The end of the Cold War

What are the five factors for the end of the Cold War essay?

1. Defeat of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan

2. Failure of communism in Eastern Europe

3. The economic differences between the East and the West

4. The role of Gorbachev

5. The role of Reagan

What is the most important factor being argued throughout the end of the Cold War essay?

Failure of communism in Eastern Europe

What is the main argument being made throughout the why the end of the Cold War essay?

How each factor forced/persuaded/pressured the USSR to end the Cold War, leading to their collapse

What is the context and background knowledge for end of the Cold War introduction?

In 1989, the Cold War; which was a period of tension without any direct fighting between the USA and the USSR, ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the announcement by Bush and Gorbachev of its end at the Malta Summit. This was followed with the collapse of the USSR in 1992, which confirmed the end of the Cold War as one of the participants no longer existed

What is the first piece of knowledge and analysis for the factor - defeat of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan?

Approximately 20,000 Soviet soldiers were killed in the Afghanistan War… This was an important factor in causing the end of the Cold War because the people of the USSR would be upset, thus causing political and social pressure on the USSR government, forcing them to make deals with the USA, like at the Malta Summit and their collapse

What is the second piece of knowledge and analysis for the factor - defeat of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan?

The CIA estimated that by 1985, the 6 years of the war had cost the USSR $15 billion… This was an important factor in causing the end of the Cold War because the USSR had less money for domestic issues, further weakening the economy, which put pressure on the USSRs government to make deals with the USA, like at the Malta Summit and their collapse

What is the counter analysis for the factor - defeat of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan?

However, while the war in Afghanistan was costly, it couldn’t have been large enough to bring down the USSR by itself, Vietnam was more costly for the USA, yet that did not end the Cold War

What is the first piece of knowledge and analysis for the factor - failure of communism in Eastern Europe?

The Polish trade union Solidarity had 9 million members and was independent from the Soviet influenced Polish government, who led and organised the criticism of Soviet control in Poland… This was an important factor in causing the end of the Cold War because this new independent power within the Poland was able to challenge the USSR, putting them under pressure to make deals, like at the Malta Summit and the collapse of the USSR

What is the second piece of knowledge and analysis for the factor - failure of communism in Eastern Europe?

The Berlin Wall was forced down by public pressure on the 9th November 1989, as a response to the opening of Austria and Hungary’s borders, resulting in over 100,000 people fleeing in just one day… This was an important factor in causing the end of the Cold War because it was the collapse of a symbol of Soviet control, so when it collapsed it encouraged the view that the USSR was weak, which in turn put pressure on the Soviet government to make deals, like at the Malta Summit

What is the counter analysis for the factor - failure of communism in Eastern Europe?

However, communism had already been challenged in Eastern Europe throughout the 50s and 60s, which did not lead to the end of the Cold War, thus there must have been other contributing factors other than what was happening in Eastern Europe

What is the first piece of knowledge and analysis for the factor - the economic differences between the East and the West?

The USSR was spending $40 billion a year supporting other communist nations such as those in Eastern Europe, Cuba, and Vietnam, while the USA was increasing their funding for anti-communist groups and investing in failed projects such as the Star Wars project… This was an important factor in causing the end of the Cold War because the USSRs economy was weakened by their spending, which was exacerbated by comparison to the USA, forcing the USSR to make deals, like at the Malta Summit which led to their collapse

What is the second piece of knowledge and analysis for the factor - the economic differences between the East and the West?

The USAs economy produced more luxury consumer goods, such as Coca Cola, Ford cars, and Levi jeans, while the USSRs economy produced inferior products like the Lada cars… This was an important factor in causing the end of the Cold War because the economic weakness of the USSR led to political and social unrest, which put pressure on the USSR to approach new deals, like at the Malta Summit which led to their collapse

What is the counter analysis for the factor - the economic differences between the East and the West?

However, the USSR was a superpower and so their economy couldn’t of been so weak, if so the Cold War would’ve ended earlier, thus the USSRs collapse would’ve happened sooner

What is the first piece of knowledge and analysis for the factor - the role of Gorbachev?

Gorbachev introduced perestroika, which moved the focus of the economy to the production of more consumer goods and luxuries at the expense of military hardware… This was an important factor in causing the end of the Cold War because this policy created instability and angered many people who had done well out of the existing system, thus the USSR was more likely to agree peace at the Malta Summit, and ultimately collapse, given the economic problems they faced

What is the second piece of knowledge and analysis for the factor - the role of Gorbachev?

Gorbachev also introduced the policy of glasnost (openness), which encouraged more freedom of speech and democratisation within the Communist Party… This was an important factor in causing the end of the Cold War because such freedom led to an increase in opposition of the Soviet government, putting them under pressure, which would ultimately force them to deescalate the Cold War at the Malta Summit which led to their collapse

What is the counter analysis for the factor - the role of Gorbachev?

However, Gorbachev did not intend to destroy the USSR, so his role in the collapse of the USSR should not be exaggerated

What is the first piece of knowledge and analysis for the factor - the role of Reagan?

The USAs defence spending increased by 25% between 1980 and 1984, including the Star Wars plan… This was an important factor in causing the end of the Cold War because this increased the amount of military pressure put on the USSR by the USA, thus forcing them to make a deal, like at the Malta Summit, which led to their collapse

What is the second piece of knowledge and analysis for the factor - the role of Reagan?

Reagan also used ‘soft power’ in a 5 step plan to make life difficult for the USSR, such as supporting anti-communist groups and limiting trade options for communists… This was an important factor in causing the end of the Cold War because these economic tactics restricted and put put pressure on the USSR, forcing them to make deals, like at the Malta Summit, which led to their collapse

What is the counter analysis for the factor - the role of Reagan?

However, Reagans ultra-aggressive approach could have made the Cold War worse, rather than leading to a peaceful ending