IB HL History – The End of the Cold War Notes – Confrontaton and Reconciliaton
Timeframes and important informatonn
- The end of the Cold War period can be classifed from 1980 – 1991, startnn with the endinn of détente and endinn with the dissoluton of the USSR in
1991.
- Need to know:
o The reasons for the end of the Cold War
Ideolonical challennes and dissent
Economic problems
Arms race
Underlyinn lonn-term Role of Ronald Reanan Role of Mikhail Gorbachev (Gorby) People’s
problems Movements/Natonalis
m
Politcal His drastc channe of US’ GLASNOST/DEMOKRATIZATSIYA (Democratsaton) People’s Movements in
foreinn policy towards the Czechoslovakia and
USSR sparked of more Encouraned the discussion of how to beter the most notably in Poland
confrontaton and ended USSR socially and politcally amonnst the peoples. (Solidarity) pressured
détente by increasinn tensions their respectve
between the two superpowers. Made people realise that they had to open up to novernments to put
the West and adopt capitalism in order for the state down the movements
- Elected on the platorm to survive. They also needed to drop the satellite throunh martal
to return the USA to its states. law/arrestnn leaders,
former foreinn policy which caused these
and to achieve “peace Followinn perestroika however, a conversaton countries to receive
throunh strennth” opened, where the old system was now critcized internatonal
- Named the USSR as the for its obvious failinns to compete with Capitalism. condemnaton and
“evil empire” (in The new reforms were critcized for their failure to economic sanctons,
reference to Star Wars) solve the country’s many problems. further pressurinn their
With the faults of the Soviet Union laid bare, it was already dire economies.
However, his policies towards hard to defend the lenitmacy of the existnn
the USSR channed followinn system. This prompted the collapse of the USSR. Also had the efect of
Able Archer 83 (look below). spreadinn awareness to
other Warsaw Pact
1
, IB HL History – The End of the Cold War Notes – Confrontaton and Reconciliaton
countries on how
bankrupt and corrupt
the Communist system
is. The introducton of
martal law put an end
to any linnerinn illusions
in both East and West
about the nature of
Communism. It set the
foundatons for the
satellite states’
independence from the
USSR.
Economic The USSR’s economy PERESTROIKA – led to the collapse of the Soviet Economic factors
was in crisis when Union motvated the
Brezhnev passed away movements (look onto
in 1982. Gorby’s economic policies that helped to open up the lef)
the Soviet’s economy.
The arms race had - Law on Co-operatves of 1987 permited
brounht a nreat burden private ownership of businesses in the
on the economy: service, manufacturinn and foreinn trade
- By the mid sectors. Workers were allowed to leave
1980s, 25% of collectve farms.
the USSR’s - Enterprise Law in 1987 transferred decision-
nross domestc makinn from central ministries to
product was enterprises and manners in state-owned
beinn spent on companies who were now niven much more
the military. powers.
- In comparison, - The Law on Joint Ventures allowed foreinn
the USA was ownership of companies.
spendinn 4-6%.
- Furthermore, HOWEVER, there was no efectve system in the
2
Timeframes and important informatonn
- The end of the Cold War period can be classifed from 1980 – 1991, startnn with the endinn of détente and endinn with the dissoluton of the USSR in
1991.
- Need to know:
o The reasons for the end of the Cold War
Ideolonical challennes and dissent
Economic problems
Arms race
Underlyinn lonn-term Role of Ronald Reanan Role of Mikhail Gorbachev (Gorby) People’s
problems Movements/Natonalis
m
Politcal His drastc channe of US’ GLASNOST/DEMOKRATIZATSIYA (Democratsaton) People’s Movements in
foreinn policy towards the Czechoslovakia and
USSR sparked of more Encouraned the discussion of how to beter the most notably in Poland
confrontaton and ended USSR socially and politcally amonnst the peoples. (Solidarity) pressured
détente by increasinn tensions their respectve
between the two superpowers. Made people realise that they had to open up to novernments to put
the West and adopt capitalism in order for the state down the movements
- Elected on the platorm to survive. They also needed to drop the satellite throunh martal
to return the USA to its states. law/arrestnn leaders,
former foreinn policy which caused these
and to achieve “peace Followinn perestroika however, a conversaton countries to receive
throunh strennth” opened, where the old system was now critcized internatonal
- Named the USSR as the for its obvious failinns to compete with Capitalism. condemnaton and
“evil empire” (in The new reforms were critcized for their failure to economic sanctons,
reference to Star Wars) solve the country’s many problems. further pressurinn their
With the faults of the Soviet Union laid bare, it was already dire economies.
However, his policies towards hard to defend the lenitmacy of the existnn
the USSR channed followinn system. This prompted the collapse of the USSR. Also had the efect of
Able Archer 83 (look below). spreadinn awareness to
other Warsaw Pact
1
, IB HL History – The End of the Cold War Notes – Confrontaton and Reconciliaton
countries on how
bankrupt and corrupt
the Communist system
is. The introducton of
martal law put an end
to any linnerinn illusions
in both East and West
about the nature of
Communism. It set the
foundatons for the
satellite states’
independence from the
USSR.
Economic The USSR’s economy PERESTROIKA – led to the collapse of the Soviet Economic factors
was in crisis when Union motvated the
Brezhnev passed away movements (look onto
in 1982. Gorby’s economic policies that helped to open up the lef)
the Soviet’s economy.
The arms race had - Law on Co-operatves of 1987 permited
brounht a nreat burden private ownership of businesses in the
on the economy: service, manufacturinn and foreinn trade
- By the mid sectors. Workers were allowed to leave
1980s, 25% of collectve farms.
the USSR’s - Enterprise Law in 1987 transferred decision-
nross domestc makinn from central ministries to
product was enterprises and manners in state-owned
beinn spent on companies who were now niven much more
the military. powers.
- In comparison, - The Law on Joint Ventures allowed foreinn
the USA was ownership of companies.
spendinn 4-6%.
- Furthermore, HOWEVER, there was no efectve system in the
2
