To what extent is Gorbachev the main reason for the
end of the Cold War? [20]
Awa Amon
When talking about the extent as to whether or not Gorbachev
was the main reason for the end of the cold war, we could
touch on the impacts he had on the end of the cold war. We
could also consider other factors such as Reagan and also
Thatcher as other reasons for the end of the cold war.
Firstly, Gorbachev was the main reason for the end of the Cold
War because he had aims to make the Soviet system more
productive and responsive and in order to achieve these goals
within the USSR, military had to be reduced and this could only
be achieved if SALTS were reopened with the US. Not only
would this clear the path to the end of the Cold War, but it
would also create allies as the superpowers would’ve needed to
come to mutual agreements in order to limit military. It could
be argued that Gorbachev’s new political thinking was what
made him the main reason for the end of the Cold War. This is
because in November 1985 at the Geneva summit, Reagan and
Gorbachev had met and even though little was decided, it
established a good relationship between Reagan and
Gorbachev in order to create friendly allies which would be
good for the foundation of any future negotiations that
would've been made. Following from the Geneva summit, in
1989, at the Malta summit, both leaders declared the end of
the Cold War was over. Furthermore, the introduction of
Glasnosts and Perestroika led to other reformers to push for
further liberation demonstrating the impact Gorbachev had.
The end of the Cold War started when Gorbachev announced
he would no longer interfere in domestic policies of the
countries in Eastern Europe which was reinforced in 1989 by
withdrawing Soviet forces from Afghanistan. This shows that
without Gorbachev taking the initiatives to meet with Reagan
and create good relationship within him even though Reagan
hated what the Soviets stood for, then the end of the Cold War
would’ve have happened, and the Gorbachev’s new political
thinking wouldn’t have had an impact on other countries
end of the Cold War? [20]
Awa Amon
When talking about the extent as to whether or not Gorbachev
was the main reason for the end of the cold war, we could
touch on the impacts he had on the end of the cold war. We
could also consider other factors such as Reagan and also
Thatcher as other reasons for the end of the cold war.
Firstly, Gorbachev was the main reason for the end of the Cold
War because he had aims to make the Soviet system more
productive and responsive and in order to achieve these goals
within the USSR, military had to be reduced and this could only
be achieved if SALTS were reopened with the US. Not only
would this clear the path to the end of the Cold War, but it
would also create allies as the superpowers would’ve needed to
come to mutual agreements in order to limit military. It could
be argued that Gorbachev’s new political thinking was what
made him the main reason for the end of the Cold War. This is
because in November 1985 at the Geneva summit, Reagan and
Gorbachev had met and even though little was decided, it
established a good relationship between Reagan and
Gorbachev in order to create friendly allies which would be
good for the foundation of any future negotiations that
would've been made. Following from the Geneva summit, in
1989, at the Malta summit, both leaders declared the end of
the Cold War was over. Furthermore, the introduction of
Glasnosts and Perestroika led to other reformers to push for
further liberation demonstrating the impact Gorbachev had.
The end of the Cold War started when Gorbachev announced
he would no longer interfere in domestic policies of the
countries in Eastern Europe which was reinforced in 1989 by
withdrawing Soviet forces from Afghanistan. This shows that
without Gorbachev taking the initiatives to meet with Reagan
and create good relationship within him even though Reagan
hated what the Soviets stood for, then the end of the Cold War
would’ve have happened, and the Gorbachev’s new political
thinking wouldn’t have had an impact on other countries
