“We could only solve our problems by cooperating with other countries … We needed to put an end to the Iron Curtain, to change the nature of international relations … and particularly to end the arms race. ” (Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev). Gorbachev was the former president of the Soviet Union and a former war leader. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for his abilities to end the Cold War between the United States and Russia. Gorbachev made peace with the United States during the war, which eventually caused it to come to an end.
Even though Gorbachev was a former war leader, he was also a very charitable man who founded his own organization. He founded Green Cross International, an organization that converts military bases to civilian use; The organization also remedies the effects of nuclear contamination, especially on children (PBS). Gorbachev is a peacemaker due to his bravery towards ending a war between two rival superpowers, which is a major accomplishment and a step towards peace between most rival countries. Gorbachev won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 because of his efforts in ending the Cold War.
Gorbachev made an agreement with former President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, which was to dismantle the US and USSR range missiles in Europe. He also removed Soviet troops from Afghanistan; and, with respect to Cuba and Vietnam, he told them to remove their forces in Angola and Kampuchea (History. com). Through these actions, the Cold War had ended without any bloodshed or violence. Gorbachev sought a pause of tensions with the US to transfer funds from defense to civil society. He declared that he would not support Communism in other countries if the citizens were opposed to it.
The end in communism in Russia started a chain reaction that eventually led to the fall of communism in Europe (Nobel Prize). Because of what he had accomplished, Communism begins to die down in countries Gorbachev made peace with America, which caused America and the Soviet Union to to be at peace with one another. At the time, America and the Soviet Union were enemies, and America did not trust the Soviets. Reagan labeled the Soviet Union as “The Evil Empire,” but Gorbachev was able to persuade him and America that they mean America no harm and that they want to both be at peace with one another (PBS).
For the Soviet Union and the United States to be allies is a major step forward to peace being made in the world. Gorbachev and Reagan worked together to end the war, and during that period of time, a real friendship had kindled between them. The end of the Cold War was beneficial to both the United States and Russia, but the Soviets had an extremely tough time dealing with the aftermath. Gorbachev’s economic reforms began to fail and some Soviets demanded independence by using the word glasnost, which translates to openness from Russian (PBS).
Since Gorbachev was able to make peace with one of his many enemies at the time adds to the list of how he was an impactful individual. Because of his efforts in ending the Cold War, Gorbachev became the USSR’s first President in 1990. He initiated a process in change of the Soviet Union, known as perestroika, which translates to reformation from Russian (Green). This was a mandatory process of democratization and the plan made reforms to keep the economy on track and to make more market economies. After Gorbachev’s term in the office, he developed an organization to help with the aftermath of war.
The organization is Green Cross international; it is an international independent environmental organization with activities in more than 30 countries (Green). He might have created this organization because of of his sympathies towards the souls lost after the Cold War. Gorbachev advocated environmental support in the dangers of burning fossil fuels, development of nuclear technology and to cure the effects of nuclear contamination. His organization brought up peace in the world without resorting to violence, which caused him to be a peacemaker. Currently, it is not entirely known whether Gorbachev is alive or dead.
Rumors have spread about how he died and in many ways, but no individual has any evidence to prove whether he had perished or not. Without Gorbachev. America and Russia would most likely remain enemies and we would despise one another. Gorbachev sought peace in a world that is at war against one another and accomplished his goal by staying kind and respectful to America. His organizations that he created paved the way for a more peaceful lifestyle, even though it only helped a few number of people. Nevertheless, Gorbachev is a peacemaker because of how brave and respectful he was towards the United States during a major crisis.