Gaddis Epilogue Notes

Cold War ends abruptly

"Ordinary people" made it happen (Hungarian/Polish/German examples)

Gorbachev Foundation: what does it all mean?

Significance is different the farther away we move from the events

People make their own history

Departure from determinism - hot wars

Pre-1945, powers fought wars all the time

Post-1945, wars were between superpowers and smaller powers

Never a full-scale war between US, SU, and allies

Oppenheimer had predicted use of atomic weapons in a future major war (1946)

Technological/Intelligence breakthroughs (satellites, reconnaissance, etc.) helped get rid of major wars - no element of surprise

Only interpretation of intelligence is surprising/failing

Discrediting of dictatorships

Historical currents turned against communism, hard to stop

Orwell had predicted/feared/was correct about the way the world worked after 1984

Communism failed to deliver

Globalization of democratization - number of democracies 5x during 1950-2000

Policy choices, outperformed autocracies in raising living standards

Only democracy confers legitimacy

No trials for crimes against humanity - Pol Pot had executed 1/5 of his people, and died alone in Thailand

It could have been worse - most of us survived

Gorbachev Notes

1. Who was Gorbachev and what were his aims?

Gorbachev was the son of agricultural mechanics, grandson of Communists (grandfather arrested for supporting Trotsky). He was involved after college with Communist Youth Organization, and became the secretary, and later the top Komsomol official, and then a delegate. He became a member of Politburo and then a deputy to Chernenko. When Chernenko died, Gorbachev took over as Secretary of the Communist Party. He had major campaigns against corruption, alcohol, and conservative members of the Party. He focused on “establishing a market economy” and changed foreign policy.

2. Describe Gorbachev’s main policies of Glasnost and Perestroika and what were the consequences of these policies for the Soviet Union?

Perestroika:

1986: laid out new policy of perestroika/reconstruction. He wanted to fix the economy and stagnation by increasing progress socially and economically. It was the "conference of development of democracy, socialist self-government, encouragement of initiative and creative endeavor, improved order and disciple, more glasnost, criticism and self-criticism in all spheres of our society. It is utmost respect for the individual and consideration for personal dignity."

Glasnost:

1988: gave freedom to general public, freedom of speech. Press is controlled less by the government, and most of the political prisoners were released. By doing Glasnost, the conservaties opposing Gorbachev would be eased into his ideas, and wanted support of the SU people.

Brezhnev Notes

Domestic/Foreign Policy:
-Brezhnev Doctrine in 1968 retroactively justified SU invasion of Czechoslovakia a month earlier
-Policy meant that “limited independence of communist parties was allowed”
-No nation could exit Warsaw Pact, or try to counter communist rule
-Allowed Brezhnev to continue absolute rule over the country without question
-The Doctrine was vague enough to justify any SU action (Afghanistan, etc.)
-Several treaties followed the Doctrine
-Foreign policy (general “diplomacy”, attempts at friendliness with US, etc.)
-Brezhnev wanted NATO to adjust WWII boundaries to benefit SU/him
-Détente: signed SALT I, etc. with US to solve problems by not doing anything (agree to disagree)

Economic/Political Stagnation:
-SU takeover in Afghanistan led to stagnation
-Demands of workers, work shortages, productivity decline and other problems cause social stagnation which effects economy
-Brezhnev attempts to fix economy in 1960s/1970s a few times but no results
-Kosygin reform in 1965 was not accepted by Central Committee/Politburo
-SU has fallen behind rest of world with refusal to reform and social issues
-Gorbachev says that Brezhnev has caused the GNP/economic/political problems
-GNP is steadily decreasing and US continues to do well, Brezhnev is unhappy
-11+ 5-Year Plans to fix such problems, not effective.

Afghanistan:
-Brezhnev used Brezhnev Doctrine to vaguely justify invading Afghanistan in 1979
-The 10 year war in Afghanistan was the SU supporting Marxist/Communist government instead of options for democracy.
-Many other countries supported Islamist Resistance (against the SU), like the US and GB
-Troops withdrew 1988-1989 over 10 month period
-Considered the be the SU equivalent of Vietnam War for the US
-Entering Afghanistan made Brezhnev lose most of his international and domestic influence and strength

Gaddis Chapter 7

Section 1: Updates

-1989: George Bush inaugurated as US president. Skeptical of Gorbachev.

