End of the Cold War Lecture Notes

Flashcards covering key concepts, terms, and events regarding the end of the Cold War.

Détente

A relaxation of strained relations between nations, particularly during the Cold War.

Perestroika

A policy initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev aiming to restructure the Soviet economy to allow elements of free enterprise.

Glasnost

A policy initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev to open up Soviet society and the political process by granting greater freedom.

Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF)

A 1987 agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union to eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles.

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

A proposed U.S. missile defense system intended to protect against nuclear missile attacks, often referred to as 'Star Wars'.

Proxy wars

Conflicts where two opposing countries support combatants in a third country, typical of U.S.-Soviet relations during the Cold War.

Berlin Wall

A barrier constructed in 1961 to divide East and West Berlin, its fall in 1989 symbolized the end of the Cold War.

Soviet-Afghan War

A conflict from 1979 to 1989 where the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to support a communist government against insurgent groups.

Marxism

A socio-economic theory that advocates for a classless society and was the foundation of Soviet communism.

Cold War

A period of political and military tension between the United States and Soviet Union post-World War II, lasting from approximately 1947 to 1991.