Lecture Notes: The End of the Cold War and the Dissolution of the Soviet Union

Cuban Missile Crisis

• Major confrontation during the Cold War.
• US and USSR on brink of nuclear war.
• Led to need for reduced tensions between nuclear powers.

Détente in the 1970s

• Period of improved relations between US and USSR.
• Motivated by US Vietnam War backlash and Soviet-China tensions.
• Actions taken:
  • Regular summits.
  • Joint space missions.
  • Arms control treaties.
• Both countries modernized nuclear arsenals.

Problems in the Soviet Union

• Over-investment in military without stopping nuclear growth.
• Corruption and bureaucracy rampant.
• Economic stagnation due to planned economy flaws.
• 1979: Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

End of Détente

• US response to Soviet actions with increased military spending.
• 1980s: Ronald Reagan becomes US President.
• Reagan rejected détente, increased pressure on USSR.
• Initiated arms race, funded controversial rebel groups.

The Reagan Doctrine

• Aimed at combatting communism globally.
• Increased military spending and weapons development.
• USSR perceived threat of nuclear first strike.
• Resulted in nuclear close calls.

Soviet Leadership Changes

• Brezhnev to Andropov to Chernenko, finally to Gorbachev.

Gorbachev's Reforms

• Acknowledgement of Soviet issues.
• Introduced transparency and economic reforms.
• Elements of democracy introduced.
• Aimed to reform rather than replace socialism.

Resumption of US-Soviet Talks

• Gorbachev's policies lead to resumed talks with the US.
• INF treaty signed, reducing nuclear arsenals.
• Tensions between superpowers eased.

Revolution in Eastern Europe

• Gorbachev's refusal to use force led to the fall of satellite governments.
  • Non-violent transitions in Poland, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria.
  • Violent overthrow in Romania.
• Berlin Wall torn down, Germany reunified.

Nationalism and Collapse of the Soviet Union

• Nationalism rises in Soviet republics.
• Gorbachev allows republics to elect leaders.
• Economic reforms fail.
• 1991: Failed coup attempt by "old school communists."
• Boris Yeltsin emerges as leader of Russia.
• Soviet Union dissolved on December 21, 1991.

Conclusion

• End of Cold War.
• US emerges as sole superpower.
• Marxism largely discredited as a global ideology.
• World's shock at rapid dissolution of the Eastern Bloc.

Note: The dissolution of the Soviet Union was a complex event influenced by internal reforms, external pressures, and leadership dynamics.