(HISTORY) End of cold war

The End of the Cold War – Historical Actors and Historical Causation

Homework Assignment: Read the three articles on the end of the Cold War by Patterson, Gaddis, and Deudeny and Ikenberry. Then submit your answers to the questions below for homework.

James T. Patterson, “Superpower Decline and Hegemonic Survival”:

1. What is Patterson’s thesis?
2. According to Patterson, what three factors proved most important in leading to the end of the Cold War? Give an example for each factor.John Lewis Gaddis, “Hanging Tough Paid Off”:

1. What is Gaddis’ thesis?
2. According to Gaddis, how did President Reagan change the dynamic between the Soviet Union and the United States?Daniel Deudney & G. John Ikenberry, “Who Won the Cold War?:

1. What is D & I’s thesis?
2. What distinction do D&I make between President Reagan’s “hard” and “soft” policies toward the Soviet Union? Give two examples of each.
3. According to D&I, what role did ideology play in the collapse of the Soviet Union? Why did ideological legitimacy of the Soviet state collapse in the eyes of its own people?
4. Why do D&I insist that this part of the story as running contrary to Reagan Victory School?