Individual Discussion Postings #8: The End of the Cold War

Which policies, factors, and developments were most influential in ending the Cold War? Which side – the United States or the Soviet Union – contributed more to the conclusion of the prolonged international confrontation? How and why?

A complex combination of various policies, factors, and developments from both the U.S. and the Soviet Union influenced the ending of the Cold War. The collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989 symbolically represented the ending of the Cold War, but as West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl told President George H. W. Bush by phone: “Without the United States this day would not have been possible” (Textbook, p.446). President Ronald Reagan played an integral role in the ending of the Cold War. His “peace through strength” strategy, where he launched the largest peacetime arms buildup in American history, spending $2 trillion, worked against the Soviet Union. He pushed the B-1 bomber, mandated stockpiling of the neutron bomb, resumed production of poisonous gas for chemical warfare, expanded the navy, strengthened counterinsurgency units, and pushed the Trident-II submarine, MX, cruise missile, Stealth bomber, and mobile Midgetman missile programs (Textbook, p.450). Reagan’s administration also adopted strategic negotiations from a position of strength, which ultimately facilitated meaningful dialogue between the two superpowers. Reagan established a personal relationship with Gorbachev (Gaddis, p.524).

The Soviet side contributed more to the ending of the Cold War. Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms were crucial because they were based on restructuring (perestroika) and liberalization (glasnost). Gorbachev’s reforms has significant national and global changes. After meeting Reagan in 1985, Gorbachev called for an end to all nuclear weapons by the year 2000. In a summit held in Reykjavik, Iceland in October 1986, the attendants agreed to reduce warheads, missiles, and bombers, besides removing all Soviet and American immediate missiles from Europe (Textbook, p.458). It is Gorbachev’s move which marked a departure from the traditional hardline stance, paving way for cooperative agreements. On June 2, 1988, Reagan cross the ideological divide by changing his principles or ideals – affirming the need for both sides to work together in lessening and eliminating tension and mistrust (Leffler, p.537).

References

(Textbook) Paterson, T. G., Clifford, J. G., Brigham, R., Donoghue, M., Hagan, K. J., Kisatsky, D., & Maddock, S. J. (2015). American foreign relations: A history, Volume 2, Since 1895 (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Gaddis, J. L. (2005). President Ronald Reagan’s successful strategy of negotiating from strength. In Major problems in American foreign relations, volume II: Since 1914 (7th ed., pp. 520-528). Wordsworth, Cengage Learning.

Leffler, M. P. (2005). Reagan’s peace through strength and Gorbachev’s reform through peace. In Major problems in American foreign relations, volume II: Since 1914 (7th ed., pp. 524-537). Wordsworth, Cengage Learning.