Gorbachev's New Thinking

• Gorbachev wanted to reform how the USSR was governed, how it operated and how it cooperated with foreign countries. He introduced the policies of glasnost and perestroika in an attempt to improve relations with the West and improve the economy of the USSR
• Glasnost was a policy of ' openness and transparency ' which allowed more freedom of speech and criticism of the government
• Perestroika aimed to improve the economy and quality of life for the people of the USSR using capitalist practices
• Gorbachev also dropped the brezhnev doctrine, which allowed the USSR to attack any communist European country that stepped out of line
• Gorbachev withdrawn the Soviet troops from Afghanistan, as it was costly and unpopular
• The five summits from 1985-1989:

  • 1985 Geneva summit
  • 1986 Reykjavik summit
  • 1987 Washington summit
  • 1988 Moscow Summit
  • 1989 Malta summit
• In the Geneva summit, Gorbachev and Reagan met for the first time, however no formal agreement was made
• In the Reykjavik Summit, Gorbachev agreed to reduce nuclear weapons if the USA gave up the SDI program, however the USA could not give up the SDI so no agreement was made
• In the Washington Summit, Gorbachev accepted that the USA would not give up SDI, so the INF treaty was agreed, which banned all nuclear missiles with a range of 500 miles
• After the Moscow Summit, Gorbachev traveled to the USA and made a speech announcing that they would withdraw troops from Afghanistan
• In the Malta summit, Gorbachev met the new USA president, George Bush. No agreements were made but it was marked as the end of the cold war and the start of a peaceful era