Why did the Cold War come to an end in 1989?
“Gorbachev ended the Cold war by causing the collapse of the Soviet system”
Assess [43/ON22]
Introduction: Gorbachev came to power in 1985 and adopted a ‘new thinking’ policy
characterised by changes to the economy and political freedoms, cooperation with the
west, and non-interference in the Eastern Bloc. Ultimately these reforms led to the
collapse of the Soviet system in 1991, nominally ending the cold war. However, whilst
Gorbachev certainly accelerated this collapse, many historians argue that it would have
happened inevitably. Furthermore, Gorbachev’s commitment to detente signi cantly
reduced tensions with the west, contributing to the end of the cold war. Therefore, it was
Gorbachev’s willingness to engage constructively with the west and, simultaneously, his
domestic reforms that collapsed the soviet system and therefore, ended the cold war.
Point I: Domestic Reforms
Paragraph I: Perestroika and consequences.
• Perestroika, or restructuring, was a series of economic market-oriented reforms
that included private ownership, price liberalisation, and limited competition.
• It aimed to decentralise the economy in order to stimulate enterprise and
innovation
• The Soviet economy was characterised by ine ciency with a greater focus on
military spending than domestic standards. For example, Brezhnev used the oil
boom of the 70s to increase arms spending in the arms race instead of improving
living standards. The economy was also unresponsive and failed in allocating
goods e ectively and e ciently.
• Faced resistance from conservative forces within the bureaucracy.
• The sudden implementation led to instability and supply shortages and in ation.
• An increase in foreign debt accumulated due to the west increased economic
dependency.
• Decline in industrial productivity as state owned enterprises could not adapt to
market conditions
• Calls for greater political freedom and the end of one party rule
• Weakened central authority and exacerbated ethnic tensions. Calls for autonomy.
Paragraph II: Glasnost and Consequences
• Glasnost, or openness, aimed to liberalise the media and allow for greater civil
freedoms and transparency of the system
ff ffi ffi fl fi
, • The freedom of expression led to increased debate surrounding the system and
allowed for criticism of the government which emboldened nationalist movements
across the eastern bloc
• The increased transparency led to revelations such as the chernobyl disaster which
caused public outrage and weakened the Soviet regime’s standing on the
international stage.
• The Soviet historical narratives were questioned and challenged
• It went hand in hand with perestroika as now people could see and comment on
the ine ciencies within the system and vocalise them.
• Improved communication and cooperation with the west
• Exposed vulnerabilities within the system and contributed to the 1989 revolutions
and subsequent collapse in 1991.
• Also increased political pluralism and weakened the central authority of the soviet
government for example the failed 1991 coup attempt showed the rifts within the
ruling elite.
Point II: Impact on Eastern Europe and subsequent events
Paragraph III: Non-Interference and consequences
• As a part of Gorbachev’s New Thinking, he committed to non-interference of
internal a airs of other states, including the Eastern Bloc countries.
• This meant, along with the acceleration of nationalist movements due to
perestroika and glasnost, that the Warsaw countries could declare independence
from Moscow and turn to democracy.
• Furthermore, the lack of military involvemnt meant that these movements for the
most part were peaceful, especially when recalling the brutal events of the
Hungarian uprising or Prague Spring.
Paragraph IV: Examples
• Hungary opened its borders with Austria in 1989 leading to mass immigration from
East Germany. The migrants headed south to go west.
• The Berlin Wall came down in 1989. The most iconic symbol of the cold war. The
reuni cation of Germany. Moscow was losing its grip on the eastern bloc.
• The Polish Solidarity movement led to the rst democratic elections in 1989.
Poland was the rst to withdraw from the Warsaw pact.
