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原題目題號：DSE-2019-Essay-05
評估在導致冷戰結束一事上戈爾巴喬夫的自由化政策相對於其他因素的重要性。
戈巴卓夫的自由化政策指的是自1985年戈巴卓夫在蘇聯上台後，其在政治、經濟以至對東歐方面採取的一連串自由政策，全面放寬蘇聯的控制，採取中央放權的政策。此政策帶來了舉足輕重的影響，不但導致了蘇聯瓦解，更促使了冷戰結束。因此，冷戰的結束在大程度上是因戈巴卓夫的自由化政策所致。
政治方面，戈巴卓夫的自由化政策大大有助冷戰的結束。戈巴卓夫實行自由化的政治政策，嘗試將民主、自由等新思維引入蘇聯，並於1990年修改憲法，結束一黨專政。此外，其釋放大量政治犯，亦限制克格勃對異見份子的打壓。戈巴卓夫的自由化政策一方面令西方國家對專制的蘇聯改觀，有助緩和冷戰的局面。更甚，由於戈巴卓夫的自由化政策帶來了反效果，激起了傳統派的不滿，更發動「八一九事變」(1991年)，解除其職務。雖然政變以失敗告終，但卻大大增強蘇俄與加盟共和國的分離勢力，戈巴卓夫知道難以再維持蘇聯統治，故提出解散蘇聯共產黨的要求，令各共和國紛紛宣布獨立，蘇聯終致於1991年解體。隨著冷戰一方的首領蘇聯解體，美、蘇對立的局面也不復存在，冷戰也宣告落幕。可見，戈巴卓夫的自由化政策導致了蘇聯解體，令冷戰隨之而結束。
經濟方面，戈巴卓夫的自由化政策使蘇聯經濟崩潰，埋下冷戰結束的伏線。戈巴卓夫在經濟上採取改革重建的自由化政策，對國內企業放寬了控制，例如於1987年實行《國營企業法》，取消了國家的指令式計劃指標，允許國營企業自主決定產量和允許其自負盈虧。此外，又於1988年實行《合營法》，允許有私營成分的企業出現，擺脫了過往只有國營模式的存在。然而，戈巴卓夫的自由化政策反使蘇聯經濟陷入衰退。在自由化政策下，許多國營企業錄得虧損，甚至倒閉。同時，取消了指令示的計劃指標後，傳統的供求關係瓦解，但以市場經濟為基礎的新供求關係尚未建立，結果許多日用品、消費品短缺，市民搶購成風，造成「麵包荒」、「肥皂荒」等混亂不斷，通貨膨脹也隨之出現，蘇聯的經濟也直線下跌，1991年國內生產總值較1990年下跌多達17%。蘇聯的經濟問題一方面埋下了蘇聯解體的伏線，同時也令蘇聯需要為降低軍費開支而改善與資本主義國家的關係，例如於1990年簽訂《歐洲常規裁軍條約》，使22個北約和華約的成員國共同達成裁軍的協定，結束冷戰的軍事對立局面，標誌著冷戰的結束。可見，戈巴卓夫的自由化經濟政策間接促使了冷戰的結束。
對東歐方面，戈巴卓夫的自由化政策對冷戰落幕也是意義重大。戈巴卓夫放棄跟隨「布里茲尼夫主義」，對東歐國家採取自由化政策，如減少於東歐地區的駐軍及經濟控制，更默許衛星國的「自由化運動」，如波蘭於1988年以選舉方式選出首個非共產黨人領導的政府。隨著東歐自由化運動的迅速擴散，東歐共產政權相繼倒台，使東歐獲得解放，連東德也於1990年重新與西德合併。更甚，戈巴卓夫更允許華沙公約組織的解散，使之於1991年瓦解。戈巴卓夫的自由化政策使東歐變天，對冷戰結束有著重大的意義，因東歐的解放象徵蘇聯放棄於軍事上與西方的對立，冷戰結束已成趨勢。此外，正正由於戈巴卓夫在1989年馬爾他會議中表示不會干預東歐的自由化運動，使美國對蘇聯的態度徹底改變，兩國領導人更於會中宣佈「冷戰丟進地中海」，結束冷戰。可見，戈巴卓夫的自由化政策使東西歐對立的局面瓦解，繼而使冷戰結束。
