Andrzej Mania

Gorbachev – Reagan Geneva Summit, November 1985

Introduction

Gorbachev – reagan geneva summit, november 1985. Explore the 1985 Gorbachev-Reagan Geneva Summit. Analyze superpower negotiations, security policy, SDI differences, and progress on nuclear arms talks, shaping future US-USSR relations.

Abstract

This article is a review of the negotiations between the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, and the General Secretary of the CPSU, Mikhail Gorbachev, during their summit meeting on 19‑21 November 1985 in Geneva. The text is based on the thesis about the importance of direct contacts between the leaders of superpowers for developing fundamental changes in their security policy. It answers the research question about how negotiation tactics lead to defining differences and areas of understanding that significantly influenced the entire policies of the U.S. and the USSR. The available materials from the American perspective provide insight into the formation of the United States’ position and its efforts to understand Soviet policy. During the Geneva summit, the discussions lasted for hours. These negotiations confirmed the willingness of both sides to increase nuclear security but also highlighted irreconcilable differences of opinion. The most significant difference concerned the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) and its place in the security system. Although this issue could not be resolved, progress was made on several matters related to the direction of START and INF talks. The results of this summit provided a solid foundation for further discussions and mutual visits, leading to meetings in Reykjavik, Washington, and Moscow.

Review

This article undertakes a timely and relevant examination of the seminal November 1985 Geneva Summit between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. The abstract clearly articulates the central thesis: the paramount importance of direct leadership contact in driving fundamental shifts in superpower security policy. By framing its inquiry around the research question of how negotiation tactics shaped areas of understanding and divergence, the article promises to deliver valuable insights into a pivotal moment in Cold War diplomacy. This focus on the granular dynamics of high-level dialogue offers a compelling lens through which to understand the complex interplay of personalities, national interests, and strategic objectives during this critical period of de-escalation. The methodology, as outlined, appears robust in its stated aim. The reliance on "available materials from the American perspective" offers a promising avenue for understanding the formation of the United States' position and its efforts to interpret Soviet policy, providing a detailed, albeit specific, viewpoint. The abstract highlights the article's intention to delve into the extensive discussions that characterized the summit, confirming the mutual willingness for enhanced nuclear security while also exposing significant, irreconcilable differences, particularly regarding the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). Crucially, the text notes the progress made on START and INF talks, laying a foundational groundwork for subsequent crucial meetings in Reykjavik, Washington, and Moscow. This analytical approach, dissecting both consensus and contention, is a clear strength. While the focus on the American perspective offers deep insight into one side of the negotiating table, future extensions or comparative analyses might benefit from incorporating parallel Soviet archival materials or perspectives where possible, to provide an even more comprehensive and balanced understanding of the bilateral dynamic. Nevertheless, the article's commitment to dissecting the impact of negotiation tactics on the broader policies of both the U.S. and the USSR is highly commendable. It promises to be a significant contribution to the scholarship on Cold War history, international relations, and the art of high-stakes diplomacy, effectively demonstrating how the Geneva Summit, despite its immediate impasses, served as an indispensable precursor to the eventual thawing of East-West relations.

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