Kennan and the Containment Policy

“The Soviet Union is driven by a deep-seated ideology that seeks expansion and global influence, its actions stemming from a belief in its inevitable victory. A lack of internal accountability within the communist system enables unchecked expansionist aspirations. A strategy aimed at containing this influence is therefore not merely reactive but a deliberate effort to expose the system’s inherent contradictions. Consequently, a steady, vigilant policy to limit Soviet expansion is both necessary and prudent. This approach, based on containment, will encourage internal reform and fortify democratic institutions.”

— George F. Kennan, “The Sources of Soviet Conduct,” July 1947



The analysis in the excerpt most clearly supports which of the following policies?