The role of personalities: Reagan, Thatcher and Pope John Paul II

The role of personalities: Reagan, Thatcher and Pope John Paul II

1. Reagan and the Triumphalists

   • Triumphalist argument maintains that R's hard-line approach to the USSR in early 80s imposed enormous economic and military pressure on the Soviets
     • As a result - USSR could no longer compete with US defence spending - thus abandoned the arms race and the Cold War
   • According to this interpretation, R's successful anti-comm policies included
     • 53% increase in the US defence budget - Oct 1981
     • Announcement of SDI - March 1983
     • Uncompromising anti-Soviet rhetoric
     • Implementation of the Reagan doctrine
       • Including US military and financial measures to combat comm in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Grenada and Afghan
     • deployment of Cruise and Pershing II missiles in Europe
   • Criticism of the Triumphalist interpretation
     • oversimplifies a complex historical process and exaggerates the impact of R's hardline approach
     • 1982-1984 R's stance failed to extract concessions from Soviet leader Andropov- USA's confrontational approach merely prolonged Cold War by hardening Soviet approach
     • R's offer to share SDI tech with USSR contradicts the argument that the USA aimed to undermine USSR economically
     • Soviet scientists concluded that SDI was impractical - so it imposed limited pressure on USSR
     • Reagan and Bush's policy of engagement with G after 1985 produced much more significant results e.g INF treaty 1987 and 1991 START treaty
     • Underestimates G's new thinking, long-standing internal Soviet problems and growing discontent in Eastern Europe

2. Margaret Thatcher

   • Many triumphalists assert that Thatcher played an important, if secondary role, in bringing Cold War to an end
     • Thatcher supported R's anti-Soviet strategy of 'militarised counter-revolution'
       • She later claimed that this US policy was the reason the West won
   • Thatcher's support of Reagan's policies
     • T reinforced R's anti-comm rhetoric
       • e.g Oct 1982 she said that the Soviets' "pitiless ideology only survives because it is maintained by force"
         • From Nov 1983 - T permitted USA to deploy cruise missiles in UK - a key feature of R's plan to put pressure on USSR
           • T also acted as R's unofficial envoy by promoting US policy to other Western European govts
     • T also pursued some less confrontational policies - which contradicted her 'Cold War warrior' image
       • e.g 1984 - invited G to London for talks before he came to power
         • Established good working relationship with G - "this is a man I can do business with"
           • Then urged R to start dialogue with G
             • Thatcher later endorsed perestroika and acted as an effective diplomatic link between G and Presidents Reagan and Bush

3. Pope John Paul II

   • The Polish Pope - made a significant contribution to ending the Cold War
     • By inspiring Catholics in Eastern Europe and providing moral support for Polish trade union Solidarity
       • Visits to Poland in 1979, 1983 and 1987 were very popular
         • 12 million Poles saw pope on 1979 tour
           • Visits clearly indicated that Catholicism - rather than Communism - had public loyalty
       • Pope rejected the Polish regime's claim that the Catholic Church had no social role
       • Jan 1981 - Walesa - Solidarity leader and devout Catholic - was blessed by the Pope in Rome
         • Clear indicator of Pope throwing his weight behind solidarity
       • Pope's speeches - e.g 'Do not be afraid' 1979 - encouraged anti-communists and made the Polish people more self-confident
   • Despite his apparent importance - The Pope's influence had limits
     • Catholicism had huge support in Poland and Baltic States - but in Eastern Europe it had less impact
       • Had to compete with Protestantism - Orthodox Church - Secularism