The End of the Cold War

Détente Date: roughly 1969-1979 Definition: thawing of relations

between the US and the USSR Concrete elements

Arms control talksIncreased tradeScientific cooperation

However, proxy conflicts continued

The Afghan War (no, not the one you already know about)

1978: Soviet-supported left-wing government takes over Afghanistan

Mujahideen – religious fundamentalists – rise up

December 24, 1979: USSR invades Afghanistan

Soviet goal: to prop up a friendly regime in the Middle East

Results of the Afghan War

Carter denounces the invasion

Sanctions and trade embargoes

Boycott of Moscow Olympics CIA supports mujahideen USSR withdraws in 1989 End of détente

Ronald Reagan

Former movie star and staunch anti-Communist

1980: Reagan elected president as a Republican

Reagan promises to be tougher on Communism

Reagan Escalates the Cold War 1985: “Reagan Doctrine” promises support for

“freedom fighters” – i.e., anti-Communists Shift from “containment” to “rollback Supports intervention (covert or overt) against

Communists in:AfghanistanGrenadaNicaraguaAngola

Mikhail Gorbachev Becomes leader of USSR in 1985 Committed to reform

Glasnost: political openness; more freedom of information

Perestroika: restructuring; introduced elections and economic liberalization

Strong personal relationship with Reagan

Negotiated arms control

But life in the USSR is still no fun

Low economic productivity and standard of living

Chernobyl (1986)Nuclear reactor melts

down in UkraineKills 400; exposes 60,000

to radiationSoviets attempt to cover

up news

And the economy stagnates

1970 1975 1980 1985 1988

0

2

4

6

8

10

-2

-4

-6

Percent Growth

Official Data Alternative est.

In your notebook: how do you think Soviets reacted to glasnost and perestroika?

Reforms Backfire Perestroika leads to economic disaster

Soviets don’t know how to live in capitalismReduction in welfare hurts the poor and the

elderly Glasnost unleashes a tide of criticism

Criticism of Stalin and political repressionResponses to ChernobylCriticism of perestroikaDemocracy movement emerges

The Soviet Union Collapses November 9, 1989: Berlin Wall falls Unpopular Communist

governments fall in Soviet satellite states

1991: Baltic states leave the USSR August 1991: hard-line

Communists kidnap Gorbachev December 25, 1991: USSR

dissolved; Gorbachev resigns