Evaluate the role of Reagan in ending the Cold War.
Level
A Level
Year Examined
2021
Topic
The USA, 1944–92
👑Complete Model Essay
Evaluate the role of Reagan in ending the Cold War.
Ronald Reagan and the End of the Cold War
The role of Ronald Reagan in ending the Cold War is a complex and contested issue. While some historians argue that his aggressive policies and rhetoric were instrumental in pressuring the Soviet Union to reform and ultimately collapse, others contend that internal factors within the USSR, combined with the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev, were more significant. This essay will evaluate both sides of this debate, concluding that while Reagan's policies played a role, they were ultimately less decisive than the internal dynamics of the Soviet system and Gorbachev's reforms.
Reagan's Pressure on the Soviet Union
There is no doubt that Reagan adopted a more assertive foreign policy than his predecessors. He abandoned the policy of détente, increased military spending, and provided support to anti-communist movements worldwide. His administration characterized the Soviet Union as an "evil empire" and pursued a strategy of "peace through strength," aiming to force the USSR into an expensive arms race it could ill afford. The deployment of Pershing II missiles in Europe, development of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), and support for the Mujahideen in Afghanistan all contributed to this pressure.
Reagan's supporters argue that these actions exposed the weaknesses of the Soviet system and forced the Kremlin to confront its own internal problems. The economic strain of competing with the US militarily, coupled with the growing stagnation and inefficiency of the Soviet economy, created a situation where reform became essential. Furthermore, Reagan's staunch anti-communist rhetoric challenged the legitimacy of the Soviet system and provided hope to dissident movements within the Eastern Bloc.
The Importance of Internal Soviet Factors
However, it is crucial to acknowledge the deep-seated problems within the Soviet Union that predated Reagan's presidency. The Soviet economy, built on a centrally planned model, had been struggling for decades with inefficiency, shortages, and a lack of innovation. The war in Afghanistan had become a costly quagmire, draining resources and morale. Moreover, the Soviet leadership under Leonid Brezhnev had become stagnant and resistant to change.
The arrival of Mikhail Gorbachev as General Secretary in 1985 marked a turning point. Gorbachev recognized the need for radical reform and implemented policies of perestroika (economic restructuring) and glasnost (openness). These reforms aimed to revitalize the Soviet economy and introduce greater political freedom. However, they also unleashed forces that ultimately contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union. The loosening of censorship and increased freedom of expression emboldened nationalist movements within the Soviet republics, while economic reforms struggled to gain traction.
Reagan and Gorbachev: A New Relationship
While Reagan's initial stance towards the Soviet Union was confrontational, he also recognized the opportunity presented by Gorbachev's reforms. He engaged in a series of summit meetings with Gorbachev, culminating in the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 1987, which eliminated an entire class of nuclear weapons. This marked a significant thaw in relations and demonstrated a willingness on both sides to pursue arms control and reduce tensions.
Reagan's supporters argue that his strong stance from a position of strength forced Gorbachev to negotiate seriously. They contend that Reagan's willingness to engage with Gorbachev, while remaining firm in his principles, helped to create an environment where progress could be made. However, critics argue that Reagan's earlier hardline policies, while perhaps contributing to the pressure for reform, were ultimately less significant than Gorbachev's own internal motivations and the deep-seated problems within the Soviet system.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Ronald Reagan's assertive foreign policy and anti-communist rhetoric undoubtedly contributed to the pressure on the Soviet Union, attributing the end of the Cold War solely to his actions would be an oversimplification. The Soviet Union was already grappling with significant internal challenges, both economic and political, which predated Reagan's presidency. The reforms initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev, driven by a recognition of these internal weaknesses, played a more decisive role in the Soviet collapse. Reagan's contribution, while significant, was primarily in providing the context for Gorbachev's reforms to unfold and in seizing the opportunity for dialogue and arms control when it arose. The end of the Cold War was ultimately the result of a complex interplay of internal and external factors, with Reagan's policies forming one important part of this intricate equation.
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Outline: Reagan and the End of the Cold War
This essay will evaluate the role of President Ronald Reagan in ending the Cold War. It will argue that while Reagan's policies, particularly his military buildup and ideological confrontation, played a significant role in pressuring the Soviet Union and setting the stage for change, his actions were ultimately facilitated by internal developments within the USSR, particularly the rise of Mikhail Gorbachev and the inherent weaknesses of the Soviet system.
I. Reagan's Role in Accelerating the End of the Cold War
A. The 'Peace Through Strength' Strategy:
Reagan's aggressive policies - increased military spending, support for anti-communist groups, and the development of the Star Wars initiative - aimed to weaken the Soviet Union and challenge its ideology.
These actions created pressure on the Soviet system, forcing it to devote more resources to defense at the expense of internal development and consumer spending.
B. Direct Confrontation and Ideological Warfare:
Reagan's rhetoric of the 'evil empire' and his support for the Afghan Mujahideen against the Soviet invasion contributed to a hostile atmosphere that made it harder for the Soviets to maintain control.
His response to the 1983 Korean Air Lines incident further strained relations and highlighted the inherent conflict between the two superpowers.
