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Explain two of the following: - The importance of the formation of the Warsaw Pact (1955) for Superpower relations - Edexcel - GCSE History - Question 3 - 2023 - Paper 4
Question 3
Explain two of the following: - The importance of the formation of the Warsaw Pact (1955) for Superpower relations. - The importance of Soviet relations with Cuba f... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Explain two of the following: - The importance of the formation of the Warsaw Pact (1955) for Superpower relations - Edexcel - GCSE History - Question 3 - 2023 - Paper 4
Step 1
The importance of the formation of the Warsaw Pact (1955) for Superpower relations.
Answer
The formation of the Warsaw Pact in 1955 was pivotal in shaping Superpower relations during the Cold War. This military alliance, consisting of eight Eastern Bloc countries led by the USSR, emerged as a direct response to the establishment of NATO, emphasizing the growing divide between East and West.
Initially, the Warsaw Pact served as a mechanism to counter NATO, reinforcing collective security among communist states. The pact not only increased military collaboration but also led to the significant deployment of Soviet troops across Eastern Europe. This action heightened the level of fear between the two superpowers, as both sides equipped themselves with nuclear capabilities in response to perceived threats.
Moreover, the pact resulted in a rapid militarisation of Eastern Europe, contributing to an arms race that would define international relations for decades. Events like the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, where the USSR intervened after Hungary attempted to withdraw from the pact, illustrated the tense dynamics and the lengths to which the USSR would go to maintain control over its sphere of influence.
Step 2
The importance of the USA’s Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI) for US-Soviet relations.
Answer
The announcement of the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI) by President Reagan in 1983 marked a significant turning point in US-Soviet relations. Designed to develop a missile defense system aimed at protecting the United States from nuclear missile attacks, SDI was perceived by the USSR as an aggressive move to gain a strategic advantage in the arms race.
The SDI was intended to utilize ground-based and space-based systems to intercept ballistic missiles, thereby limiting the effectiveness of the Soviet nuclear arsenal. This initiative exacerbated tensions, as it suggested that the US sought to undermine the principle of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), which had previously acted as a deterrent to nuclear conflict.
Additionally, the SDI exacerbated the economic strain on the Soviet economy, forcing the USSR to allocate substantial resources to counter the perceived threat. Ultimately, the SDI contributed to the realignment of global military strategies and played a role in the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union, as it highlighted the technological and financial disparities between the superpowers.