Gorbachev and the collapse of the Soviet Empire

Diplomacy of Perestroika

The improvement in the international environment

Factors shaping the Gorbachev foreign policy revolution

Explaining the end of the Cold War

Diplomacy of Perestroika

The revolution in Soviet foreign policy consisted of 3 key elements:

1. A thorough overhaul of Soviet foreign policy personnel
2. The adoption of a more flexible and sophisticated diplomatic style
3. The promotion of more pragmatic policies toward the West and China

The improvement in the international environment

Positive developments during the Gorbachev era (1985-91) included:

1. Revival of superpower summits
2. Arms control agreements
3. The Soviet decision to withdraw from Afghanistan in April 1988
4. Radicalization of the ‘New Political Thinking’
5. Democratic revolutions in Eastern Europe in 1989
6. Soviet disengagement in Third World

Factors shaping the Gorbachev Foreign Policy Revolution

1. Economic burden of the arms race
2. Unsustainable costs of Cold War competition during Reagan era
3. The problems of the Soviet economy could not be resolved on a purely national basis
4. Changing nature of international capitalism presented Soviet leadership with tough political choices

Explaining the End of the Cold War

Contending theories include:

1. Gorbachev as ‘Great Man’ of history
2. Hegemonic peace thesis
3. The notion of Imperial Overstretch
4. Cumulative impact of the idea of democratic capitalism