How did the Cold War move from detente to its end between 1970 and 1991?
The end of the Cold War: detente and the SALT and Helsinki agreements, the renewed tension of the Second Cold War after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, Gorbachev's new thinking, and the collapse of the Soviet bloc by 1991.
A focused answer to Key Topic 3 of Edexcel's Superpower relations period study, covering detente and the SALT and Helsinki agreements, the Second Cold War after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, Gorbachev's new thinking, and the collapse of the Soviet bloc by 1991.
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What this dot point is asking
This is Key Topic 3: how the Cold War moved from the relative calm of detente in the 1970s, through the renewed tension of the Second Cold War after Afghanistan, to its end in 1991. You need the agreements (SALT, Helsinki, INF), the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979), Gorbachev's new thinking, and the collapse of the Soviet bloc. The exam rewards explaining consequences and the 16-mark essay on why the Cold War ended.
Detente in the 1970s
The Second Cold War and Afghanistan
Gorbachev's new thinking
The collapse of the Soviet bloc
Try this
Q1. What were glasnost and perestroika? [Knowledge recall]
- Cue. Glasnost was openness (more free speech and information); perestroika was restructuring the Soviet economy. Both were part of Gorbachev's new thinking.
Q2. Explain why the Soviet bloc collapsed between 1989 and 1991. [Short explanation]
- Cue. Gorbachev abandoned the Brezhnev Doctrine and would no longer use force, so the satellite states reformed and their communist governments fell in 1989, the Berlin Wall opened, and the weakened USSR itself broke apart in 1991.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of Pearson Edexcel exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Edexcel 20198 marksExplain two consequences of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979).Show worked answer →
The Paper 2 period study "Explain two consequences" question (8 marks). Reward two developed consequences.
Consequence one. It ended detente and began the Second Cold War. The USA saw the invasion as aggressive expansion, so President Carter withdrew SALT II from approval, imposed a grain embargo and led a boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Consequence two. It led to a US arms build-up under Reagan. Tension rose sharply, with Reagan calling the USSR an "evil empire" and launching the Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars), forcing the USSR into an arms race it could not afford.
Top band. Two consequences, each explained with detail and clearly flowing from the invasion.
Edexcel 20218 marksExplain two consequences of Gorbachev's new thinking for the Cold War.Show worked answer →
The Paper 2 period study "Explain two consequences" question (8 marks). Reward two developed consequences.
Consequence one. It led to arms-reduction agreements. Gorbachev's willingness to negotiate produced the INF Treaty (1987), which removed a whole class of nuclear missiles, sharply easing tension.
Consequence two. It allowed Eastern Europe to break free. By abandoning the Brezhnev Doctrine, Gorbachev let the satellite states reform, so in 1989 communist governments fell and the Berlin Wall came down, ending Soviet control.
Top band. Two consequences, each explained with detail and clearly resulting from new thinking.
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Sources & how we know this
- Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) History (1HI0) specification — Pearson Edexcel (2016)