Question

Why did the Cold War end? answer in 1000 words.

Answer 1

• Both US and USSR had fought against the axis powers in the world war II but the two countries soon developed enmity owing to the US prudent of communism.
• This lead to the US policy of containment to stop the influence and expansion of Soviet communism. Soon both countries began to see each other as their rival and staunch opponent.
• After the death of elderly leaders of the Soviet Union the country was put in the hands of young generation . This young generation wanted to infuse liberalization in the economy.
• During 1985-87 US and USSR eliminated all nuclear and conventional missiles after a successful negotiations.
• However, with the help of Saudi Arabia Reagan dented the main source of Soviet export revenues by asking Saudi Arabia to increase its oil production.
• The cold war started with the rise of Mikhail Gorbachev as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
• The cold war started in 1985 and ended in 1991 with the collapse of USSR.
• During 1980's USSR fought a war in Afghanistan, were it faced stiff resistance and had to pull out with a sense of defeat. It was the same time when USSR was dealing with the escalating costs of the arms race.
• Opposition within the country and motionless economy added to the woes of USSR. While it was dealing with the home dissent and trying to uplift its ailing economy.
• Eastern Europe stood to worsen the situation. There were peaceful protests which swept the states of eastern Europe. The grassroots parties gained ground destabilizing the communist movement. It was followed by a chin of reactions leading to the dis-integration of eastern bloc.
• The borders which were closed for a long period of time thrown open. Free elections were held across the eastern Europe while Communist regimes were ousted everywhere, thus bringing down the mighty empire.
• The debacle in Afghanistan and coming down of Berlin wall were the last episodes to happen. Although Mikhail Gorbachev tried to bring in liberal reforms and incorporating the capitalism in the economy. However, it proved very difficult for him to handle the chaos amid bad execution.
• The Soviet Union got dissolved into fragments in 1991 creating number of republic countries. Officially the cold war ended with the meeting between Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and US president George Bush on 3 December 1989.
• The collapse of the USSR can be attributed to the home grown dissent and economical woes. In the meanwhile it was US and its leadership which tried its best to leave no stone unturned and put the last nail in the coffin.