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Why did the Cold War end?

The presidents of the US and Russia will meet face to face this evening for the first time in two...
Newstalk
Newstalk

14.54 22 Aug 2014


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Why did the Cold War end?

Why did the Cold War end?

Newstalk
Newstalk

14.54 22 Aug 2014


Share this article


The presidents of the US and Russia will meet face to face this evening for the first time in two years.

They will sit down after both have addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York, which gets underway later.

But when exactly did the Cold War end?

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Reagan and Gorbachev

With the election of Reagan in 1981, and the inception of the Reagan Doctrine early in his tenure, it was clear that the US would now pursue a more forceful foreign policy against the USSR.

Reagan demonstrated little faith in the concepts put forward by Carter and Kissinger during the era of detente, as he seeked to bring a swift end to the Cold War. His distrust of the Soviet Union, which he famously referred to as the ‘evil empire’, was clear to be seen. During his first term he also increased involvement in Third World affairs, as an approach of promoting capitalist ideals was adopted. Was it now not enough to merely defend the world from communism, as an aggressive approach was required?

Angola, Grenada and Nicaragua were just a few of the nations provided with extensive aid during this time. However, while the regimes supported may have been capitalist, they were not always democratic. This leads one to question the ideals of the Reagan Doctrine.

However, those who suggest that it was these forthright policies that brought the Soviet Union’s economy to the brink can be proved wrong by the words of Reagan himself. Just one year into his reign, in a speech to the British Parliament, he stated that the Soviet Union was ‘in deep economic difficulty...the constant shrinkage of economic growth combined with the growth of military production is putting a heavy strain on the Soviet people.’

Soviet troops leaving Afghanistan in 1988

This may have just represented an attempt to drum up further anti-communist sentiment, as he wished to shed the the capitalist system in a positive light. When considering the force with which the Reagan Doctrine seeked to secure international dominance, this seems to be the most realistic interpretation. Nonetheless, one cannot deny that Reagan himself acknowledged that the failings of the Communist system were apparent, even at this early stage.

Its sustainability was certainly in question. The appetite in Moscow for supporting communism in the 3rd world conflict was on the wane, as questions were beginning to arise regarding its suitability in some 3rd World regions. Perhaps their failure in Afghanistan contributed to this disenchantment?

However, the flip side of this argument is to suggest that Reagan’s policies had little or no impact on the policies of Gorbachev. The Soviet leader came to the fore after an unsettled period in the leadership of the Communist Party. This instability was mirrored in the economy, as the communist system in the Soviet Union appeared to be slowly crumbling.

Gorbachev represented a new era of Soviet politicians, who had not lived through the Stalinist rule. Maybe he was not bound to the policies of the past, perhaps finding it easier to mark a departure in traditional Soviet policy?

President Reagan and Vice-President Bush with Soviet leader Gorbachev at Governers Island, New York City in 1988

His reign began in 1985 and he wasted little time in applying these reforms. It required a relaxation in international policy, as sustainability in domestic industry took precedence. As the Soviet Union prepared to scale down militarily, the US were forthcoming in regard to negotiation. These moments were still highly contentious, but ultimately US pre-eminence in these discussions were inevitable as they pressed home their superiority.

The willingness of the Reagan administration in negotiating as such is to be commended. Despite having far more ammunition in discussions, they still agreed to many concessions that were arguably unnecessary. However, they did emerge from this period as the hegemonic world power. Surely, as long as this was assured, there was never likely to be a breakdown in negotiations on the part of the Americans?

While these discussions were in progress, domestic policies were also being implemented in the Soviet Union. ‘Perestroika’ was the term used to describe the revolutionary reforms introduced by Gorbachev. They were intended to strengthen the socialist system, while also modernising it with liberal reforms. The policy of ‘Glasnost’ was designed to open up Soviet politics to create a more transparent system. However, with the forum for public debate now opened, the criticism of Leninist ideology was beginning to pick up steam.

 Reagans famous 'Tear Down This Wall' speech, at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, 1987

The opportunity for change saw many revolutions across Eastern Europe, as the authority of the Soviet Union was rejected. This also occurred within Russia, as the rise of political opposition saw the dissolution of the Communist Party in 1991, with Boris Yeltsin elected President at this time, in effect, replacing Gorbachev. His rule would see a departure from communism toward the free market system.

It seems fair to suggest that the Cold War ended as the Soviet Union slowly came to the realisation that it was no longer worth engaging in. Perhaps the policies of Gorbachev were motivated more by domestic matters than ostensible pressure from the US? Arguably, this decline was as a result of Soviet policies from the previous decades as opposed to the newly established Reagan Doctrine.

Ultimately, the result was to leave the US as the autonomous world power. Reagan was proved correct in his assertion, ironically made famous by Trotsky, that the end of the Cold War would leave the Soviet Union ‘on the ash heap of history.’

Suggested Reading:

David S. Painter, ‘The Cold War, an International History’ (1999)

John Lewis Gaddis, ‘The United States and the End of the Cold War: Implications, Reconsiderations, Provocations’ (1992)

Mark Mazower, ‘Dark Continent, Europe’s Twentieth Century’ (1999)

For all other 'Talking History' Book Recommendations, click here


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