It was Gorbachev who first proposed nuclear arms reductions ...?

Question

much to the Reagan administration's surprise. It was Gorbachev who allowed the Soviet Union to break up (and YES, he could have held it together with an iron fist). It was Gorbachev who opened up the USSR politically and intellectually ...

and it was ultimately Gorbachev who paid the political price for his actions.

And NO, there is absolutely zero evidence of an American plan, secret or otherwise, to bankrupt the USSR. Remember, well into Gorbachev's tenure, the CIA was still badly over-estimating the USSR's economic health.

Why does Mikhail Gorbachev get no credit for ending the Cold War when he clearly did more than Reagan?

Answer 1

if it was up to reagan will still be in a cold war

Answer 2

The real credit goes to George Keenan who designed the containment strategy in the 1940's. With the exception of Vietnam, it worked to perfection. There existed an idea in U.S. policy since the late 40's that the USSR would eventually implode. That policy was more or less adhered to for the rest of the cold war. Gorby definitely wanted the cold war to end.....with the USSR victorious. Reduction of Nuke's was a no brainer for the Soviets. At the time they had the biggest Army on earth, nukes were the only reason they never invaded Western Europe. With the Nukes out of the way....last one to the English channel is a rotten egg.

Answer 3

He does get credit, all the time. Undeservedly in some peoples opinion. Gorbachev didn't intend to cause the collapse of the USSR. The collapse was inevitable because of the economic state of the country. Gorbachev merely precipitated it through misjudgment and ineptitude