As a result of the United States’ aspiration for independence and its desire to depart from European values and ideals, the Monroe doctrine came into existence in 1823. The policy of isolationism advocated by the doctrine, would create a diplomatic barrage between the United States and Europe which would last well into World War I. The isolationist policy enacted by the United States for over a century was then supplanted by the Truman doctrine in the aftermath of World War II, during a time when the Soviet military and political threat was becoming a reality. Now that the United States’ security interests were at stake, it was neither plausible, nor possible, to passively linger on. Containment through economic aid and direct military involvement in countries threatened by communist take-over was the result, and presaged the advent of the Cold War. The threat of nuclear war escalated, reaching its climax with the Cuban missile crisis. A few decades later, the Soviet Union’s nuclear capabilities succeeded that of the United States’, SALT II was a failure, and the domino effect assured the collapse of democracies around the world. Thus was the situation when Ronald Reagan assumed power in 1981. Immediately, though, the newly-initiated president took a much harder approach to communism. He was incredulous of containment policy[1], reluctant to negotiate treaties with the Soviet leaders on the basis of distrust, and, as opposed to former presidents, regarded the Cold War as winnable. This brought about the space programme SDI. His anti-Soviet rhetoric reflected his innate desire to depart from detente, and embark on a much sterner course. In the first few years of his presidency, military spending reached levels not seen since the Korean War, American-Soviet relations were cold indeed, and the prospects of arms limitations seemed dim. Reagan’s clearest departure from 1970’s policy was to be found in what some observers dubbed the Reagan doctrine. The Reagan doctrine was premised on the assumption that direct military, economic and political pressure against communist governments, would strain the Soviet Union’s military and economic system to a point where they could not compete.

The questions remain, however: what were Reagan’s initial policies towards the Soviet Union, how did he seek to realize these intentions, and what were the successes and failures that followed in their wake. To answer these, investigation must be made into the nature of his political character, with particular focus on speeches and comments made during his presidency. Furthermore, inquiry will be made into the most important aspects of Ronald Reagan’s policy toward the Soviet Union: arms control , SDI, and the Reagan doctrine. Together, they give a representative picture of his foreign policy, and the means by which to answer the above questions.

There shall remain no doubt, though: when Reagan left office in 1989, the world was in a state of transition. The break-up of the Soviet Republic would soon become a reality, the United States would be the only superpower in the world, and the threat of nuclear war would be greatly reduced. The whole extent of Ronald Reagan’s role in implementing these matters is, of course, not possible to discern entirely. However, broad consensus does accredit Ronald Reagan with a substantial role.