
  4. How does the tone or writing style reflect this good vs. evil theme?

Chew on This

Check out some potential thesis statements about Truman Doctrine.

The way the Truman Doctrine pits totalitarianism and the U.S.S.R. against democracy and the U.S. defines the ideological basis of the Cold War.

Truman is being kind of rude when he says everything about communism is bad. He clearly has a cultural bias.