Chapter 10: The End of the Cold War Vocabulary

Vocabulary terms covering the rise and fall of Détente, Gorbachev's reforms, and the events leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Détente

The easing of tension and co-existence between the US and USSR by recognizing and respecting each other's sphere of influence, primarily occurring from $1969$ to $1974$.

Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I)

A treaty signed in May $1972$ by Nixon and Brezhnev in Moscow intended to limit the number of nuclear weapons held by both superpowers.

Basic Principles

An agreement signed in May $1972$ where the US and USSR agreed to prevent the worsening of relations, avoid military confrontations, and exercise restraint in mutual relations.

Helsinki Accord

A $1975$ agreement involving over $30$ countries to resolve disputes through diplomacy, protect human rights, and encourage trade cooperation.

Apollo-Soyuz Test

A $1975$ symbolic event of Détente where a US spacecraft and a Soviet capsule docked together in space and the commanders shook hands.

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

Announced by Reagan in March $1983$ and nicknamed "Star Wars," this program proposed using satellites and lasers to destroy incoming missiles.

Glasnost

A reform introduced by Gorbachev in $1987$ meaning "openness" or "transparency," which allowed for public criticism, relaxation of censorship, and discussion of Soviet history.

Perestroika

Gorbachev's economic and political "restructuring" reform introduced in $1987$ that encouraged private ownership of small businesses and reduced state control over the economy.

Brezhnev Doctrine

The Soviet policy stating that Warsaw Pact countries could not leave the alliance or reform, and that the USSR could use force to crush such attempts.

Sinatra Doctrine

Gorbachev's policy of "non-interference" in the political affairs of Eastern European countries, effectively ending the Brezhnev Doctrine.

Command Economy

An economic system where the government controls resources, production, and prices; its stagnation in the $1970s$ and $1980s$ was a long-term reason for the USSR's decline.

Solidarity

A Polish trade union party formed in the $1970s$ that led strikes and pushed for economic reforms, democracy, and free elections.

Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty

A $1987$ treaty that abolished all short-range and mid-range missiles in Europe, significantly improving US-Soviet relations.

Reaganomics

Economic liberalization policies under President Reagan involving cutting taxes, removing government barriers to business, and privatizing state enterprises to fund military growth.

Politburo

The leadership committee of the Communist Party, consisting of roughly $10$ to $12$ members, from which the president of the USSR was elected.

Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD)

The military theory that the use of nuclear weapons would result in the complete annihilation of both the attacker and the defender, preventing peace.

GDP Per Capita

The total value of goods and services produced in a country divided by its total population, used to measure national wealth.

De-ideologisation

Gorbachev's foreign policy shift to end ideologically driven engagements used to promote communism globally or challenge the US.

Berlin Wall

The physical symbol of the Cold War whose fall on $9$ November $1989$ signaled the end of the conflict between the USSR and the USA.

Ping-Pong Diplomacy

The visit of the US table tennis team to China in $1971$-$1972$, which facilitated President Nixon's historic visit to China in February $1972$.