The Peaceful end of the Cold War

When do the US conduct military exercises in Pacific

March/April 1983

When is the Able Archer 83 conducted

November 7-11, 1983

When is the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

24 December 1979

When is the Iranian revolution 

January 1978

What does the occupation of Afghanistan mean for the soviets

• Imperial overstretch
• Withdrawal – signal that Soviets
had little capacity to intervene
• Shift in Soviet doctrine: no more
Brezhnev doctrine
• $$ to the Soviet economy

When is the Reykjavik Summit

1986

what does the Reykjavik Summit propose

but Reagan wants to keep SDI
– talks collapse but leads to 1987 INF
Treaty

When does the Soviet withdraw from Afghanistan

February 1989

How did the Cold War end

• soviet economic decline

• Helsinki accord 

• generational change 

• open and public dissent in soviet society 

When is the Chernobyl disaster

1986

Why is the soviet engagement in strategic arms reduction talks possible

• Soviets they can’t afford to keep up.

• Chernobyl disaster 1986 makes Gorbachev concerned about nuclear power generally

• Reagan v concerned about potential end of the world

• Gorb and Reagan have a good working relationship.

When is the solidarity movement in Poland

1980s

What caused the Cold war to end?

1. US’ economic strength

2. Domestic politics: Soviet internal changes: generational change in the party, new policies

3. Individuals: Gorbachev : choice of glasnost and perestroika; chose not to respond to crumbling empire; relationship between R and G

4. Liberal ideas won the CW: the attractiveness of Western culture/ideology