The Cold War And The Collapse Of The Soviet Union - 987 Words

There are many different political theories that try to explain the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Two prominent political theories which I will explore throughout this essay are the Realist and Idealist theory. No one theory is completely correct, as many different factors must be considered regarding the collapse of the Soviet Union and end of the Cold War. For example, one essential influence to the end of the Cold War was the role of nuclear weapons and how they were used. I believe that realism does in fact do a good job in explaining the end of the Cold War. Goldstein and Pevehouse note that realism is, â€Å"†¦a school of thought that explains international relations in terms of power.† (43) Often called â€Å"power politics†, this theory shaped how states came out of World War II and guided the Cold War in terms of self-interest. Realists look at the world in terms of what it really is, not what it ought to be. The realist explanation of the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union can be described in terms of power. The logic of power suggest that that in wars, the more powerful state will generally prevail. Two important elements of power that lead to the collapse of the Soviet Union was military power and GDP. After World War II, the United States economy experienced a postwar economic boom that provided a period of economic prosperity, however this did not hold true for the Soviet Union. Instead, the Soviet Un ion suffered fromShow MoreRelatedEssay on Who If Any One Won the Cold War?691 Words   |  3 Pagesconsidered 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, exte nded around the globe. 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