-Both Bush & G. don’t anticipate much.

-Khrushchev’s 1956 suppressing has regained autonomy in Soviet bloc.

-Poland is developing (Walesa free from prison, etc.)

-June election lets Solidarity win.

-G. allows SU elections. China is having political change issues (Deng Xiaoping).

-Deng orders 1989 crack-down, many die.

-Hungarian authorities take down Austrian border barbed wire.

-3,000 E. German asylum-wanters go to Prague.

-Romanian dictator meet with G. in Kremlin.

Section 2: Kohl/Gorbi/Bush

-“Gorbi, make love, not walls!”

-Berlin wall came down… Kohl was leading (W. Germany) and East Germans are demanding.

-Bush/Kohl persuade G. to accept together-Germany with NATO.

Section 3:

-G. is loved in many countries. He chose love (Machiavelli) and kept outside his country.

-Lenin had organized Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. No one thought Russia would break up.

-Baltics may secede.

-Yeltsin is not popular internationally. Bush goes to Moscow in July to sign START I.

-G. thinks things are petty.

-Yeltsin abolishes Communist party.

Gaddis Chapter 6

Section 1: Détente

-Détente collapses; freezes Cold War.

-Purpose was to establish rules, not end conflict.

-Elites do not run world. More freely elected governments than before.

-Nuclear danger diminishing. Universal standards of justice.

Section 2: SALT I & II

-Center of détente was SU/US effort to limit nuclear race. Strategic Arms Limitation Talk (1969) capped number of missiles, and made a treaty.

-This was called SALT I. SALT evaded issues (nuclear arms reduction, etc.)

-Senator Jackson starts appearing and makes a resolution for arms.

-SALT II went on for years. Jimmy Carter wanted to fix the SALT and problems.

-Brezhnev has health problems, drug usage. 1977, SU develops accurate missiles. This causes problems in the creation and signing of SALT II.

Section 3: Marxism Internationally

-1972 Moscow summit: US/SU agree to “Basic Principles”.

-SU did not prevent Israel from taking Sinai/Gaza during 1967, and SU won’t help Egypt get them back. They end relationship with SU.

-Kissinger negotiates hostilities, SU gets nothing.

-SU is committed to class struggle and is involved internationally.

-1977: Somalia (SU friend) attacks Marxist Ethiopia. SU switches sides, Carter administration is freaking out.

-1978: Afghanistan has government overthrow, Marxists in charge.

-SU considers intervention, never mind. Politburo reverses itself.

Section 4: SU

-1980: Carter withdraws SALT II. American is stuck in arguments with itself.

-Poland has problems post SU/Warsaw Pact, protests, oil falls.

-SU is incapable of efficient and important strategizing.

Section 5: Takeovers

-Deng Xiaoping is taking over from Mao, Mao was 70/30% right/wrong.

-Margaret Thatcher is taking over in GB as prime minster.

-Reagan came to power through faith/fear/self-confidence.

-Mehmet Ali Agca (Turkish) plots to kill Walesa in Rome.

-John Paul II is recovering from attack.

-1981, Politburo will not intervene. Brezhnev Doctrine ends, SU is willing to use force.

Section 6: Reagan

-1981: Reagan is attacked, survives. Pope is attacked again, survives.

-No reform in Poland. Afghanistan is bloody stalemate. Oil prices down and collapsing.

-Reagan uses religion, increases military spending.

-1983: Reagan repudiates Mutual Assured Destruction. Stability is important.

-Strategic Defense Initiative questions Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (SALT I). Reagan is committed.

Section 7:

-Gorbachev takes over for Chernenko. G. is smart and a better ruler.

-G. knows SU cannot continue. G. is flexible for once. Wants SU/US to get rid of all nuclear stuff by 2000.

-Nuclear explosion in Chernobyl, 1986.

-Reagan/G. summit in Iceland, new ideas to get rid of missiles and weaponry.

-Shultz lectures G. He is receptive, reads Shultz’s book.