• The Baltic states saw a surge in nationalist sentiments after Glasnost
• The establishment of CIS: Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
• In 1989, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania Bulgaria, and East Germany saw the
overthrow of their communist governments. The eastern Bloc was no longer. A
fi ffi ff fi fi
“Gorbachev ended the Cold war by causing the collapse of the Soviet system”
Assess [43/ON22]
Introduction: Gorbachev came to power in 1985 and adopted a ‘new thinking’ policy
characterised by changes to the economy and political freedoms, cooperation with the
west, and non-interference in the Eastern Bloc. Ultimately these reforms led to the
collapse of the Soviet system in 1991, nominally ending the cold war. However, whilst
Gorbachev certainly accelerated this collapse, many historians argue that it would have
happened inevitably. Furthermore, Gorbachev’s commitment to detente signi cantly
reduced tensions with the west, contributing to the end of the cold war. Therefore, it was
Gorbachev’s willingness to engage constructively with the west and, simultaneously, his
domestic reforms that collapsed the soviet system and therefore, ended the cold war.
Point I: Domestic Reforms
Paragraph I: Perestroika and consequences.
• Perestroika, or restructuring, was a series of economic market-oriented reforms
that included private ownership, price liberalisation, and limited competition.
• It aimed to decentralise the economy in order to stimulate enterprise and
innovation
• The Soviet economy was characterised by ine ciency with a greater focus on
military spending than domestic standards. For example, Brezhnev used the oil
boom of the 70s to increase arms spending in the arms race instead of improving
living standards. The economy was also unresponsive and failed in allocating
goods e ectively and e ciently.
• Faced resistance from conservative forces within the bureaucracy.
• The sudden implementation led to instability and supply shortages and in ation.
• An increase in foreign debt accumulated due to the west increased economic
dependency.
• Decline in industrial productivity as state owned enterprises could not adapt to
market conditions
• Calls for greater political freedom and the end of one party rule
• Weakened central authority and exacerbated ethnic tensions. Calls for autonomy.
Paragraph II: Glasnost and Consequences
• Glasnost, or openness, aimed to liberalise the media and allow for greater civil
freedoms and transparency of the system
ff ffi ffi fl fi
, • The freedom of expression led to increased debate surrounding the system and
allowed for criticism of the government which emboldened nationalist movements
across the eastern bloc
• The increased transparency led to revelations such as the chernobyl disaster which
caused public outrage and weakened the Soviet regime’s standing on the
international stage.
• The Soviet historical narratives were questioned and challenged
• It went hand in hand with perestroika as now people could see and comment on
the ine ciencies within the system and vocalise them.
• Improved communication and cooperation with the west
• Exposed vulnerabilities within the system and contributed to the 1989 revolutions
and subsequent collapse in 1991.
• Also increased political pluralism and weakened the central authority of the soviet
government for example the failed 1991 coup attempt showed the rifts within the
ruling elite.
Point II: Impact on Eastern Europe and subsequent events
Paragraph III: Non-Interference and consequences
• As a part of Gorbachev’s New Thinking, he committed to non-interference of
internal a airs of other states, including the Eastern Bloc countries.
• This meant, along with the acceleration of nationalist movements due to
perestroika and glasnost, that the Warsaw countries could declare independence
from Moscow and turn to democracy.
• Furthermore, the lack of military involvemnt meant that these movements for the
most part were peaceful, especially when recalling the brutal events of the
Hungarian uprising or Prague Spring.
Paragraph IV: Examples
• Hungary opened its borders with Austria in 1989 leading to mass immigration from
East Germany. The migrants headed south to go west.
• The Berlin Wall came down in 1989. The most iconic symbol of the cold war. The
reuni cation of Germany. Moscow was losing its grip on the eastern bloc.
• The Polish Solidarity movement led to the rst democratic elections in 1989.
Poland was the rst to withdraw from the Warsaw pact.
• The Baltic states saw a surge in nationalist sentiments after Glasnost
• The establishment of CIS: Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
• In 1989, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania Bulgaria, and East Germany saw the
overthrow of their communist governments. The eastern Bloc was no longer. A
fi ffi ff fi fi
