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Reasons why the Cold War end (LONG TERM) (Internal (External economic…
Reasons why the Cold War end
(LONG TERM)
Internal
Political stagnation in the Soviet Union
Lack of strong leadership and capable leaders from late 1970s to 1985
predecessors were too weak, too old or too ill
Brehznev reversed Khrushchev's reforms but failed to increase efficiency
weak leadership recipe for disaster esp since power is centralised on top
against heavy external involvement Afghanistan War and internal lack of economic competitiveness
stagnating whilst others progressing, lost its competitiveness
Social problems in the Soviet Union
lack of consumer goods (housing, clothes,electronics)
bc of
[five year plans]
that focused on industrial goods (tractors)
[cold war]
resources diverted to military production in arms race to keep up with military capability of US and allies
shortages were in stark contrast to powerful marketing messages and abundance in the west which heightened perception that they were poorer
exacerbated by western radio stations (BBC)
increased tension and unhappiness pushing for reforms for better living standards
External economic burdens of the Soviet Union
USA's economy turned around in the mid-1980s
with help of many trading partners whilst Soviet found itself in an economically weak alliance
[Economic bartering to support poorer communist economies]
annual subsidy to Warsaw Pact allies thru discounting oil prices ≈ US$3bil
Eastern Eu countries borrowed heavily from Western Bank's in 1970s, achieving high debt lvls
[Afghan War]
huge drain on money, resources, human casualties
economic cost was higher than the cost of Vietnam War for US bc US had stronger allies (Britain, Germany, Japan)
constant increase in spending difficult to sustain bc of stagnant economy bringing it close to bankruptcy
Increasing resistance with the communist bloc
sustained communist political systems in Eastern Eu through force rather than consent (threatening direct intervention)
[Brezhnev Doctrine] (1968)
foreign policy which called for Warsaw Pact to intervene with nations seen to compromise communist rule by trying to leave sphere of influence/moderate policies
showed willingness and capacity to interfere with affairs of Warsaw Pact countries
Dissidents
arrested, barred from jobs, harassed, imprisoned, executed
(Lech Walesa frm Poland) (Vaclav Havel frm Czech)
harsh treatment of dissidents meant political legitimacy was slowly eroding
[Hungarian revolution(1956)]
Invaded Hungary and overthrew Nagy's govt as he tried to withdraw Hungary from Warsaw Pact and establish neutral multi-party social party
Nature of the Soviet Empire
multi-ethnic nature (made up of ppl of diff nationalities, cultures)
resented dominated by Russians in Moscow
Losses in Afghanistan (1989) left Red Army in disarray
loss of control by Moscow led to increased nationalism (Estonia, Ukraine...) called for independence
increased nationalism led to
Union Treaty
to give republics more power, triggering 1991 crisis that led to USSR's collapse
External
American economic superiority against weak Soviet command economy
USA and Western Eu's economy saw a sig improvement in early 1980s as a result of Reagan's economic reforms
individual enterprise encouraged, reduce reliance on govt
cutting of national budgets and setting off national assets i.e. airlines
Soviet economy began to stagnate from 1970s because of flaws of command economy
led to over emphasis on quantity indicators,lack of innovation, poor quality of goods, falsifying statistics to meet quota, bribery
one party state stifled debate and made reform difficult
cld not catch up in terms of economic growth
Bankruptcy of the Soviet Union due to Cold War competition
growth of US economy enabled Reaganto renew arms race and exert pressure on Soviet's ability to keep up with military expenditure
-
[Star Wars Programme]
(develop satellites that detect and destroy any potential nuclear attack by missiles)
had financial ability to fund research but was difficult for Soviet to keep up
USA stationed Pershing II missiles in West G conducted Able Archer 83
renewal of arms race further aggravated Soviet's economic problems as it struggled to keep up with military expenditure
US spent 6% of GDP whilst Soviet 16% despite economy half the size of US
cost of arms race on Soviet was higher and less sustainable