Gorbachev's Strategic Thinking & Philosophy
- Sean Fitzpatrick
- Oct 14, 2019
- 2 min read
Mikhael Gorbachev is one of the most the impactful and revolutionary strategic thinkers of the past century. While serving as General Secretary of the Communist Party and as President of the Soviet Union Gorbachev was responsible for managing and guiding the Soviet Union through the most important global crises since the second world war. Gorbachev’s profound strategic thinking led to peaceful resolutions to the world’s largest conflicts of his time.
Gorbachev’s core philosophies that underlined his strategic actions were to encourage openness and unity in the Soviet Union and the world as a whole. While in positions of power Gorbachev took actions to revolutionize the Soviet union’s economy and political system by being a major leader in the Perestroika political movement that adopted elements from more open economies.
Gorbachev was a strong proponent for the unification of Germany; however, he foresaw that actions to force this unity would only lead to greater conflict between the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the Federal Republic. Instead he made the strategic decision to encourage this unity through a democratic vote.
Europe experienced more than once the attempts at unification by force. But it also experienced lofty dreams of a voluntary democratic community of European peoples (Gorbachev, 1989)
Gorbachev was also a pivotal actor in ending the Cold War. Gorbachev built a close relationship with the US president Ronald Reagan which led to the successful negotiations between the two major world powers. Gorbachev understood the existential risk that was created by accelerating nuclear proliferation. In 1987 Gorbachev signed a nuclear disarmament treaty which resulted in the Soviets and the US removing weapons from East and West Germany.
No doubt, joint Soviet-US efforts in the area of nuclear disarmament played a major starting role in the process. (Gorbachev, 1989)
Many of Gorbachev strategic ideas and actions are still relevant in today’s global environment. The arising issues that we face today are similar to those that Gorbachev faced. European state relationships are being weakened with the UK leaving the EU this month and anti-EU political parties gaining power in many other EU countries. US Russian nuclear disarmament agreements are also eroding, risking another cold war. Recently president Trump stated plans to withdraw from a nuclear disarmament treaty with Russia due to claims that Russia was in violation.
Today’s world leaders should look to how Gorbachev strategically managed similar crises for guidance on how to resolve these recent events.
Interesting read Sean. November 9th marked thirty years since the Cold War ended and there may have been an expected decrease in nuclear arsenals since the INF treaty and US-Russia cooperation. However, as you mentioned, tensions persist between the US and Russia. Perhaps a strategic thinker like Gorbachev would find a way to coordinate with the US and abandon the nuclear arms race.
Very well written. A stark realisation that the good work done by Gorbachev regarding nuclear disarmament is being threatened by increasing political tensions of today.