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==Breakup of the Soviet Union and American Victory==

==Breakup of the Soviet Union and American Victory==

The Western democracies, under the leadership of the United States under President [[Ronald Reagan]] won the Cold War. An important element of this victory  was Reagan's decision to commit to increased military spending, such as the  "[[Strategic Defense Initiative|Star Wars]]" program.  Reagan's decisions to intervene in Afghanistan while pursuing an arms race exacerbated structural weaknesses in the Soviet economy and pushed the USSR into an early decline.

The Western democracies, under the leadership of the United States under President [[Ronald Reagan]] won the Cold War with a policy that rejected detente and containment and instead relied on [[Rollback]]. An important element of this victory  was Reagan's decision to commit to increased military spending, such as the  "[[Strategic Defense Initiative|Star Wars]]" program.  Reagan's decisions to intervene in Afghanistan while pursuing an arms race exacerbated structural weaknesses in the Soviet economy and pushed the USSR into an early decline.

In 1985, [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] become General Secretary of the Communist Party.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/11/newsid_2538000/2538327.stm Gorbachev Becomes Soviet Leader], ''BBC'', 11 March, 1985.</ref>  Recognizing the systemic problems faced by Soviet society, he attempted the twin reform programs of [[Glasnost]] (openness) and [[Perestroika]] (restructuring).  Combined with the disaster at Chernobyl and losses in the war in Afghanistan, the effects of Gorbachev's reforms quickly spun out of control.  Glasnost allowed media attention to focus on problems which had long been buried by the state's propaganda regime, causing widespread dissatisfaction among Soviet citizens.  In 1989, a wave of constituent republics began to seek autonomy from the Soviet Union.  Most attempts at succession (with the exception of Lithuania) were met with no Soviet resistance.

In 1985, [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] become General Secretary of the Communist Party.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/11/newsid_2538000/2538327.stm Gorbachev Becomes Soviet Leader], ''BBC'', 11 March, 1985.</ref>  Recognizing the systemic problems faced by Soviet society, he attempted the twin reform programs of [[Glasnost]] (openness) and [[Perestroika]] (restructuring).  Combined with the disaster at Chernobyl and losses in the war in Afghanistan, the effects of Gorbachev's reforms quickly spun out of control.  Glasnost allowed media attention to focus on problems which had long been buried by the state's propaganda regime, causing widespread dissatisfaction among Soviet citizens.  In 1989, a wave of constituent republics began to seek autonomy from the Soviet Union.  Most attempts at succession (with the exception of Lithuania) were met with no Soviet resistance.

A failed coup attempting to halt the USSR's decline brought [[Boris Yeltsin]] to power.  Yeltsin oversaw further economic reforms, though he was heavily criticized for his reliance on "shock therapy", which caused severe economic disruption to ordinary Russians while allowing oligarchs to gain control of state industries.

A failed coup attempting to halt the USSR's decline brought [[Boris Yeltsin]] to power.  Yeltsin oversaw further economic reforms, though he was heavily criticized for his reliance on "shock therapy", which caused severe economic disruption to ordinary Russians while allowing oligarchs to gain control of state industries.

The '''[[Cold War]]''' is well documented by political scientists and historians. Following are selected major scholarly books and articles in English, and some major memoirs.  

The '''[[Cold War]]''' is well documented by political scientists and historians. Following are selected major scholarly books and articles in English, and some major memoirs.

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==