The cold war and Ronald Reagan's presidency (1981-1989)

Ronald

Cold War

A prolonged period of geopolitical tension between the USA and the Soviet Union, lasting from the end of World War II until the early 1990s.

Ronald Reagan

The 40th President of the USA, known for his aggressive stance against the Soviet Union and significant military spending during the 1980s.

Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI)

A proposed missile defense system aimed at protecting the USA from Soviet missile attacks, later dubbed "Star Wars."

Peace through strength

Reagan's foreign policy strategy that emphasized military buildup to compel the Soviet Union to negotiate.

Glasnost

A policy introduced by Gorbachev meaning "openness," aimed at increasing transparency and freedom of expression in the Soviet Union.

Perestroika

Gorbachev's policy of "restructuring," intended to reform the Soviet economy and political system by introducing elements of capitalism.

Mikhail Gorbachev

The last leader of the Soviet Union, known for his reformist policies and efforts to improve relations with the West.

Solidarity

A Polish trade union movement led by Lech Walesa that sought greater democratic freedoms and challenged Soviet control.

Berlin Wall

A barrier that divided East and West Berlin, symbolizing the Cold War; its fall in 1989 marked a significant turning point in the end of Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe.

Sinatra Doctrine

A term describing the Soviet Union's new policy allowing Eastern European nations to determine their own paths, contrasting with the previous Brezhnev Doctrine.

Warsaw Pact

A military alliance of Eastern Bloc countries led by the Soviet Union, which was disbanded in 1991 following the end of the Cold War.

Chernobyl disaster

A catastrophic nuclear accident in 1986 that highlighted the inefficiencies and dangers of the Soviet system, impacting public perception and policy.

Economic decline

The weakening of the Soviet economy due to military overspending, the Afghan war, and the global oil crisis, contributing to the end of the Cold War.

Nationalism

A rising sentiment in various Soviet republics during the late 1980s, leading to demands for independence and contributing to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Boris Yeltsin

The first President of the Russian Federation, who played a key role in the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the transition to a post-Soviet state.