In-Text References

Literary and Philosophical References

John Maynard Keynes

Marshall never mentions Keynes directly, but he was pretty much the Beatles of economics at the time. He believed that the government had to intervene to keep the economy from periodically imploding. By providing money to governments in order to fix economies, Marshall is indirectly supporting this idea.

Historical and Political References

World War II 

It would be tough to get through this speech without mentioning the war, really. Marshall touches on a number of things, notably the devastation wrought by the war, and the pre-emptive destruction of the German economy by the Nazis.

The Soviet Union

This reference is more oblique. He merely points out where such things can go. He didn't say, "Nobody turn out like the Oviet-say Union-way."

References to This Text

Historical and Political References

U.S. Foreign Policy

The Marshall Plan has been a model for foreign policy beyond Europe. Any time America gives cash to a foreign country, some of the price is that they keep a government at least friendly to the USA.