End Of CW

Question 1

War in Afghanistan led to CW

Answer 1

• 1970s soviet backed comm grp was in power in afghanistan that introduced reforms that were not muslim friendly
• gov became increasingly unpopular and there was resistance from mujahideen which developed into civil war
• CIA offered assistance and support to mujahideen for 10 years of the war

A :
- US argued USSR invaded afghan to expand SOI and gain control of oil, agressive
- Ussr argued they were fighting against secret involvement of US in afghan
- Mujahideen hard to beat and soviet econ died because they spend 25% of gnp on military / forced gorbachev to seek demilitarisation

Question 2

Ronald Reagan aagressive

Answer 2

• Called USSR evil empire and believed they deceived US during detente
  believed USSR still wanted to spread SOI so reagan wanted to stop spread and stand up to them
• Started new cold war by pouring millions into defence including SDI known as Star Wars in 1983 and the neutron bomb to develop new tech to destroy potential soviet nukes
• Able Archer 1983 soviet leaderswere convinced reagan was about to launch nuclear first strike on USSR

A
- ussr cannot compete in new cold war while west was prospering and they were stagnating
- already spending 25% GNP on defence and military
- led to gorbachev seeking demilitarisation

Question 3

Able archer = End CW

Answer 3

• There was a fear of nuclear first strike and new procedures , codes , live mobilisation exercises looked realistic to soviet spy
• gorbachev described it as gun pressed against our temples

A :
- US saw it as just a mil excercise by nato to simulate a nuclear response in event of actual attack
- led to end of as it marked a change in reagan attitude towards ussr from aggro to passive
- found common ground on nuclear disarmament

Question 4

Difference in Economic strength of powers

Answer 4

• US has priv ownership , comp and freeedom of info which led to tech innovations = better quality products
• Econ of US grew faster than USSR
• econ liberalisation in 1980 stimulated econ growth led to boom
• USSR was inefficient with centralised decision making and means of production owned by state while industries falsified figures to get more resources from state
• Prioritisation of machines , armaments and large proj led to lack of consumer goods for ppls
• high military expenditure because if asfghanistan and new cold war

Question 5

Why Gorbachev policies led to End CW
( Foreign relations with warsaw pact )

Answer 5

• Brezhnev doctrine no country can leave warsaw pact or threaten unity
• USSR will intervene to make sure comm parties stay in power in satellite states
• increasing resistance felt from satellite states as czech and hungary reformists wanted reforms

A : Gorbachev forced to abandon brezhnev doctrine and emphasised each country right to chose govt and econ system = EE free frm comm and protests saw removal of comm leaders

Question 6

Why gorbachev policy led to end of CW
( r/s with west )

Answer 6

• they got bankrupted because of years competing in arms race
• years of increasing SOI
• years of finding Allies around the world and spending to support them
• USSR econ cannot match western econ liberalisation

A : gorbachev and reagan signed nuclear disarmament treaty in iceland and switzerland = led to end of CW as r/s improved and cooperated to sign INF treaty

Question 7

Perestroika

Answer 7

• Allow priv ownership of businesses and encourage them to make profits to innovate and improve quality
• Trade outside to attract Foreign Investment and export resources
• Reduce massive military spending by pulling out if afghanistan , ending cold war , and removing military from EE satellite states
• democratic election