economic cooperation and integration; and (4) controlling inflation" (Origins of the Marshall Plan).
             In terms of the levels of analysis, the national level appears to be the crucial one. In so many ways, the Marshall Plan satisfied both those who wanted the American foreign policy to be idealistic, generous and more open to the rest of the world, and also those who wanted "realpolitik" policies. The plan helped to feed the hunger in Europe, and at the same time it slowed down the potential spread of communism. From the administration's viewpoint, the plan was both an economic and political enterprise. Because of the increase in production in the United States, Americans needed European markets in order to sell their goods and services, and also the goods had to shipped by American merchants to Europe. The Truman administration believed that if they could nurture the living conditions in Europe, this would be an appropriate way to escape communism because Americans would add Europe to their side against the Soviet Union. So, besides the sacrifice and the generousness of the American people and the government, the possible economic and political conclusions of the plan were considered by the Truman administration (Lafeber 1997).
             After World War I, America had withdrawn herself from the world, avoiding risk and shunning responsibility. Unlike at the end of the World War I, America did not withdraw herself from the rest of the world after World War II and took vital responsibilities for the future of Europe. If the United States did not change her foreign policy after World War II, in other words, if she had allowed Europe to collapse, it would have cost much more than what she spent on the Marshall Plan. So it was also in the self-interest of the United States to finance this program.
             What changed the foreign policy of the United State after World War II? In 1947 the Truman administration created a view of th...