By 1986 the Soviet economy suffered from both hidden inflation and pervasive supply shortages which were aggravated by an increasingly open black market that undermined the official economy. In addition, the USSR spent a lot on the military, they lost over 15,000 soldiers in the war against Afghanistan which had cost them $8 billion per annum. They also overspent in the Reagan years, the defence spending increased by $32.6 billion as they tried to compete with the USA STAR WARS programme but could not compete. Also, the USSR spent $40 billion propping up Communist Governments throughout the world. The USSR was left behind by the new wave of industrialisation as it was based on information technology, they were left desperate for Western technology.
Tony Judt argues that Stalin ruled with ‘uncompromising rigidity and confrontational tactics’, this is somewhat supported by source 8 as it highlights that the ‘personality of Stalin’ was a significant internal factor in the USSR. Stalin’s persistent drive to achieve security by creating a buffer zone meant that agreements between the two powers were difficult. However, his policy on Poland, 1945, and the Stalinisation of Eastern Europe, 1945-48, reflected a genuine desire to protect the USSR from any future Western attack. Stalin was also ‘uncompromising’ over the reparations for Germany, he was determined to strip the Soviet zone of raw materials, and this worsened relations with the West at
Tyler James Emery Period 3/4 Block Due: May 31 Foreign Policies During the Cold War: Rough Draft As the aftermath of World War II began to unravel, the Soviet Union and the United States were the most dominant nations, with opposing viewpoints in many aspects, especially government. Due to their opposing viewpoints and natural desire for power, they began to compete by attempting to convert the newly unoccupied region's governments to either Democracy (U.S.), or Communism (Soviet Union). The Cold War, which began after World War II in 1945, was caused due to the constant power struggle as well as poor relations between the two nations, creating idealogical and economical conflicts. During the Cold War era, the United States had begun
Although however, this strained their relationship between the USSR from having conflicting national interests, this economic concept could be said to have been a huge tension between the USSR and America, as it excluded Russia, alienating them by spreading their capitalist ideologies and all the while ignoring their need for help in rebuilding themselves. Truman based his entire strategy of containment on George Kennan’s analysis of communism. Kennan implied the entire problem is the ideology, and the leaders who believe in it. The American hostility to communism therefore played a huge role in the shaping of the Cold War and showing the divide between the superpowers and highlighting the personalities and conflicting interests between
Historian Peter Gattrell is an example of a ‘Stalinist Historian’. He acknowledged that while Stalin was certainly severe and destructive in the treatment of his people, he maintained that the outcome of collectivization was an economy strong enough to sustain the USSR through four years of the most demanding of modern wars. Gattrell presents the notion hards as though it is the accept the Stalin’s reign of terror, the Soviet Union could not
In the next decade there will be many important events that will be part of the Cold War that will have significant impact on communism and democracy, the Vietnam War where 58,000 Americans died in an effort to contain communism. Other important events were the Gulf War and the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and the collapse of the Soviet Union. This would end the Cold War era. This was seen by the United States and its allies as a victory for freedom and democracy and the fall of a communist empire. In conclusion the Cold War was caused by U.S. fear of the spread of communism and other events.
Brad Trublowski 2/19/13 IAH 221C 002 The Inevitable Cold War At the end of World War II, two super powers emerged: Unites States and Russia. These two countries are the main reason World War II was brought to an end. After the war, there were many disputes on solving the problems in a weak and much damaged Europe. The two superpowers were only allies during the war and they will find out after the war, they will have many conflicts. Russia and the United States had very different political policies which led to the Cold War being inevitable.
The Government and Economy had fallen with the Soviet Union. Citizens had no choice but to move on with their new lives because it was the past lives that had never even existed, but like every change it came with its difficulty’s and left the people of Eastern Europe wanting answers to their questions and solutions to their problems. The lack of incentives for productivity is one problem. Seventy percent of the industrial output of the Soviet Union was going to the military. One third of the total output was going to the military.
name teacher class 17 February 2009 The Fall Of The Soviet Union The Soviet Union brought much terror to the world during its long and powerful reign. During the cold war, tension rose between the United States and the U.S.S.R. causing the biggest arms race in history. The competition led to the fall of the Soviets. The Soviet Union collapsed because of economic crisis, President Ronald Reagan, and debt from military spending. In 1985, Mikhael Gorbachev came to power, and claimed to have a different view on communism (Smitha, The Soviet Union).
Jordin Dickerson To what extent did ideology serve as the primary catalyst to the Cold War? During WWII, tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union were definitely strained. They had to join together because they had one common enemy, Nazi Germany; but after that, they began to turn on each other. The Soviets seeing the United States as a capitalist nation that turns its back on its allies where as the United States sees the Soviets as “Communist Russians” that are spreading the awful idea of communism. That one, simple word caused perhaps one of the biggest controversies and rivalries in history.