雖然有其他導致冷戰結束的原因，但重要性卻遠不及戈巴卓夫的自由化政策。
其一，西方的軍事策略也是冷戰結束的原因之一，但重要性不及戈巴卓夫的自由化政策。西方國家推行強硬的軍事發展策略，有助迫使蘇聯放棄競爭。因美國於1980年代初掀起了新一輪的軍備競賽，提出了「星戰計劃」(1983年)，與北約的成員國聯手研發太空攔截技術，希望藉此拖垮蘇聯的經濟，令其投放更多資金於太空爭奪的範疇，加深經濟問題。西方的軍事策略終使蘇聯承擔沉重的經濟壓力，於1980年代中後期開展了裁軍的談判，更於1988年撤回蘇聯駐阿富汗的軍隊。然而，戈巴卓夫的自由化政策更加重要。然而，戈巴卓夫的重要性大於西方強硬的軍事策略。就影響力而言，西方強硬的軍事策略往往導致惡性的軍備競賽，例如美國於1952年研發氫氣彈後，蘇聯也不惶多讓，於1953年研發出氫氣彈，結果使局面更趨緊張。相反，戈巴卓夫的自由化政策對於改善兩大陣營的關係起了積極的作用。其放寬對東歐的控制及促進蘇聯的自由政治發展，主動釋出好意，令西方對蘇聯的印象大改，最終美蘇領導人才能於1989年馬爾他會議中共同宣告冷戰結束。可見，戈巴卓夫的自由化較西方的軍事策略更為重要。
其二，東歐的不滿也是冷戰結束的原因之一，但重要性不及戈巴卓夫的自由化政策。由於蘇聯對東歐國家採取嚴厲的控制政策，使東歐人民過往失去言論、集會及出版等自由，如1968年捷克嘗試推行民主化改革時(「布拉格之春」)，隨即被蘇聯以軍隊及坦克鎮壓。因此，強硬的監控政策早已使東歐人民出現不滿，如1956年匈牙利爆發革命，希望脫離蘇聯統治。及至1980年代末，東歐各國更出現大規模的遊行、示威，如1988年波蘭的全國大罷工、羅馬尼亞的騷動等，最終使東歐共產政權相繼倒台，東歐國家對蘇聯也產生了極大的離心。結果，東歐的變天也下啟了蘇聯於1991年的瓦解，最終使冷戰結束。然而，戈巴卓夫的自由化政策更為重要。就影響力而言，東歐的不滿並不足以導致蘇聯的解體，因為在戈巴卓夫上台之前，東歐國家的全部示威、暴動均被蘇聯輕易鎮壓，包括1956年的匈牙利革命等。然而，戈巴卓夫上台後，對東歐採取自由化政策，如減少於東歐地區的駐軍及經濟控制，更默許衛星國的「自由化運動」，結果才使東歐共產政權相繼倒台。東歐的解放象徵蘇聯放棄於軍事上與西方的對立，冷戰結束已成趨勢。可見，戈巴卓夫的自由化政策導致了東歐變天，故更具重要性。
總括而言，戈巴卓夫的自由化政策對冷戰結束有著意義非凡的影響力，其重要性明顯較其他因素重要，在大程度上導致了冷戰結束。
Assess the significance of Gorbachev’s liberalisation policy relative to other factors which brought about the end of the Cold War.
