SUMMARY
This study is informed by the need to raise the consciousness on the issues of Arms race between the United State and the Soviet Union and to show how it influences Inter-continental Ballistic Missile in the international politics. To understand the origin, nature and manifestations of Arms race between the United State and the Soviet Union.
To achieve the basic objective of this research, the study was divided into five functionally related chapters. To start with, in chapter one a broad introduction to the study with references to background to arms race was undertook. Following that, the purpose of the study was started, viz to dispel the growing negative perception of inter-continental Ballistic Missile as incapable of administering themselves in organized setup to provide security in the world. The methodology of study was clearly stated to include written materials. The scope of study was noted to be from 1945,after which relevant literature relating to the work were thoroughly reviewed.1
In chapter two, attempt was made to explain the historical background of the cold war politics in the international system. The chapter three dealt on the nature and manifestations of arm race between the US and the USSR during the cold war era, this chapter provides comprehensive details on US and the USSR struggle for world dominance. In chapter four, the insight was given into the rich
overview of the impact of power politics between the United State and the Soviet Union led to various proxy wars in Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa and other continent in the world.
Indeed, the history of the arm races between US and the USSR impact in
international relations is an interesting study. Here summary has proceeded. In the
subsequent paragraphs of this chapter five, conclusion will be treated.
The relations between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1922-1991) succeeded the Russian Empire-United States relations (1776-1917) and predate the post-Soviet Russia-United States relations (1992-present. Full diplomatic relations between the two countries were established late due to mutual hostility. During World War II, the two countries were briefly allies. At the end of the war, the first signs of post-war mistrust and hostility began to appear between the two countries, escalating into the Cold War; a period of tense hostile relations, with periods of détente.
The end of World War II saw the resurfacing of previous divisions between the two nations. The expansion of Soviet influence into Eastern Europe following Germany’s defeat worried the liberal democracies of the west, particularly the United States, which had established virtual economic and political primacy in Western Europe. The two nations promoted two opposing economic and political ideologies and the two nations competed for international influence along these lines. This protracted a geopolitical, ideological, and
economic struggle-lasting from about 1947 to the period leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union on December 26, 1991 is known as the Cold War.
The Soviet Union detonated its first Nuclear weapon in 1949, ending the United States’ monopoly on nuclear weapons. The United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a conventional and nuclear arms race that persisted until the collapse of the Soviet Union. Andrei Gromyko was Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR, and is the longest-serving foreign minister in the world.
After Germany’s defeat, the United States sought to help its Western European allies economically with the Marshall Plan. The United States extended the Marshall Plan to the Soviet Union, but under such terms, the Americans knew the Soviets would never accept, namely the acceptance of free elections, not characteristic of Stalinist communism. With its growing influence on Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union sought to counter this with the Comecon in 1949, which essentially did the same thing, though was more an economic cooperation agreement instead of a clear plan to rebuild. The United States and its Western European allies sought to strengthen their bonds and spite the Soviet Union. They accomplished this most notably through the formation of NATO which was basically a military agreement. The Soviet Union countered with the Warsaw Pact, which had similar results with the Eastern Bloc.
In December 1989, both the leaders of the United States and the Soviet
Union declared the Cold War over, and in 1991, the two were partners in the Gulf
War against longtime Soviet ally Iraq. On 31 July 1991, the treaty cutting the
number of deployed nuclear warheads of both countries was signed by Mikhail
Gorbachev and U.S. President George H. W. Bush. However, many consider the
Cold War to have truly ended in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
