starter activity

Sort the cards your teacher gives you according to the individuals studied.

Why do Why do interpretations of interpretations of the end of Cold the end of Cold

War differ?War differ?To review aims & policies of key To review aims & policies of key

leadersleadersTo develop understanding of different To develop understanding of different

historiographical viewshistoriographical viewsKey words: Key words: realistrealist & & ideationalideational schools schools

of thoughof though

Aims

Your taskYour task

Study Source C on p. 184. Who might Study Source C on p. 184. Who might the author be referring to when the author be referring to when mentioning, ‘other stories of people in mentioning, ‘other stories of people in different places and different ways’?different places and different ways’?

Using the information on p.184-8, Using the information on p.184-8, divide the class into two groups. One divide the class into two groups. One group should make a case it was group should make a case it was external factors, the second it was external factors, the second it was internal.internal.

Your taskYour task Read p.184-6 and complete the first Read p.184-6 and complete the first

column in the table your teacher gives column in the table your teacher gives you. Note down:you. Note down:

The meaning of ‘The meaning of ‘TriumphalistTriumphalist’’ The characteristics of this school of The characteristics of this school of

thoughtthought The criticsThe critics Gorbachev’s roleGorbachev’s role The Pope’s roleThe Pope’s role

TriumphalistsTriumphalists Historians who support the idea that a Historians who support the idea that a

hard-line approach to diplomacy helped hard-line approach to diplomacy helped bring an end to Cold War.bring an end to Cold War.

Characterised by J.L.Gaddis ‘We Now Characterised by J.L.Gaddis ‘We Now Know’ (1997) & Peter Schweitzer, Know’ (1997) & Peter Schweitzer, ‘Victory’ (1997)‘Victory’ (1997)

The following helped US ‘win’ Cold War:The following helped US ‘win’ Cold War: Reagan’s hard-line approachReagan’s hard-line approach SDI put economic pressure of GorbachevSDI put economic pressure of Gorbachev Deployment of nuclear weapons in EuropeDeployment of nuclear weapons in Europe Support from European allies, esp. ThatcherSupport from European allies, esp. Thatcher

CriticsCritics

Hardline approach to communism Hardline approach to communism failed in past, e.g. Vietnamfailed in past, e.g. Vietnam

View characterised by George View characterised by George SchultzSchultz

Success achievement by Success achievement by engagement with USSR by Reagan engagement with USSR by Reagan & Bush& Bush Schultz, US Sec of

State, 1982-9. What is unusual about Schultz’s views?

Gorbachev’s role – 2 Gorbachev’s role – 2 viewsviews

Historians divided over role of Historians divided over role of Gorbachev as cause of end of Cold WarGorbachev as cause of end of Cold War

Negative perceptions among Russians Negative perceptions among Russians (largely nationalists): Gorbachev weak (largely nationalists): Gorbachev weak and allowed US to pressurise USSR and allowed US to pressurise USSR into submissioninto submission

Positive perceptions (members of Positive perceptions (members of Gorbachev administration): highlight Gorbachev administration): highlight impact of New Political Thinkingimpact of New Political Thinking

Pope’s rolePope’s role Pope John Paul II encouraged anti-Pope John Paul II encouraged anti-

government & trade union groups, government & trade union groups, esp. Solidarityesp. Solidarity

Catholic biographers have Catholic biographers have emphasised his roleemphasised his role

However: Catholicism not strong However: Catholicism not strong across Eastern Bloc & Pope’s appeal across Eastern Bloc & Pope’s appeal was strongest to Polish nationalistswas strongest to Polish nationalists

Your taskYour task

Now read p.186 and make a list of Now read p.186 and make a list of internal factors which may have led internal factors which may have led to the end of Cold Warto the end of Cold War

Internal factorsInternal factors

Soviet leaders saw futility of Cold War conflictSoviet leaders saw futility of Cold War conflict Soviet scientists didn’t see SDI as a realistic Soviet scientists didn’t see SDI as a realistic

policypolicy Soviet need to cut arms spending after Soviet need to cut arms spending after

AfghanistanAfghanistan Inherent weaknesses of communist economic Inherent weaknesses of communist economic

principlesprinciples Development of people powerDevelopment of people power Changes in style of leadership by Gorbachev Changes in style of leadership by Gorbachev

& government policy – & government policy – glasnostglasnost & & perestroikaperestroika

Your taskYour task

Read p.187-8 and find out how Read p.187-8 and find out how changing attitudes in the USSR may changing attitudes in the USSR may have resulted in the end of Cold Warhave resulted in the end of Cold War

Changing attitudesChanging attitudes

Survivors of wartime devastation Survivors of wartime devastation caused by conflict with West dying caused by conflict with West dying out by 1980sout by 1980s

Abandonment of rigid communist Abandonment of rigid communist principles by political eliteprinciples by political elite

ExtensionExtension

Read John Lewis Gaddis, ‘The Cold Read John Lewis Gaddis, ‘The Cold War’, p.259-66 and note down War’, p.259-66 and note down evidence of ‘Triumphalism’ in his evidence of ‘Triumphalism’ in his account of the end of Cold War.account of the end of Cold War.

Can you find evidence from other Can you find evidence from other authors you’ve studied which authors you’ve studied which support the ‘Ideational’ viewsupport the ‘Ideational’ view

HomeworkHomework

Make sure you have completed all Make sure you have completed all three sections of your table. Write a three sections of your table. Write a judgement below as to which view judgement below as to which view you most prefer. you most prefer.

PlenaryPlenary

Name 4 key players in the end of Cold Name 4 key players in the end of Cold War and explain what part they playedWar and explain what part they played

Give 3 examples of external and Give 3 examples of external and internal factors on the end of Cold Warinternal factors on the end of Cold War

What is the difference between What is the difference between realistrealist and and ideationalideational perspectives? Which in perspectives? Which in your view is the more accurate?your view is the more accurate?