Cold war ends in 1991

In the previous article we discuss about origins of cold war after World war 2. The Cold War refers to the period of geopolitical tension and rivalry between the United States and its allies, representing the Western bloc, and the Soviet Union and its allies, representing the Eastern bloc. After World war 2 power was shifted toward the new two superpowers of US and USSR.

The Cold War was distinct from traditional wars as it was characterized by indirect confrontations, ideological rivalry, proxy wars, a nuclear arms race, and a global struggle for dominance, rather than direct military engagements between the two superpowers. Pivotal events included the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Space Race, and the escalating arms race. At its core, the conflict centered on the United States promoting democracy and capitalism, while the Soviet Union sought to expand communism. The Cold War ends in 1991 due to the dissolution of Soviet Union.

There were several factors that contributed to collapse of Soviet Union. Political unrest, economic strain and one of the major Soviet Afghan war.

Soviet invasion of Afghanistan

During the late 1970s, Afghanistan experienced dramatic political shifts that alarmed the United States over growing Soviet involvement in the region. Mohammad Daoud Khan, who came to power in 1973 by overthrowing the monarchy and declaring himself president, initially aimed to diversify Afghanistan’s foreign relations. While he sought to diminish reliance on the Soviet Union, he worked to strengthen ties with the United States and other countries, signaling a shift in the country’s. His regime, however, faced increasing pressure from leftist and communist factions, particularly the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), which had strong connections to the Soviet Union.

In 1978, Mohammad Daoud Khan’s efforts to curb the power of the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) and limit Soviet influence ended abruptly when the PDPA, with support from the Soviet Union, staged the Saur Revolution. This coup led to Daoud’s assassination and the establishment of a communist regime. The new government implemented sweeping reforms, such as land redistribution and secularization, which sparked widespread resentment among Afghan tribal and religious leaders, deepening societal divisions.

The Soviet-backed reforms soon provoked fierce opposition from Islamic groups, who saw them as a threat to their traditions and values. Declaring a jihad, or holy war, these groups sought to remove the communist leadership under Taraki and Amin and replace it with a government rooted in Islamic principles. Seizing the opportunity to counter Soviet influence, the United States began supporting the mujahideen in 1979, providing them with financial and military aid to undermine the communist regime.

After the coup, the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) was plagued by internal divisions, split between the Khalq faction, led by Nur Mohammad Taraki and Hafizullah Amin, and the Parcham faction, led by Babrak Karmal. Power ultimately consolidated under Taraki as president and Amin as prime minister, who launched ambitious modernization initiatives. While the Soviet Union backed their government, it urged caution, warning against rushing reforms in the deeply traditional Afghan society. In September 1979, Amin orchestrated a coup against Taraki, seizing power and eliminating his predecessor. Amin’s unpredictable leadership and brutal purges of political rivals alarmed Moscow, as the growing instability threatened Soviet interests in the region.

On December 24, 1979, Soviet troops entered Afghanistan, marking the start of a full-scale intervention. Three days later, during “Operation Storm-333,” Soviet special forces stormed the presidential palace in Kabul, killing Hafizullah Amin and installing Babrak Karmal as the new leader—a figure they deemed more dependable. The invasion spurred the United States to intensify efforts to counter Soviet influence. Through the CIA’s Operation Cyclone, the U.S. began covertly supporting the Mujahideen, Afghan fighters resisting Soviet control, in collaboration with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). This assistance included weapons, training, and funding, which peaked under the Reagan administration, with U.S. contributions to the Mujahideen reaching $400 million annually at their height.

The conflict between Soviet forces and the mujahideen rebels lasted for a decade, with the technologically superior Red Army unable to secure victory over the insurgents. This prolonged struggle led many Americans to draw parallels with the Vietnam War. Partially due to the heavy losses and lack of progress, the war became progressively unpopular in the Soviet Union. When Mikhail Gorbachev became the Soviet leader in 1985, he put forth a plan to reform Soviet society, a plan with which the war in Afghanistan was incongruous.

In 1988, after several years of negotiations, the Geneva Accords were signed between Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Soviet Union, and the United States, under the mediation of the United Nations. The agreement outlined the terms for the withdrawal of Soviet troops, non-intervention by external powers, and the repatriation of Afghan refugees. The Soviet withdrawal, which had been gradually phased, was completed on February 15, 1989. The last Soviet troops, led by General Boris Gromov, crossed the Amu Darya River back into Soviet territory.

Afghanistan’s instability persisted even after the Soviet forces departed. The communist regime under Najibullah endured for three more years, propped up by substantial Soviet military and economic support. However, the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 severed this lifeline, leaving the government vulnerable. By 1992, Mujahideen forces overthrew Najibullah’s administration, but their victory quickly devolved into a violent power struggle among competing factions, plunging the country into a devastating civil war.

Fall of Soviet Union

In 1985, it seemed the Soviet Union would last forever. The Communist Party maintained absolute control over political power, dominating every aspect of governance. It managed the nation’s economic resources through a vast state-run bureaucracy. An expansive security network, supported by widespread surveillance and forced labor camps, enforced its authority. Additionally, it commanded the world’s largest military force, further consolidating its grip on the country.

In elections of 1985 in Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev came into power. He inherited a stagnant economy. Economic growth had slowed, industrial production was inefficient, and there were widespread shortages of consumer goods. The economy was heavily dependent on oil exports, which suffered due to falling global oil prices. He introduced two major reforms aimed to relaxing censorship, decentralizing the economy, and democratizing the political system. In the spring of 1989, he even permitted contested elections for seats in the Soviet parliament.

In 1984, Gorbachev reflected on a conversation with Eduard Shevardnadze, who would later serve as his foreign minister. They acknowledged the growing disillusionment among the population, recognizing that the promises of prosperity and equality under communism had turned into hollow rhetoric. Gorbachev believed that only sweeping reforms could restore faith in the system. Together, they formulated a straightforward strategy: perestroika (restructuring), glasnost (transparency), and democratization, aiming to revitalize both the economy and the people’s trust in the government.

Economic restructuring aimed to boost productivity and foster innovation by encouraging individual initiative. Greater openness, achieved by easing censorship, sought to expose and combat bureaucratic corruption. Democratization was intended to engage citizens in the political process, addressing widespread apathy and distrust. While Gorbachev and his reformist allies envisioned these changes as a way to rejuvenate the Soviet system, their idealistic approach inadvertently led to its collapse.

As people grew more vocal in their criticisms and nationalist movements gained strength, the central authority of the Communist Party weakened.Political reforms, like multi-candidate elections, reduced the party’s monopoly on power, further eroding the government’s control over the country.

On December 25, Gorbachev resigned as leader of the USSR. The Soviet Union ceased to exist on December 31, 1991.

Conclusion

Due to the fall of Soviet Union Cold war ends in 1991. In 1989 the Berlin Wall fell, and the Cold War between East and West was brought to a halt. In 1990, the Nobel Committee gave President Gorbachev the main credit for this by awarding him the Peace Prize. Soviet Union collapsed into several new States today’s Russian Federation is largest one of them. In this article we discuss how Cold war ends in 1991, In the previous article we discuss how cold war started.