Mikhail Gorbachev’s liberalization policy indicated a series of liberal policies in political, economic and Eastern Europe aspects adopted by Gorbachev after he rose to power in the USSR since 1985. This completely loosened Soviet control, and decentralization policy was also adopted. His liberalization policy brought decisive impact, which not only caused the collapse of the USSR, but also the end of the Cold War. Therefore, to a large extent, the end of the Cold War was due to Mikhail Gorbachev’s liberalization policy.
In political aspect, Gorbachev’s liberalization policy contributed to the end of the Cold War. Gorbachev implemented political liberalization policy. Democratic and liberal ideas were introduced to the USSR, and the constitution was revised in 1990, ending one-party dictatorship. Besides, he released a lot of political prisoners, and restricted the KGB克格勃 to suppress dissidents. Gorbachev’s liberalization policy changed the Western impression on the autocratic Soviet Union and helped relieve the tension of the Cold War. Moreover, the liberalization policy led by Gorbachev brought opposite effect, arousing discontent of conservatives. They launched the August Coup八一九事變(1991) to dismiss Gorbachev. Although it ended in failure, the coup increased the influence of separatism among the USSR and its republics加盟共和國. Gorbachev knew very well that it was impossible to sustain the Soviet rule, thus proposing the dissolution of the Communist Party. Many Soviet republics then declared independence; the USSR was officially dissolved in 1991. Because of the dissolution of the USSR, the leader of the communist bloc, the confrontation between the US and the USSR did not exist anymore, leading to the end of the Cold War. It showed that Gorbachev’s liberalization policy led to the dissolution of the USSR and ended the Cold War.
In economic aspect, Gorbachev’s liberalization policy led to the collapse of the Soviet economy, sowing seeds for the end of the Cold War. Gorbachev adopted Perestroika改革重建 (economic liberalization policy), loosening control on domestic enterprises. For instance, Law on State Enterprise國營企業法 was implemented in 1987, which cancelled the state-planned output targets for enterprises, and allowed them to determine output levels freely as well as become self-financing. Moreover, the Law on Cooperatives合營法 was implemented in 1988. It permitted private ownership of businesses, but not just allowing state ownership. Yet, Gorbachev’s liberalization policy led to the decline of the Soviet economy. Under the liberalization policy, many state enterprises operated at a loss, and some even closed down. In the meantime, after cancelling state-planned output targets, the conventional relationship between demand and supply in the USSR collapsed. Yet, new demand and supply system based on market economy had not been established. This led to the shortage of daily necessities and consumer goods, resulting in panic buying of people. There were shortage of bread and soap, bringing society in anxiety. Inflation occurred as well. The Soviet economy declined drastically, which the GDP dropped by 17% in 1991 comparing to that in 1990. The Soviet economic problems sowed seeds for the collapse of the USSR, and also helped improve the relationship with capitalist countries due to reduction in military costs. For instance, Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe歐洲常規裁軍條約 was signed in 1990, which implied that 22 member states from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)北約 and the Warsaw Pact華約 made agreement on disarmaments jointly. This ended the military confrontation in the Cold War, and marked its end. It showed Gorbachev’s economic liberalization policy indirectly facilitated the end of the Cold War.
In Eastern Europe aspect, Gorbachev’s liberalization policy also had decisive impact on the end of the Cold War. Gorbachev gave up the Brezhnev Doctrine布里茲尼夫主義. He adopted liberalization policy such as reducing station troops and economic control over Eastern Europe, and connived at the democratic movements自由化運動 of satellite states. For instance, Poland elected its first non-communist government in history by election in 1988. Along with the wide spread of liberalization movement in Eastern Europe, the communist governments of Eastern Europe collapsed one by one, and Eastern Europe was liberated. Even East Germany and West Germany were reunified into one country in 1990. Furthermore, Gorbachev even allowed the disbandment of the Warsaw Pact華沙公約組織, which marked its collapse in 1991. Gorbachev’s liberalization policy brought about democratic movements in Eastern Europe, which had great significance to the end of the Cold War. As the liberation of Eastern Europe symbolized that the USSR withdrew from military confrontation with the West, the end of the Cold War was expected soon. Moreover, since Gorbachev expressed that he would not intervene in the democratic movements in Eastern Europe in the Malta Summit 馬爾他會議in 1989, the US attitude towards the USSR was utterly changed. Leaders of the two countries even announced that “the Cold War will be dumped down to the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea”, marking the end of the Cold War. It showed that Gorbachev’s liberalization policy brought about the collapse of confrontation between Eastern and Western Europe, leading to the end of the Cold War.
