The end of the Cold War remains a fervently debated topic in political science. Disagreements in this study of the Cold War largely stem from questioning what factors contributed, an in to degree, to ending the Cold War. To answer these questions, it proves necessary to examine just what exactly was the Cold War, along with when did it end, as we attempt to better understand its conclusion. During this analysis, we discover one of the main disagreements over what factors led to the end of the Cold War, which proceeds from two theories of international relations: realism and constructivism. Were material factors, such economic stagnation and declining political power in the Soviet Union, the main cause of the Soviet government ending its interventionist
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In this case, Mueller’s argument that spring 1989, prior to the Eastern European revolutions, marked the end of the Cold War seems valid, as by this time the Soviet Union had abandoned its ideological struggle, and the US and its bloc no longer had to concern themselves with Soviet expansionism (Mueller 609). As the USSR never retook to its previous efforts to expand communism to other countries following this time, the Cold War effectively ended following the end of expansionary efforts. However, some during this time may have only viewed the end of the Soviet Union itself, in 1991, to have given a sense of complete finality Cold War’s end. So, while the Cold War ended in retrospect in early 1989, the assurance of its finality for some would not be felt until 1991. Even with these divergent dates and other disagreements as to the precise dating of the conflict’s end (Brown 2007, 241), it should remain clear the conclusion of the Cold War was roughly between 1988-1991. A precise date is not necessary to examine the factors that led to the Cold War, which clearly was reaching its end by the late 1980s. With this, let us begin to examine what ended the Cold …show more content…
Wohlforth, adhering the realist perspective, writes, “Two factors helped bring reform notions to the fore in the early 1980s: the system-wide decline in socialism's economic performance…and the Soviet Union's awful geopolitical position, with every other major power in the entire world, in every region, allied or aligned against Moscow” (Wohlforth 110). The Soviet’s erosion of strength compared to that of the United States, stemming from flaws in the Soviet model and its own missteps, along with Reagan’s actions, would seem to work to move the country’s leadership towards reformist policies in attempt to rejuvenate Soviet political and economic power. Gorbachev, as we will see, did indeed embark on this attempt later in the
In this case, Mueller’s argument that spring 1989, prior to the Eastern European revolutions, marked the end of the Cold War seems valid, as by this time the Soviet Union had abandoned its ideological struggle, and the US and its bloc no longer had to concern themselves with Soviet expansionism (Mueller 609). As the USSR never retook to its previous efforts to expand communism to other countries following this time, the Cold War effectively ended following the end of expansionary efforts. However, some during this time may have only viewed the end of the Soviet Union itself, in 1991, to have given a sense of complete finality Cold War’s end. So, while the Cold War ended in retrospect in early 1989, the assurance of its finality for some would not be felt until 1991. Even with these divergent dates and other disagreements as to the precise dating of the conflict’s end (Brown 2007, 241), it should remain clear the conclusion of the Cold War was roughly between 1988-1991. A precise date is not necessary to examine the factors that led to the Cold War, which clearly was reaching its end by the late 1980s. With this, let us begin to examine what ended the Cold …show more content…
Wohlforth, adhering the realist perspective, writes, “Two factors helped bring reform notions to the fore in the early 1980s: the system-wide decline in socialism's economic performance…and the Soviet Union's awful geopolitical position, with every other major power in the entire world, in every region, allied or aligned against Moscow” (Wohlforth 110). The Soviet’s erosion of strength compared to that of the United States, stemming from flaws in the Soviet model and its own missteps, along with Reagan’s actions, would seem to work to move the country’s leadership towards reformist policies in attempt to rejuvenate Soviet political and economic power. Gorbachev, as we will see, did indeed embark on this attempt later in the