Chap 10 end of cold war Flashcards
Who were the leaders during 1960s and 1970s? What were their attitudes towards dente?
Hint: Dente is the easing tension between usa and ussr.
!960s:
USA: Richard Nixon (1913-1944)
USSR: Leonid Brezhnev
-worried about direct conflicts
-both wanted to focus on their economy and people
What did the summit meetings during the detente period sought to achieve?
February 1972: USA-China
May 1972: USA-USSR
-nixon visited moscow
-signed basic principles which prevents dangerous conflicts and military confrontation to prevent nuclear war.
-signed stratergic arms limitation treaty ( SALT I), limiting production of nuclear weapons.)
June 1973:USA-USSR
-Brezhnev visited usa.
-signed agreement on the prevention of nuclear war
June 1974: USA-USSR
-nixon went Moscow.
-discussed ways to strengthen collaboration in economic area as well as disarmament and possible SALT II.
What led to the decline of detente?
1) accusations of carter and Brezhnev
-carter: accuse ussr of not solving disputes peacefully and supplying arms to war zones like Ethiopia.
-Brezhnev accused usa of doing the same in central south America.
What internal and external problems did the soviet economy face in the 1970s and 1980s?
Internal:
1) gradual decline during 1970s
-industrial output dropped from a double digit percentage growth to 3-4%.
-agriculture dropped from 4.8% to 1.8%.
-soviet economy stagnant.
Reasons:
1) small no of large industries like coal and electricity,
2) Companies makes different goods. Govts too slow in making decisions and bringing new technology.
External:
2) Heavy military investment
-supported allies in arab states in middle east with food medical supplies .
-Afghanistan war broke out in 1979. Soviet had to fight against experienced afghan fighters supplied by USA with weapons.
-30%-50% of soviet resources goes to military.
3) poor standard of living
- lack consumer goods due to over emphasis on military.
-salary not increasing
-over investment in military took away education funds and other social areas
4) Disillusionment of the workforce
-regular corruption.
-bosses appointed based on personal connections or bribes
-tightly controlled wages
-little incentives for workers who work hard.
-protestors will be arrested by secret police,
Why was USSR in decline in 1970s and 1980s
1) weakness of soviet economy
2) Opposition to communism in Eastern Europe
-Communist regime struggled economically as they are very dependent on soviet support.
-rely on soviet subsidies for oil and resources
-attained debt levels which was highest in the world from western banks.
-Czechoslovakia was invaded by members of Warshaw pact led by USSR after trying to introduce democratic reforms. New government crushed.
-Brezhnev doctrine was introduced which states that any attempts in to reverse communism in Eastern Europe would be intervene militarily.
-Highlighted the failure of communism to provide better living standards .
-Communist govt can be threatened by people power and resisted by organisations.
-Without USSR, there would be no communist regimes.
3) Ageing leadership
-soviet govt made of ageing politicians.
-By1974, the average age of Politburo members was 65 which is a retirement age.
-US leadership appeared to be relatively younger.
-Many soviet leaders were unwell and after Brezhnev died in 1982, his successor only lived till early 1984.
-ill equipped to deal with challenge of ongoing economic stagnation and a rejuvenated US leadership.
What was Reagan’s attitude towards USSR
-Straightforward and aggressive approach towards USSR.
What did Reagan do? And what impact did it make?
- Economic boom
- He wants govt to cut tax to create incentives for people to work harder and start their own business.
-Spend less and limit govt involvement.
-allowed economy to boom due to free market. - Expanding US military might
-(a) increased US defence budget by 32.6 billion.
- Supported anti communist forces in Afghanistan and Nicaragua.
-introduced new weapons system like B1 nuclear bomb.
- (b) In 1982, he introduced strategic defense initiative known as star wars programme.
-use satellites and lasers to destroy missiles before they hit their target.
-despite not being a viable weapon, it placed pressure on soviet.
-USSR not being able to keep up due to stretched resources and renewed arms spending would worsen it.
What did Gorbachev believe communist rule should be like?
He was aware of the decline faced by USSR.
-He believed that communist rule should make life better for the people.
-He did not want to dismantle communism but wanted to reform using his new ideas and policies.
How did Gorbachev Policies impact USSR?
1) Glasnost
-allows political debate by communist part members who disagree with govt.
-allows criticism of govt in media.
Negative impact:
1) exposed shortcomings of govt
-corruption
2) exposed the better western quality of life
-exposed truth behind soviet system
-Many in soviet bloc
felt betrayed and lost confidence in communist rule.
2) Perestroika
- Political and economy reform.
-managers in industries are encouraged to innovate and try new approaches without seeking govt permission.
-In 1987, market forces were introduced which made buy and sell for profit not illegal.
Negative impact:
1) chronic problems of unemployment, growth of blacj market as well as shortages of basic necessities.
-Small business owners still needs to pay high taxed and deal with dishonest officials.
-Open elections in 1989 paved the way for the rise of various opposition which formed a opposition bloc.
What did Gorbachev do in Eastern Europe?
1) Foriegn policy reforms
- cut spending on defence which caused red army to sink
-cuts in arms spending
-signed a treaty with USA to remove missiles in Europe
-withdraw soviet troops from Afghanistan
- Sinatra doctrine: no longer intervene to support communist regimes or takeovers