Although there were other reasons leading to the end of the Cold War, their importance were far lower than that of Gorbachev’s liberalization policy.
Firstly, western military strategy also led to the end of the Cold War, yet its importance was lower than that of Gorbachev’s liberalization policy. The West adopted a tough military strategy that forced the USSR to abandon competition. The US started a new round of arms race in the early 1980s by introducing the Strategic Defense Initiative(SDI)星戰計劃(1983) in which NATO members cooperated in developing space interception technology. They hoped the USSR would invest a lot in space rivalry and intensify its economic problems, and eventually wreck the Soviet economy. As the military strategy of the West placed heavy economic burden on the USSR, it had to start negotiation on disarmament in the mid and late 1980s and even retreat its army stationed in Afghanistan阿富汗(1988). However, Gorbachev’s liberalization policy was more important than that. In terms of influence, the tough military strategy adopted by the West often led to vicious armaments race. For instance, when the US invented hydrogen bomb in 1952, the USSR followed suit and also invented it in 1953, leading to more tensed situation. In contrast, Gorbachev’s liberalization policy had positive effect on improving the relationships of the two blocs. His policy loosened control over Eastern Europe and facilitated liberal political development in the USSR. Gorbachev took the initiative to offer an olive branch to the West, which made the West change its impression towards the USSR. Ultimately, leaders of the US and the USSR mutually announced the end of the Cold War in Malta Summit 馬爾他會議 in 1989. It showed that Gorbachev’s liberalization policy was more important than western military strategy.
Secondly, the discontent of Eastern Europe was one of the reasons in leading to the end of the Cold War, but its importance was also lower than that of Gorbachev’s liberalization policy. As the USSR imposed strict control over Eastern European countries, people could not enjoy freedom of speech, assembly and the press. For example, when Czechoslovakia attempted to carry out democratic reforms (Prague Spring布拉格之春) (1968), they were suppressed by the army and tanks. Thus, the strict surveillance policy had already caused discontent of Eastern Europeans; for example, the Hungarian Revolution匈牙利革命(1956) broke out and they hoped to break away from the USSR. In the late 1980s, more large-scale protests and demonstrations took place in different Eastern European countries such as the general strike (1988) in Poland波蘭 and the disturbances in Romania羅馬尼亞, which led to the successive downfall of communist governments in Eastern Europe. Also, Eastern European countries inclined to separate from the USSR. As a result, the democratic movements in Eastern Europe marked the dissolution of the USSR in 1991 and the Cold War ended. Yet, Gorbachev’s liberalization policy was more important. In terms of influence, the discontent of Eastern Europe was limited to the dissolution of the USSR. Before the rise of Gorbachev, all the demonstrations and riots of Eastern European countries were suppressed easily by the USSR, including the Hungarian Revolution匈牙利革命(1956). However, after Gorbachev rose to power, he adopted liberalization policies such as reducing station troops and economic control over Eastern Europe, conniving at the democratic movements自由化運動 of satellite states. The communist governments of Eastern Europe collapsed one by one. As the liberation of Eastern Europe symbolized that the USSR withdrew from military confrontation with the West, the end of the Cold War was expected soon. It showed that the liberalization policy of Gorbachev was more important, which led to democratic movements in Eastern Europe.
All in all, Gorbachev’s liberalization policy had extraordinary impact on the end of the Cold War. Its importance was obvious higher than other factors. So, to a large extent, Gorbachev’s liberalization policy led to the end of the Cold War.
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