At the time when the relations between the US and the Soviet Union were rapidly changing, the speech that was delivered by Gorbachev at the United Nations shifted the process to an overdrive. Mikhail Gorbachev was the Soviet Secretary General who delivered an epic speech during the UN Assembly of 1988 announcing a new world order through a universal human consensus (Walker, 2012). The speech gives a summary of the recent structural changes that had been witnessed in the Soviet such as the military reduction of Eastern Europe and the freedom of the Soviet satellites. It is this speech that gave a new angle to the relationship between the USA and the Soviet.
Why did Gorbachev choose the United Nations as his forum for his speech?
The UN was the chosen forum for the speech by Gorbachev for very strategic reasons. The United Nations Assembly had very broad and world-wide attendance, hence the message that he had to deliver would be received by the many nations that were present at the assembly. Key diplomats, world leaders as well as important politicians from countries across the world would be present. The speech would serve as a painter to the world since it was delivered at the United Nations Assembly. He chose to defend and rebrand the Soviet Union’s reputation at this platform. The message was that the Soviet Union had since made drastic changes for the better and was ready to carry their weight in the quest for global peace. He hoped that improving the relationship with the US which as an ally of many countries would be an influencing factor for other countries to form relationships with the Soviet. All the world leaders would hear his voice. He was trying to leave a positive, lasting that would invoke the world leaders to believe that the Soviet was open and willing participants.
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What did Gorbachev mean by “de-ideologizing relations among the states? What implications did this have for superpower relations?
This question prompts a critical examination of the context of Gorbachev’s speech. At that point, there was a lot of political and social change in the world and Gorbachev quoted so in his speech as, “a new world order through universal human consensus.” He was aiming for international cooperation so as to bring about reforms in his country which he could not do because the state of the Cold War had made a lot of the country's resources to be relegated to military spending. In his speech, he quotes, "Freedom of choice is a universal principle to which there should be no exceptions. " He asserted the world existed and developed because of the ideologies that brought creativity which was necessary for development. Therefore each nation had its own unique amenities, traditions and beliefs which were preserved differently. To share the values of a people would be beneficial to other states bringing about a struggle of ideology.
By saying that, “the de-ideologization of interstate relations has become a new demand”, Gorbachev was showing the willingness of the Soviet to accept the political and social change that was being experienced in Eastern Europe. The divide in Europe had been along the ideological and political lines of the Cold War and thus this was a call for cooperation between the powers of the globe to be able to shape a new world order that would be brought about by consensus.
Why did he say that "force no longer can...be an instrument of foreign policy"? What implications did this have for the Soviet bloc?
Gorbachev came to the realization that force of war was an obstruction to the social development of the people in Soviet nations. Almost 20-30% of the GDP in Soviet nations was being committed to military spending so that the Soviet Union would have power in their hands. Under development and social variations became common in the USSR until it was clear that there would be turmoil if the focus was not shifted to development efforts in the USSR. Gorbachev begins his speech by saying that, "Force can no longer be used as a driver of foreign policy." The implication that Gorbachev intended to be received was that war was no longer an option the Soviet would consider and was no longer a way of operation for the Soviet. The reduction of the military machines along the Chinese border and in Eastern Europe showed the commitment of the Soviet to peace. With a reduction in military focus, there could be more attention and finances channelled towards the development of the Soviet bloc. Progress was achieved through the subordination of force.
What did he foresee as the future role of the superpowers in the world and the future relationship between them?
Gorbachev in his speech made a clarion call to all the superpowers of the world to, “put an end to an era of wars, confrontation and regional conflicts, aggression against nature, the terror of hunger and poverty as well as political terrorism”(Gorbachev, 1988). With these words, the Soviet Secretary General gave the superpowers a way in which to maintain a great relationship between them. He recognized that there were limits to power and the superpowers was not exempted from these limits. However, the unity of the superpowers would be far more influential and positive. Modern times would include the unity of superpowers that would bring together the interests of the people and the world as a community. This unity will allow for the sharing of problems and following of laws as a common house.
In conclusion, the speech that Gorbachev delivered in 1988 at the UN Assembly was impactful on the new world order and the end of the Cold War. The Soviet Secretary General played a lead role in the peace process that was initiated by the international community.
References
Gorbachev, M. (1988). Gorbachev’s Speech to the UN. December 7, 1988 . Retrieved from: https://astro.temple.edu/~rimmerma/gorbachev_speech_to_UN.htm
Walker, M. (2012, December 8). From the archive, 8 December 1988: Gorbachev puts paid to Europe's fears. The Guardian. Retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2012/dec/08/archive-1988-gorbachev-europe-fears
