• good relationship between the leaders

Reagan (1980s president)

Pressure to the Soviet Union (defense spendings, strong rhetoric)→"Peace through Strength" was supported by the US citizens

June 1982: Close relation with Thatcher, and called USSR as "evil empire"

Compared to the previous president, Reagan focused on pressuring the USSR.

Strategic Defense Initiative (aka Star Wars)→placing missile bases(?)

Supported proxy wars who were fighting against communists.

His aim→making the Cold War more difficult and expensive so that the Soviets will be difficult to keep up, and force them to come with negotiations.

However,

After 1985, Reagan was willing for a negotiation, reducing the number of weapons to reduce arms race.

End of 1980s, fall of the berlin wall marked the collapse of centralized power of the USSR.

Argument: It was more about the domestic issues that Gorbachev faced, and less about the policies of Reagan.

⚪︎ Negotiations + discussions

→ good relations with Gorbachev

⚪︎ Increased defense spending (highest level since the Vietnam War) → supported proxy wars that went against communism

⚪︎ "Peace through strength" → keep the US safe and show that they were strong

⚪︎ USSR → "Evil empire that needs to be defeated"

⚪︎ National missile defence system (Strategic defence system "Star Wars") → seen as aggressive (the balance of power will be gone as they can act without fear of retaliation)

⚪︎ Military build up → forces the USSR to negotiate as it puts the US into a better position (aggressive rhetoric)

⚪︎ Open to cooperate with Gorbachev due to Gorbachev's reforms (perestroika and glasnost)

⚪︎ USSR starts to lose control + collapse after Gorbachev

→ the fall of the Berlin Wall

Reagan had had an impact and hastened the collapse of the USSR, however, it can also be argued that it was a coincidence.

confrontation

・enters office in 1980, invasion of Afgan end to Detante

・"Peace through strength", gave an impression to Americans as show of strength

・Increased defense spending(highest sinse the Vietnam war)→contrast with nixon

1983:

・declares USSR as "an evil empire"

・developed new defense system, missiles, "star wars"

→showed agression, US could act without fear of retaliation

Supported proxi wars against communism

・Unleashing the CIA and letting them supporting fighting against commnist (Afganistan, etc..)

→aimed to "bring America into a stronger position, making Russia enter negotiations in a weaker positions"

Second Term:

Advanced Talks

・personal ties with Gorbachev: advanced peace talks

→1997 INF treaty

・USSR crumbles after Gorbachev's changes

1990 Wall of Berlin

Conclusion:

Reagan had an impact on the end of the cold war, though having less of an impact compared to Gorbachev.

Described the Soviet Union as an "evil empire" and antagonized them.

talks with the Soviet Union collapsed by 1983 and Regan started spending even more on defense, for example the 'star wars' program.

Reagan's hostility not exclusive to just the Soviet Union, but all communists around the world, promising to fight communism overseas using the CIA etc.

Gorbachev and Reagan's relationship worked to improve relations between USA and the Soviet Union,

INF treaty - lowered tensions

Soviet systems begin to destabilize because of Gorbachev's policies, as well as Reagan's approach to dealing with the Soviets.

Some say Reagan's aggressive policies helped to hasten the collapse of the Soviet Union, while others say it was just a happy coincidence, Reagan's relationship with Gorbachev helping to gradually ease tensions but not being a significant reason for the collapse of the Soviet Union.

After all this, centralized Soviet control started to weaken. Countries began declaring independence, symbolized by the fall of the Berlin Wall. The confrontation ended soon after. Some argue Reagan’s pressure sped up the Soviet Union’s collapse. Others say it was a coincidence, and that Reagan’s approach was reckless. They believe the Cold War ended more because of Gorbachev’s internal reforms than anything Reagan did. It might’ve been less about Reagan’s early aggression, and more about his later shift toward negotiation.