To what extent was the arms race the most important reason for the end of the Cold War (1980–1991)?

The question requires that candidates consider the merits or otherwise of the suggestion that the arms race was the most important reason for the end of the Cold War between 1980 and 1991. Candidates may refer to the Second Cold War during the early 1980s that resulted when the US increased its defence spending and invested in researching technology for the Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI). This coincided with a weakening economy in the USSR, exacerbated by falling oil prices and the cost of the Soviet–Afghan War. When Gorbachev became General Secretary, he looked for ways to reduce defence costs. Arguably, this led to arms reduction treaties and the end of the Cold War. Candidates may challenge the argument by claiming that the political and economic consequences of Gorbachev’s reforms within the USSR or the collapse of the Eastern Bloc were of equal or greater importance than the arms race in ending the Cold War. Candidates’ opinions and conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates consider the merits or otherwise of the suggestion that the arms race was the most important reason for the end of the Cold War between 1980 and 1991. This was a popular question and better responses addressed it effectively with good, detailed knowledge of how the arms race impacted Cold War relations in the 1980s. Weaker responses veered towards the dissolution of the USSR mentioning the arms race only briefly and focusing, instead on Gorbachev's policies and events in the satellite states but neglected to link these factors to the end of the Cold War. In some responses, no reference was made to events during the timeframe stated in the question with candidates discussing only earlier events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis or détente with no links made to the end of the Cold War.