Gorbachev – Reagan Geneva Summit, November 1985

Documentary Study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12797/AdAmericam.25.2024.25.04

Keywords:

summit, SDI, arms race, disarmament, ABM

Abstract

This article is a review of the negotiations between the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, and the General Secretary of the CPSU, Mikhail Gorbachev, during their summit meeting on 19‑21 November 1985 in Geneva. The text is based on the thesis about the importance of direct contacts between the leaders of superpowers for developing fundamental changes in their security policy. It answers the research question about how negotiation tactics lead to defining differences and areas of understanding that significantly influenced the entire policies of the U.S. and the USSR. The available materials from the American perspective provide insight into the formation of the United States’ position and its efforts to understand Soviet policy. During the Geneva summit, the discussions lasted for hours. These negotiations confirmed the willingness of both sides to increase nuclear security but also highlighted irreconcilable differences of opinion. The most significant difference concerned the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) and its place in the security system. Although this issue could not be resolved, progress was made on several matters related to the direction of START and INF talks. The results of this summit provided a solid foundation for further discussions and mutual visits, leading to meetings in Reykjavik, Washington, and Moscow.

Author Biography

  • Andrzej Mania, Jagiellonian University, Poland

    Born August 21, 1949. Professor of humanities since 1993. Historian, political scientist specializing in contemporary international relations and world diplomacy, especially American diplomacy. Author of 10 books and numerous articles. He was a fellow of many foundations such as among others: The Norwegian Nobel Institute, The Kosciuszko Foundation, Kennan Institute at Wilson Center. He conducted research in many American Presidential Libraries, Library of Congress, the National Archives of the US and in many universities. He was supervisor of 36 Ph.D. and hundreds of M.A. Prof. Mania retired from the Jagiellonian University on October 1, 2020. He was employed in 1975-2020 at the Institute of Political Science and International Relations of the Jagiellonian University. He is founder of American studies at the Jagiellonian University and from 1993 to 2017 was head of the Department of American Studies at the Jagiellonian University. He was a Dean of the Faculty of International and Political Studies from 2000 to 2002. He was member of the Polish Accreditation Committee from 2000 to 2006, and at least from 2008 to 2016 he was Vice-Rector of the Jagiellonian University for Educational Affairs. He is member of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences and member of the Political Science Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

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Published

2024-12-30

Issue

Vol. 25 (2024): Focus on the Kosciuszko Foundation

Section

Focus on the Kosciuszko Foundation

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How to Cite

“Gorbachev – Reagan Geneva Summit, November 1985: Documentary Study”. Ad Americam, vol. 25, Dec. 2024, pp. 41-63, https://doi.org/10.12797/AdAmericam.25.2024.25.04.