End of Cold War Flashcards
What happened in 1976?
In 1976, the USSR placed SS 20s in Central Europe which could strike up to 5000km, so NATO suggested if an arms agreement couldn’t be reached, Pershing and Cruise missiles would be deployed by 1983.
What did Reagan suggest in 1981? What was the USSR’s reaction?
In November 1981, Reagan suggested both sides destroy medium range nuclear missiles, but the USSR saw the US would be faced with opposition from left-wing protest groups, and rejected this, so between 1983-7 the US placed the missiles in FRG, UK, NL, and Italy.
What was argued about Afghanistan?
SR Ashton argued that Afghanistan was the onset of the New Cold War.
What were causes of the Afghanistan crisis?
In April 1978, Hafizulla Amin became President, leading the Afghan Communist Party, in a coup. Reforms were made for women’s rights and schooling, and this led to a rise in Islamic fundamentalist opposition which threatened the USSR with global encirclement while the US was becoming friendly with China. Amin had to be replaced.
What events occurred in Afghanistan?
Between 24-27 December, 50,000 Soviets entered, with 100,000 troops stationed in months. They flew to Kabul and executed Amin on 27th December 1979, replacing him with Babrak Kamal. They hoped they could withdraw troops soon but the Afghan army disintegrated quickly and Babrak Kamal was unpopular, leading to the mujahideen gaining popularity.
200,000 guerillas countered the Soviets, and the Soviets only controlled 1/5 of the country, so they quickly gave up. The mujahideen in the mountains were hard to fight.
How did the US, China, and France react to Afghanistan?
The US issued the Carter Doctrine to defend the Persian Gulf, seeing a threat being made to it, while the Senate refused to ratify SALT II, the US boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics, and they banned grain exports. In 1986, Reagan gave the mujahideen ground-to-air missiles to counter Soviet superiority. By 1985 it was clear the war couldn’t be won.
China denounced the invasion and cancelled Sino-Soviet talks due to start in 1980.
France and the FRG were determined not to let it harm Ostpolitik and detente.
Describe the Solidarity Crisis, 1980?
Poland suffers recession, oil prices.
Solidarity strikes in Gdansk shipyards, 1980.
Aug - recognised as trade union.
Concessions offered, but population reaches 8 million, and strikes break out. Government refuses to spread concessions. Catholic Church support due to Pope election 1978.
What were reactions to Solidarity in the East, starting from 1980? How did FRG react?
Stanislaw Kania urged by Brezhnev to do something.
Honecker, 28 Nov : ‘This will threaten Europe.’
Kania intervenes. At 9th Party Congress, 81, delegates attack, and martial law is used in Dec by Karuzelski. Oct 1982 - outlawed Solidarity.
Neither Schmidt or Kohl comment.
Schmidt, May 1980, Tito funeral Belgrade, ‘can’t make big brothers nervous.’
Visits Moscow a month later to convince US-Soviet negotiations over intermediate missiles. Little achieved at Madrid 1980-3.
When did Reagan become President?
In January 1981, Reagan became US president and he increased armaments spending to make it 30% of all government spending.
Describe changes in Soviet Leadership 1982-85…
In December 1982, Brezhnev was replaced by Andropov. In January, Reagan issued SDI, an anti-ballistic missile shield with laser armed satelittes which would defend the US, but could leave the USSR vulnerable.
In February 1984, Andropov was replaced by Konstantin Chernenko, who reopened negotiations with the US over Strategic Arms Reduction, which had been brokered off when the US installed nuclear missiles in 1983. This started in March 1985, Geneva, with Gorbachev.
Describe problems Gorbachev met, particularly with the economy…
Problems: Detente collapse, global overstretch with Afghanistan, aid to left wing regimes in Angola and Horn of Africa, stagnation.
1960s - Economy based on heavy industry and car/tractor factories. After early 1960s, experiment discouraged with Prague Spring.
Stalinist control reinforced, with less consumer goods, and more Western loans to keep energy costs down.
GNP 37% of US due to inflation, depression, and oil.
Describe key features of glasnost and perestroika…
Perestroika : restructuring, technology investment, and freedom.
Glasnost : Openness, 1986 stops censorship with foreign broadcasting. Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and corruption discussed, alongside Afghanistan - investigative journalism.
Democratic Union allowed.
1988-89 Worship places re-opened and books by dissidents published.
May 1989 - Congress of People’s Deputies, to discuss politics and elect Supreme Soviet.
Feb 1990 - Article 6 - 50% of support needed for officials to stay.
March - Gorbachev first Exec President.
Describe Gorbachev’s key efforts between 1985-89 to promote detente?
April 1985 - Gorbachev stops making SS-20s, reduces in April.
1986 Reykjavik - Failure with stopping SDI, but accepts NATO withdrawal of medium range missiles by both sides at Washington Summit, Dec 1987.
In December 1988 at the UN, he said Marxism-Leninism wasn’t the key to ultimate truth.
On 6 July 1989, Gorbachev effectively revoked the Brezhnev Doctrine at the Council of Europe with his famous speech.
Describe Polish reform 1988-1990.
1988 - 200% increases introduced by General Jaruzelski.
He negotiates with Solidarity and Church because of strikes.
7 April 1989 - Round Table Agreements, solidarity recognised as party + trade union, wins 92/100 seats on 4 June at upper house, and most in lower house at Sejm of allocated 35%.
18 August - coalition with minority ministerial Communists and Solidarity in power with 4 Communists. The Communist Party turned into the SDP in January 1990 and Lech Walesa was President, 1990 November.
Describe Hungarian Reform.
Debt to West highest.
MSZMP, Socialist Workers Party, replaces Kadar with Karoly Grosz.
Feb 1989 - multi-party system decided.
Moscow, March - Gorbachev advises Grosz not to reduce dominant socialist force.
June Round Table Talks - elections in Spring 1990 where Hungarian Socialist Party wins less than 11%.