II. Internal Factors within the Soviet Union:
A. The Rise of Gorbachev and the Need for Reform:
While Reagan's actions created external pressure, the Soviet Union was already facing significant internal challenges, including economic stagnation, social unrest, and the stifling of individual liberties.
Gorbachev's ascent to power brought a change in Soviet policy, seeking reform and détente with the West, which was driven by these internal issues rather than solely by Reagan's actions.
B. The Limits of Soviet Power:
The Soviet Union was already facing economic difficulties, including the decline in oil prices, which undermined its ability to sustain its military buildup.
The inefficiency of the centralized economic system and the strain of maintaining a vast military apparatus were also contributing factors to the weakening of the Soviet system.
III. Reagan's Role in Negotiating the End:
A. Diplomacy and Summits:
The four summits held between Reagan and Gorbachev, especially the signing of the INF Treaty and the START negotiations, facilitated the process of de-escalation and arms control.
Reagan's willingness to meet with Gorbachev and engage in dialogue created an opportunity for the two superpowers to work towards a common goal.
B. The Shifting Balance of Power:
While Reagan's military buildup had put pressure on the Soviet Union, his willingness to negotiate from a position of strength enabled him to secure favorable terms for the US.
The collapse of the Soviet bloc and the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989 signaled a significant shift in the global balance of power, leading to the official end of the Cold War.
IV. Conclusion:
In conclusion, Reagan's policies played a significant role in accelerating the end of the Cold War. His military buildup and confrontation with the Soviet Union created pressure on the system and exposed its vulnerabilities. However, internal developments within the USSR, particularly the rise of Gorbachev and the inherent weaknesses of the Soviet system, were equally, if not more important, in bringing about the collapse of the communist bloc. Reagan's willingness to engage in diplomacy with Gorbachev and his understanding of the need for a new relationship were crucial in navigating the transition to a post-Cold War world. Ultimately, it was the convergence of internal and external factors that led to the end of the Cold War, with Reagan serving as a catalyst for change.
Extracts from Mark Schemes
Evaluate the role of Reagan in ending the Cold War.
Reagan’s pressure on arms build-up, the Star Wars initiative, and help to Afghanistan might be set against longer-term problems in maintaining defense within the Soviet Union and internal changes brought about by Gorbachev. Arguments that Reagan played a key role in ending the Cold War might focus on the pressure that he put on the Soviet Union from 1981. Reacting against the loss of confidence and relative isolationism of the post-Vietnam era, his strategy of ‘peace through strength’ was more interventionist and aggressive. He increased the armed strength of the US and aided anti-communist opposition groups. He reversed detente and built-up US forces after the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. The deployment of Pershing missiles in Germany and the development of the B1 Lancer program and MX missiles forced the Soviet Union into more arms spending. There was a direct challenge to Communism and ideological opposition, which put an onus on the Soviet Union to put more resources into defense.
Reagan was explicit in his hostility to the ‘evil empire’ and made it more difficult for the Soviet Union to control Afghanistan by the use of CIA support to the Mujahedeen and by support for Pakistan. The supposed shooting down of a Korean airliner by the Soviet Union in 1983 was the cause of ending economic agreements which put the Soviets under pressure. In 1983, Reagan’s backing for the SDI initiative put the Soviet Union on the back foot, and it has been argued that by forcing the Russians into maintaining a very heavy arms program at the expense of consumer spending and by forcing them into a defensive mentality, Reagan hastened the need for change and a renewal of détente, which saw the end of the Cold War.
The counter view is that the commitment to high levels of defense spending and pursuing a costly and unsuccessful war in Afghanistan were rooted in the background and previous thinking of the Russian leaders rather than being a reaction to Reagan’s policies and assertive attitudes. It was more, in this view, the fall in oil prices that reduced the Soviet capacity to maintain its existing defense policies. In addition, the arrival of Gorbachev marked a distinct change in internal and foreign policy. However, the reaction to Gorbachev meant that Reagan facilitated the changes that led to the end of the Cold War.
Reagan’s belief in free market capitalism encouraged him to think that once Gorbachev’s internal reforms had become established, then a new relationship would develop, so the policy of confrontation was replaced by greater diplomatic contact. Gorbachev and Reagan held four summit conferences between 1985 and 1988: the first in Geneva, Switzerland; the second in Reykjavik, Iceland; the third in Washington; and the fourth in Moscow. In Washington, Gorbachev and Reagan signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which eliminated an entire class of nuclear weapons. The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START I, was a major step in de-escalating the arms build-up and conflict.
The major steps taken in 1988–89 heralded the demise of the Cold War when Gorbachev indicated that the Soviet Union would not intervene in the affairs of the satellite states and withdrew from Afghanistan. The Malta Summit of 1989 was seen as the official end of the Cold War. Reagan’s encouragement of change and the personal meetings with Gorbachev were of key importance, but without the context of change within the Soviet Union – the need to escape from the ossification of the Brezhnev years and the changes within the Soviet satellites – this would not have been possible. However, Reagan had established his credibility as a defender of the free world, and his arms build-up gave him the basis for negotiation. He could not be seen as appeasing the Soviet Union, and the pressure established by the US arms development was of crucial importance in persuading Gorbachev that the heavy arms spending could not continue and the whole structure and outlook which was making it necessary had to change.