An evaluation of the reasons for the end of the Cold War

End of the Cold War: Overview

Often considered to span from 1945 to 1989, the Cold War ended with the dissolution of the USSR. This marked the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the end of the longstanding international political bipolarity.
Contrary to a conventional war, the hostilities in the Cold War were primarily fought through political manoeuvrings, economic competition, proxy wars, and an intense arms race rather than direct military conflict between the two superpowers.
The reasons for the end of the Cold War are multifarious, involving a combination of internal and external factors, and are subject to much historical debate.

One of the primary internal factors was the economic stagnation of the Soviet bloc. The economic model of the USSR, which severely constrained consumer goods market and placed greater emphasis on heavy industry, led to systemic inefficiencies and lack of innovation.
Additionally, the heavy military expenditure, necessary to keep up in the arms race with the USA, put a huge strain on the Soviet economy.
The dissatisfactions and uprisings in various Eastern European countries, such as Poland and Hungary, further signalled the internal decay within the Communist bloc.
The rise of Mikhail Gorbachev signified a change in the Soviet leadership. His policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) aimed to reform the Communist system but instead precipitated its downfall.

The role of the United States and its strategic policies played a vital role. Under President Ronald Reagan, US initiated a barriers’ strategy, escalating the arms race that ultimately proved economically unsustainable for the Soviets.
The United States also provided covert assistance to resistance movements fighting communist regimes in a variety of locations like Afghanistan, further bleeding the Soviet resources.
The role of key individuals such as Reagan, Thatcher and Pope John Paul II, as prominent anti-communist figures, also played an instrumental role in ending the Cold War.
The power of ideas, particularly human rights and capitalism, faciliated the collapse of communism. Under the influences of the West, many Eastern European countries yearned for freedoms and market economies, which became catalysts for change.

The end of the Cold War reshaped the world order, marking the emergence of the United States as the sole global superpower and the spread of capitalist and democratic ideals.
However, the sudden collapse also resulted in a power vacuum that led to several regional conflicts and marked the transition from a bipolar to a multipolar world.
The legacy of the Cold War continues to influence global relations, illuminating the complexities of ideological conflicts and their potential to shape world order.