Cold War For The Soviet Union example essay topic

The time period between 1945 and 1991 is considered to be the era of the Cold War. The Cold War, known as the conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union, each known during this time as the "super powers". This conflict consisted of the differing attitudes on the ideological, political, and military interests of these two states and their allies, ext e need around the globe. A common political debate covers the issue of who, if anyone won the Cold War. Many believe the United States won the Cold War since (it) had resulted in the ultimate collapse of the Soviet Union. While others are to believe the United States had not won it as much as the Soviet Union had lost it since they feel Reagan did not end the Cold War, but that he prolonged it (Baylis & Smith, 2001.) This has lead me to believe that there is no winner, only losers of the cold war.

The cold war for the Soviet Union was to ensure security, block out capitalism, gain power, and improve their economy. While, on the other hand the United States just wanted to stop the spread of communism, which they felt, would spread rapidly throughout the world if they did not put an end to it soon. Both the United States and the Soviet Union wanted to avoid WWII I in the process of trying to achieve their goals. The cold war was failed by the Soviet Union for many reasons, including the sudden collapse of communism (Baylis & Smith, 2001.) This sudden collapse of communism was brought on ultimately by internal factors. The soviet unions president Gorbachev's reforms: glasnost (openness) and perestroika (political) ultimately caused the collapse of the Soviet Empire. Gorbachev's basics for glasnost were the promotion of principles of freedom to criticize; the loosening of controls on media and publishing; and the freedom of worship.

His essentials of perestroika were, a new legislature; creation of an executive presidency; ending of the 'leading role' of the communist party; allowing state enterprises to sell part of their product on the open market; lastly, allowing foreign companies to own Soviet enterprises (Baylis & Smith, 2001.) Gorbachev believed his reforms would benefit his country, but the Soviet Union was ultimately held together by the soviet tradition he was trying to change. The Soviet Union was none the less held together by. ".. powerful central institutions, pressure for ideological conformity, and the threat of force". (Baylis & Smith, 2001.) Therefore, these new reforms could not overpower the previous 'seventy years' of soviet rule. The many long-term internal causes of the collapse of the Soviet Union centralized around weaknesses in their economy. They had an inflexible central planning system, the inability to modernize, and the inefficiency in their agriculture production. Sometime around the 1970's the computer and automation revolution had emerged.

This revolution took over the West, but practically missed the Soviet Union, except in the military sector (Baylis & Smith, 2001.) Gorbachev's goal in economic restructuring was to create a separation between the economic and the political. The major changes began with the legalization of private farming and business co-operatives, and the allowing of foreign company ownership over Soviet enterprises (Baylis &Smith, 2001) All of Gorbachev's ideas on economic restructuring backfired on him since the price levels were inconsistent, and a sense of social confusion about the future of their state was created. The Soviet Union had realized their weaknesses, and their need for change. They had efforts to develop stronger trade links, and greater travel opportunities and cultural exchanges with the West, but this only showed the Soviets vulnerability to the Western economic and cultural influence. The Cold War is largely referred to as the nuclear stand off between the two superpowers. The United States was without a doubt the leader in the growth of capitalism around the world.

Although hand if I was forced to chose a 'winner' of the cold war, I would say the United States came closest to winning, only because they are the ones standing now. On the other,.