Cold War: A Change in Leadership Leading to a Change in Key Ideas
Cold War Essay
“Argue for and against the proposition that; A change in leadership in your area of study always leads to an important change in key ideas and/or ideologies”
Oliver Bolt
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“It would be naive to think that the problems plaguing mankind today can be solved with means and methods, which were applied or seemed to work in the past.”
Mikhail Gorbachev
Throughout the Cold War the Soviet Union went through numerous changes in leadership. Throughout the transformations one key element remained remarkably consistent as each successive leader promised drastic changes and reforms from the predecessor and his regime; however, from 1945 to 1985 the legacy of Stalin’s oppressive and autocratic leadership style remained unchanged. The Soviet foreign policy of security remained during both the Khrushchev and Brezhnev eras; both promised new reforms and committed their regimes to follow the road of peaceful coexistence, destalinization and Détente. However, in contrast to this both Khrushchev and Brezhnev were quick to reinforce Stalin’s vice-like grip on Eastern Europe and maintain his idea of a communist buffer zone across Eastern Europe. It was not until 1985 when there finally was a change in the communist system, which had become stagnant and in desperate need of a breath of fresh air. It was Gorbachev who delivered this as he, like his predecessors promised radical change within the USSR and its foreign policy. However, in contrast to the other Soviet leaders he came through on his assurances, and for the first time in Soviet history produced sweeping reforms that led to unprecedented changes. The unintended consequence of this was that he unsettled the foundations upon which communism had been built, as the ideology vanished from the continent over a period of 24 months. Although all changes in leadership within the Soviet Union promised a change in ideology only rarely did substantial change
“Argue for and against the proposition that; A change in leadership in your area of study always leads to an important change in key ideas and/or ideologies”
Oliver Bolt
-------------------------------------------------
“It would be naive to think that the problems plaguing mankind today can be solved with means and methods, which were applied or seemed to work in the past.”
Mikhail Gorbachev
Throughout the Cold War the Soviet Union went through numerous changes in leadership. Throughout the transformations one key element remained remarkably consistent as each successive leader promised drastic changes and reforms from the predecessor and his regime; however, from 1945 to 1985 the legacy of Stalin’s oppressive and autocratic leadership style remained unchanged. The Soviet foreign policy of security remained during both the Khrushchev and Brezhnev eras; both promised new reforms and committed their regimes to follow the road of peaceful coexistence, destalinization and Détente. However, in contrast to this both Khrushchev and Brezhnev were quick to reinforce Stalin’s vice-like grip on Eastern Europe and maintain his idea of a communist buffer zone across Eastern Europe. It was not until 1985 when there finally was a change in the communist system, which had become stagnant and in desperate need of a breath of fresh air. It was Gorbachev who delivered this as he, like his predecessors promised radical change within the USSR and its foreign policy. However, in contrast to the other Soviet leaders he came through on his assurances, and for the first time in Soviet history produced sweeping reforms that led to unprecedented changes. The unintended consequence of this was that he unsettled the foundations upon which communism had been built, as the ideology vanished from the continent over a period of 24 months. Although all changes in leadership within the Soviet Union promised a change in ideology only rarely did substantial change
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