4) Assess the role of Ronald Reagan in bringing the Cold War to an end.

Context: 1979, Afghanistan

I/Important role: hardline policies

  • Objective of forcing the USSR into unsustainable competition

  • Renewal of tensions

  • Military build-up

  • SDI

  • “Evil Empire” rhetoric

  • Berlin speech

  • Euromissiles

II/ Weakness of the USSR

  • USSR already suffered from an internal crisis with economic stagnation

  • Gorbachev’s reforms (Glasnost & Perestroika) weakened his political power

  • INF treaty in 1987

Conclusion:

Reagan played an important role by increasing pressure and reopening diplomacy.

However, Gorbachev and USSR weaknesses were more decisive in bringing the cold war to an end independently from Ronald Reagan’s policies.