Eastern Europe & Reform
Name the doctrine that advocated for minimal intervention in the internal politics of the Warsaw Pact. Also discuss how this reflected an overall trend in Gorbachev's foreign policy.
Example: The Sinatra Doctrine. This shows how Gorbachev was more progressive in his foreign policy and was willing to give greater autonomy to Soviet satellite states.
What was the summit where Gorbachev wanted nuclear disarmament and Reagan did not want to modify the SDI or nuclear power?
Geneva Summit
His policy was to limit the use of nuclear weapons and/or disarmament. This would help his domestic initiatives by lessening the risk of a nuclear threat so that he could focus on domestic issues more.
Who was the leader of East Germany and describe how he was viewed by the East Germans?
Example: Erich Honecker and East Germany was disillusioned by his reign because he was oppressive and the standard of living lagged. East Germans viewed him negatively.
How did Gorbachev's view on German reunification contribute to the collapse of the Soviet Union?
Example: Because Gorbachev was willing to discuss and consider the possibility of German reunification, he was unable to stop the outrage against Honecker or prevent the ultimate collapse of the Berlin Wall and East Germany.
What is the summit where Gorbachev remained reluctant to agree to German reunification and stated that reunification should not undermine international stability? How does this align with Gorbachev focusing on domestic initiatives?
The Malta Summit. Gorbachev didn't want to need to focus on international instability which could be created out of German reunification when he could instead focus on Russia's domestic issues.
Make connections between Gorbachev's detente approach to foreign policy and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Example: Because Gorbachev focused on the reallocation of resources and money to domestic initiatives, he did not focus enough on Soviet satellite states, ultimately leading to their collapse.
Discuss the possible links between Gorbachev's domestic policies of perestroika and glasnost and the collapse of the Berlin Wall and German reunification.
Example Response: Demonstrators in East Germany wanted the policy of perestroika to be applied to East Germany. Because they were dissatisfied with the lack of reform implemented by Honecker, they grew angry to the point of breaking down the Berlin Wall and urging for German reunification.
Compare/contrast Gorbachev's domestic policy of perestroika to his foreign policies of the Sinatra Doctrine and nuclear disarmament.
Comparison: Both of them reflected more autonomy to the groups they address (perestroika gives more autonomy to the people of the USSR) and Sinatra gives more autonomy to the states in the Warsaw Pact.
Contrast: Perestroika is focused on the people of the USSR and is domestic while the Sinatra Doctrine is foreign policy.
At this summit, Gorbachev and Reagan agreed to phase out all intermediate range nuclear missiles. The leaders came to a greater consensus and Gorbachev no longer required the cessation of the SDI. Name this summit and analyze how this demonstrates the overall trend between the US and USSR.
Washington Summit. Because the leaders agreed and came to a consensus on what they wanted, it can be understood that this summits marks an overall detente period in US-USSR tensions.
Describe the link between Gorbachev's position on the Brezhnev Doctrine and the collapse of the Berlin Wall.
Example: Because Gorbachev favored minimal intervention instead of the Brezhnev Doctrine, he was unable to support the reform that East Berliners wanted. This need for reform in East Germany is supported by the source where protesters begged Gorbachev for reform in East Germany's political system.
"'Perestroika! Gorbachev! Help us!'.. I had sensed that something was wrong when we were driving into Berlin from Schonefeld Airport. Along almost the entire route to the residence, there were solid rows of young people chanting 'Gorbachev! Gorbachev!'" (Source L). While keeping in mind that members of the communist youth were saying this against Honecker, what would this indicate about the state of East Germany?
Example Response: East Germany was dissatisfied with the state of their government and wanted Gorbachev to implement reform.
How could Gorbachev's policy of not meddling in third world client state politics and revolution have contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union?
Example: Because he was unwilling to stop revolutions in other nations, the Soviet Union's satellite state communist governments collapsed, ultimately causing the overall collapse of the Soviet Union.
Using your knowledge of the Reykjavik Summit, illustrate the connection between the results of this summit and Gorbachev's nuclear policy and come to a consensus on whether this summit was successful for Gorbachev.
Example: Gorbachev's detente approach to nuclear policy was illustrated in the Reykjavik Summit through the achievement of a 50 percent reduction in ICBM numbers and the consideration of phasing out nuclear weapons entirely. Because it aligned with Gorbachev's goals, it can be considered successful.
See political cartoon
Because Gorbachev is standing on the dead bear of the USSR, it can be assumed that he is mainly responsible for the collapse of the USSR satellite states because of the Sinatra Doctrine and his lack of intervention in USSR satellite states.
Discuss a potential limitation of a picture taken at the time of the Berlin Wall collapse.
Example Response: Because it's a primary source, it doesn't have the hindsight or access to records which a secondary source has.
Name the doctrine which justified intervention in Eastern Europe under the idea that a threat to socialism had to be addressed. Discuss Gorbachev's position on this doctrine.
The Brezhnev Doctrine. Gorbachev disavowed this policy and attempted to implement the Sinatra Doctrine.
See political cartoon
Example: The summits between Gorbachev and Reagan was successful overall and demonstrated the cordial relationship between them.
What would Gorbachev's 9 summits with US leaders indicate about his foreign policy approach to the United States?
Example: He wanted to continue the policy of detente and not escalate tensions with the United States. Through this, he could divert more focus to domestic initiatives.
Discuss and come up with a defensible interpretation of why the Berlin Wall collapse occurred.
Example Response: East Berliners were dissatisfied with Honecker's rule and wished to enjoy the standard of life in West Germany.