This seems to be a regular question on IB Paper 2 (see Nov'10, May '10, May'08 etc.)Events which need to be explained (placed into a broader context):
- Poland and the rise of Solidarity
- Soviet attitude towards intervention 1980-1989 (how did this change)
- Specific dates in Polish crisis
- Crisis in the Eastern bloc (1989-1991)
- Hungary
- Rumania
- East German
- Internal problems in USSR (1989-1991)
- Rise of Boris Yeltsin
- Domestic view of Gorbachev
- The Soviet economy (1985-1991)
As far as individuals are concerned, it is important to think about the role of the following:
- Margaret Thatcher
- Ronald Reagan
- Deng Xiaoping
- Pope John-Paul II
- Mikhail Gorbachev
In your noting try to distinguish between the collapse of the USSR and the end of the Cold War in Europe.
Try the following question:
"When and why did the Cold War end?" (May'08 TZ1)
When and Why did the Cold War End?
ReplyDeleteINTRODUCTION
-Background story on the beginnings of the cold war (1947-1991)
-How it was a period of political conflict of ideologies + and economic crisis + proxy wars = nuclear arms race/space race and espionage.
-A war between the Communist world (Russia and their satellite states) and the Western world, primarily the USA. Although there never was a direct contact between the two forces only through military coalitions
1st MAIN PART
- In my opinion i believe that the origins of the End of the Cold War started at the end of Dentente (1962-79) and the beginning of the Second Cold war (1979-85). This is also known as the reawakening of the Cold War, were tensions increased again between the two superpowers.
-Reason for this opinion is= War in Afghanistan (1979)
Reagan and Thatcher
Polish Solidarity
Soviet Economy
Gorbachev
Why did Afghanistan end the cold war/ or at least helped?
- The war in Afghanistan became the USSRs Vietnam. Quote from Brezinski "The day that the soviets crossed the border, i wrote to president carter, We now have the opportunity of giving the USSR its Vietnam"
-The USSR displayed a huge forced to then find that it was a Guerrilla war run by the Mujahadeen with the support of the USA (Stinger Missile).
-The Russian government sunk itself into a unnecessary war and lost support of the people back at home + the huge expenditure for the war made the country suffer again. 25% of the GNP was used for the military.
*In a way Afghanistan crippled the USSRs economy and morale, people lost faith in their aging government.
Reagan and Thatcher
-Reagan's character gave him the victory over Carte in the 1980 election, with his motto "We win, They lose"
-He increased military expenditure by 2% when the russians were decreasing.
-He publicly showed that he was a hawk by not recognizing the Soviets Union and denouncing the Soviet ideology as "the evil empire" & "Communism will be left of the ash heap of history" Followed by Thatchers support.
-Reagan Doctrine= Containment + Liberation of the Communist States that had been invaded.
-Reagan persuaded Saudi Arabia to increase oil production which made prices drop three times. Making the Russian Economy suffer a heavy burden.
-old age of the Russian leaders lead to several changes on the Russian Government. Quote from Reagan "They keep dying on me"
-The Four Summits with Gorbachev.
-Bradenburg Gate Speech "General Secretary Gorbachev if you seek peace tear down this wall"
Polish Solidarity
- Was the first breakthrough of rebellion against the Communist rule, lead by the people. This was caused by the visit of Pope John Paul II (1979).
- Martial Law a policy by the russians also affected the increase in support of the Polish Solidarity Party.
Gorbachev
-Glasnots= liberation of the political Landscape
-Perestroika= Capitalist element into the economy
-Four Summits
-Fall of the Berlin wall and the Iron Curtain
-Hungary and their first competitive elections (1991)
-Declaration of Independence by the Baltic States (1991)
CONCLUSION
- All of the factors above lead, or at least took part of on the domino effect which was then end of the Cold war. In my opinion it was this rapid increase of tensions after dentente and the aggressive action taken by Reagan which lead to an increase of fear towards the russian leaders + the Socio-Economic problems that the USSR was suffering during that period.
-the collapse of the Soviet union was nothing but an escalation of events.
Pablo- a thorough outline which raises some interesting points. It is essential when you tackle this sort of question to really highlight the WHEN factor so you must make sure that dates and the sequence of events are as prominent as possible.
ReplyDeleteThink about typical causation models, which factors are long term, short term, and trigger? Identifying the trigger factor is important with this question- there is no right answer here, but you must make sure that your logic is sound.
I like the sections about Afghanistan and Reagan. These are two events which are typically cited as playing an important part in the end of the Cold War.
In the section on Poland you need to develop your line of argument more convincingly. For example, what was the role of food price rises, union activity or nationalism on the developing situation (don't suggest this was a mono-causal event).
In the section on Gorbachev, make sure that you address the issue of historiography. Notably, was it Gorbachev's policies which brought the USSR down or was this decline due to longer term factors (economic stagnation, failure of the planned economy model etc.) Did the removal of the USSR's ability ot fight the war end the COld War by default? Interstingly, if you look at the origins of the containment argument in the US (Kennan's Mr X article, 1947) you will find that he talked about the USA creating the conditions which led to an "internal implosion in the Soviet Union." Arguably then, the strategy was apparent to observers in 1947 but the means to put this to good effect didn't occur until the USSR economy (and the mindset of its leader) created the 'perfect storm'.
Hope this helps- keep up the good work