THE COLD WAR AND ITS IMPACTS (CONTINUED):End of the Cold War

<< THE COLD WAR AND ITS IMPACTS (CONTINUED):Truman Doctrine, Marshal Plan

DISARMAMENT AND ARMS CONTROL:History of Disarmament >>

International Relations-PSC 201

LESSON 22

THE COLD WAR AND ITS IMPACTS (CONTINUED)

Reconciliation

Even at the height of the Cold War, there were efforts to prevent an outbreak of all out conflict as that

could have brought an end to human civilization as a whole. Khrushchev and Eisenhower yet at Camp

David and commenced the trend towards disarmament.

A Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) was signed in 1962, a hotline was established between the heads of states

in 1963 and the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was signed in 1968.

From 1969 to 1978, a period of détente remained, where both sides accepted the status quo in view of the

mutually assured destruction (MAD) capacity of the superpowers and as the realization concerning costs of

nuclear arsenals was becoming apparent.

Nixon visited USSR and signed a Limitation on Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Systems and Limitation of

Strategic Offensive Arms, indicating adoption of a defensive rather than offensive posture by both

superpowers.

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks continued from 1969 to 1979. The US proposed ban on using mobile land

sites and the superpowers also reached an agreement on a Seabed Treaty, banning use of sea-beds as nuclear

launch sites

End of the Cold War

The process that brought the Cold War to an end began in the second half of the 1980s. It led to the Malta

Summit between President Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev in 1989.

The Washington Summit in 1990 between the same leaders resulted in signing of number of nuclear,

chemical and conventional arms reduction agreements.

Resurgence of tensions

The invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 fanned the embers of the Cold War again. The USSR's interference in

Angola was also another irritant and the new US administration was also less tolerant and it wanted to begin

building bridges with China, which Soviets were now opposed to, these moves simultaneously ended the

period of détente.

Jimmy Carter used the human rights agenda to criticize Soviet backed regimes, the US discovered a Soviet

brigade in Cuba and withdrew from SALT II, it boycotted the Olympic games in Moscow in 1980 and

imposed a grain embargo on the USSR.

The Soviets in turn banned the LA Olympics in 1984 and shot down a South Korean air liner and by 1983

they pulled out completely from bilateral arms talks with the US after the Cruise and Pershing 2 missiles

were found deployed by three west European countries.

The overthrow of the Shah of Iran in 1979 also impelled the US to secure bases in Oman, Kenya and

Somalia to obtain a strategic stronghold and protects its interests around the Persian Gulf and the Indian

Ocean.

On the other hand, the Soviets, Cubans, Nicaraguans and even the Ethiopians were accused by the US of

supplying arms to insurgents El Salvador in Central America.

While the Cold War ended practically with dismantling of the 35 km Berlin Wall in 1989, it wasn't until the

London Summit a few years later that the Cold War was formally announced to be over London Summit.

International Relations-PSC 201

The London Summit emphasized the need for the US to reduce the number of nuclear weapons it had

deployed in Europe. It obtained a pledge to withdraw the 1470 nuclear tipped artillery shells from West

Germany and for the Soviets to withdraw troops from Central and Eastern Europe. It redefined NATO's

new role from strength seeking alliance to a peace keeping mission.

The World after the Cold War

The balance of power shifted drastically after the Cold War and its effects were felt the world over

(Consider the case of Pakistan for e.g. which felt abandoned by the US after the fall of the Soviets).

The collapse of the Soviet Union led to the emergence of new states and the change of governments in

several countries (Breakup of Yugoslavia for e.g.). Unresolved conflicts, in Korea, Vietnam and Germany,

complicated by the interference of the superpowers came to a quick end.

A new world order emerged at the end of the Cold War, which was influenced by multilateralism and a

unilateral superpower. The end of the Cold War called for a new focus in IR which could better analyze and

anticipate the realties of a new world order. The end of communism also had economic implications which

boosted the legitimacy of the market mechanism.

Communism in practice resulted in dominance of a single political party and centralized decision making.

The bureaucracy became the new bourgeoisie under communism in practice.

The Capitalist Ideology

Capitalism is based on the notion of individual liberty and the right to own private property. At the political

level, capitalism emphasized the need for democratic government, multiparty politics, independence of the

judiciary, and freedom of press. In practice capitalism has caused problems for minorities, growing

inequalities and arguments concerning the role of the state in managing the economy.

Relevant Vocabulary

Reconciliation: removal of differences or tensions between states

Conventional weapons: normal as opposed to nuclear

Accuse: to blame

Bourgeoisie: the rich and powerful elite

Suggested Readings

Students are advised to read the following chapters to develop a better understanding of the various

principals highlighted in this hand-out:

Chapter 6 in `"A Study of International Relations" by Dr. Sultan Khan

Internet Resources

In addition to reading from the textbook, please visit the following web-pages for this lecture, which

provide useful and interesting information:

The Cold War International History Project

cwihp.si.edu/default.htm

Table of Contents: