The End of the Cold War and Beyond.

The end of the Cold War ended in a serious of surprising events. By the early 1990’s, President George H.W. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev had cordial conversations about foreign policy. Bush had experience in foreign policy as being an ambassador before he was President. In August of 1991, many Communists wanted to promote a coup to get rid of Gorbachev from power. They viewed Gorbachev as too moderate. Millions of Russians, led by the capitalist Boris Yeltsin, defended Gorbachev and stopped the coup from taking place. Soon, the Communist Party lost power. The Soviet Union separated into 15 independent republics. By the end of 1991, the Soviet flag came down and the Russian flag came up. It was the end of the Soviet Union and the birth of the Russian republic. Boris Yeltsin became the new leader of the Russian Federation. Russia was the largest nation of the now created independent republics. Yeltsin's neoliberal capitalist policies caused Russia to have economic problems during the 1990's. Gorbachev’s policy of glasnost inspired many European people to rebel against Soviet control. The policy of perestroika challenged communist rule in the Soviet Union too. The Cold War never ended by one person alone. It ended by many factors. Reagan and Gorbachev contributed to the end of the Cold War. Yet, ultimately the economic and political problems found in the Soviet Union caused the Soviet Union to collapse. The Soviet Union ended from within. To many Americans, this was a miracle. Many Americans lived their whole lives in the Cold War and now, America was the sole superpower on Earth. George H. W. Bush signed agreements with Gorbachev and then with Boris Yeltsin. Both sides agreed to eliminate certain nuclear weapons, and Bush plus Yeltsin issued a joint statement in 1992 to pledge friendship including cooperation. The Cold War ended, but world problems never ceased to exist. Global problems after the Cold War became more regional and more complexities about international affairs persisted.

For a long time, people have advocated a new world order. Mikhail Gorbachev promoted the new world order concept via his December 7, 1988 speech to the United Nations General Assembly. We do know many people want global government like the late Walter Cronkite. For the record, I don't believe in the creation of a global government. The new world order in general is about the expansion of globalization and governance in an international framework. On September 11, 1990, President George H. W. Bush gave his famous “Toward a New World Order” speech to a joint session of Congress. This speech was never ambiguous. It was overt in what he wanted. Bush’s new world order vision wanted: to promote U.S. strength, cooperation among the Gorbachev plus Americans, the First World controlling the affairs of the Third Word, Soviet integration into world economies, and a bipolar powerbase of America and the United Nations (America acting as a global policeman and the United Nations being a global judge and jury). His speech was very much a blueprint of neoliberalism (George H. W. Bush graduated from Yale, was a Skulls and Bones member, he was part of the Navy during World War II, and he was the Director of the CIA. So, he was a member of the establishment). It was basically George H. W. Bush’s view that the United States of America must act as the unipolar force in the world as a superpower. The era of the end of the Cold War and post-Cold War era presented new challenges in the world stage too. In Latin America, many nations embraced democracy. Costa Rican leader Oscar Arias accepted a peace plan. There was the end of the civil war in El Salvador. Chile had the military dictator Augusto Pinochet giving up power. Bush allowed the capture and arrested of many drug traffickers like Eduardo Martinez Romero (he was part of the Columbian drug trade). George H. W. Bush supported the War on Drugs, and we know how the War on Drugs was executed in such a reactionary way that it harmed communities nationwide in America, especially the black community. By the Spring of 1989, there were Chinese students staging pro-democracy protests at Tiananmen Square in the heart of Beijing. The students wanted to end the government in China to be replaced. On June 1, 1989, Chinese tanks came into Beijing. These tanks killed hundreds of protesters, ended the demonstration, and imprisoned many pro-democracy activists. 

George H. W. Bush condemned the action and ended arms sales in China. Yet, he didn’t want harsher penalties against China. He wanted more economic and diplomatic ties instead of cutting off China completely. During this era, the end of apartheid in South Africa started to end. The South African government was controlled by racist whites who enacted a brutal apartheid system that exploited, harmed, and murdered black South Africans. Apartheid is a form of rigid segregation. The anti-apartheid movement was global by the 1980’s, and protests against apartheid grew worldwide. Many protesters divested money from South Africa. Some Western firms did the same. Congress imposed economic sanctions against South Africa instead of full divestment. Nelson Mandela (one major leader of the apartheid movement) was released from jail in 1990. He was in jail since 1962. President George H. W. Bush met with Nelson Mandela after he left jail. Bush endorsed bringing democracy in South Africa. It is also important to acknowledge many Brothers and Sisters who helped to defeat apartheid like Steve Biko and other human beings. Apartheid was soon gone by the early 1990’s and Nelson Mandela was the first black South African President in 1994 after free elections. After the Cold War ended, Yugoslavia split apart into civil war (based on land, religion, and resources). Bush didn’t want to send troops there since he believed that it could be another Vietnam. He promoted a peace plan in Bosnia in 1992. New republics were carved out of Yugoslavia after more than 150,000 civilians died. George H. W. Bush also intervened in Somalia. He wanted to use humanitarianism as part of Operation Restore Hope. American Marines came into Somalia on December of 1992. They helped to form a cease fire among rival warlords and deliver foods to thousands of starving people. This mission reinforced UN efforts at peacekeeping. Many Somalians received relief. This act was praised by many quarters. As the early 1990’s existed, President George H. W. Bush would experience a series of events that caused his Presidency to end and create a new Presidency for a moderate from the state of Arkansas.

The music of the 1980’s was some of the most diverse, creative, and exciting displays of music not only in the 20th century but in the history of world. Every genre of music during the 1980’s was in top form from hip hop to gospel. Artists expressed themselves and new artists reached into new heights of popularity. The major themes of 1980’s music were the growth of dance music, new wave, pop music, and the quiet storm. Music and fashion combined as many musicians wanted to have the best music possible and display the most eclectic fashion possible at the same time. Rock music grew in diversity and harmonics plus synthesizers were commonplace. Eurodance, house, techno, electric were invented. Hip hop and R&B also exploded in popularity. Hip hop’s golden age originated in the 1980’s. Pop music became more international with artists like Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, etc. Michael Jackson’s Thriller album was the bestselling album in history. Whitney Houston was one of the most successful artists not only in the 1980’s but of all time. Whitney Houston had a one in a lifetime voice. This decade wasn’t without controversy. Back in the day, MTV refused to show music videos from black artists because they wanted a rock only policy and because of racist reasons. It took protests and criticism for MTV to allow videos from Michael Jackson, Donna Summer, and other black musicians to show their music videos on that network. Donna Summer’s song She Works Hard for the Money was an anthem. Madonna had songs like Like a Virgin and Like a Prayer.

Whitney Houston’s debut album of “Whitney” took everyone’s breath away with her amazing talent. Back in the 1980's, Whitney Houston toured the world and inspired future generation of artists. Phyllis Linda Hyman (July 6, 1949 – June 30, 1995) was a singer with an amazing voice too, and she was conscious to promote the freedom of black people. Paula Abdul hit it big in 1988 with the album Forever Your Girl. Janet Jackson, Tina Turner, Lionel Richie, and Diana Ross, and other artists expanded their legacies into new heights. Another teen pop wave of music grown by the early to late 1980’s with artists like New Edition, Stacey Q, Debbie Gibson, the Bangles, George Michael, Boy George, New Kids on the Block, Expose, Laura Branigan, etc. Prince was full of energy during this decade too. Chaka Khan won awards during the 1980’s. Classic songs came from Melissa Morgan, Sinead O’Connor, and Bruce Springsteen expanded boundaries with their songs. Another British explosion of artists came on the scene during the 1980’s like David Bowie, Phil Collins, John Lennon, Billy Ocean, Paul McCartney, and Sheena Easten. Groups like Culture Club, Duran Durban, Wham!, The Human League, the Police, etc. were popular. From the Pointer Sisters, Kool and the Gang, Kenny Rogers, and John Mellencamp, the diversity of 1980’s music was incredible. Rock music split into many genres from soft rock, hard rock, glam metal, etc. Alternative rock grew because of independent record labels and artists finding their own way. Groups like REM, etc. spread independent rock. U2 is a rock group from Ireland that still sell music since the 1980's and their messages resonate to this day. Independent artists like Tracy Chapman exposed the evils of poverty and discrimination going on in everyday life. Rhythm and blues music had artists like Jermaine Jackson, James Ingram, the S.O.S. Band, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Jeffery Osborne, Evelyn King, Marvin Gaye, the Jets, DeBarge, Midnight Star, Stephanie Mills, Jody Watley, and I can go down the list. The quiet storm genre included people like Anita Baker, Teddy Pendergrass, Peabo Bryson, Sade, and other people. By the late 1980’s, Teddy Riley invented new jack swing that merge hip hop and R&B influences together. This was in embraced by Bobby Brown, Keith Sweat, MC Hammer, Guy, etc.  Hip Hop branched out by the 1980’s. Whodini, Sugarhill Gang, Doug E. Fresh, Biz Markie, the Furious Five, Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel came about to show rhymes that moved the crowds. Turntables, graffiti, and rhyming flourished. Melle Mel and Duke Boote’s “The Message” was social conscious and it was hardcore. By the mid to late 1980’s, hip hop had more conscious content, more adult language, and a more complex lyricism with artists like Big Daddy Kane, MC Lyte, EPMD, Salt N Pepa, Ice T, Schooly D, Slick Rick, NWA, and other artists. Dance music and country music dominated the charts too. From heavy metal to pop, the music of the 1980’s had a smorgasbord of talent. Back then, you had to have talent to get into the door.

The culture of the 1980’s was diverse too. TV shows became more about the lives of ordinary people not just the rich. Steve Jobs and Bill Gates expanded the computer industry by hard work and collaborations. 1981 was the year when the IBM personal computer was released. The 1980’s had a high volume of consumerism and unfortunately materialism. More people relied on credit cards to buy items. Back in the day, very few people relied on credit cards for buying everything. Since the 1980’s, people use credit cards to buy items constantly. Atari, Nintendo, and Genesis flourished during the 1980’s. Worldwide, technological advances existed while income inequality grew. This time saw many nations embrace neoliberalism or laissez faire capitalism. Many multinational corporations (that deals with the manufacturing industry) relocated to Thailand, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, China, and other places. Gene therapy was invented. Studio films dominated the 1980’s like Ordinary People (1980),  Chariots of Fire (1981), Gandhi (1982), Terms of Endearment (1983), Amadeus (1984), Out of Africa (1985), Platoon (1986), The Last Emperor (1987), Rain Man (1988), and Driving Miss Daisy (1989). One of the most well known films was the Color Purple which starred Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, and Oprah Winfrey. It was released in 1985 and described life among African Americans in the Deep South. It showed taboos of early 20th century America on the issues of: domestic violence, incest, pedophilia, poverty, racism, and sexism. Celie is transformed as she finds her self-worth through the help of two strong female companions. It was directed by Steven Spielberg. ET, Return of the Jedi, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Batman, Rain Man, Top Gun, and Beverly Hills Cops sold tons of money. Teenager movies were common. Many films propelled the careers of modern celebrities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Margaret Avery, Debbie Allen, Eddie Murphy, Mel Gibson, Sylvester Stallone and Chuck Norris to international recognition. On the other side of the globe, Hong Kong action cinema was being revolutionized by a new wave of inventive filmmakers that includes Jackie Chan, Tsui Hark, and John Woo. Involving television, BET was born in the 1980’s. It was the first network whose shows were geared to black people. It continues to this day. MTV expanded music videos as well. The 1980’s in many cases carried over many shows from the 1970’s like the Jeffersons, and Happy Days. Also, new shows were born like Matlock, 227, Murder She Wrote, the Cosby Show, Designing Women, Roseanne, Full House, Family Matters, The Simpsons, Amen, Head of the Class, Quantum Leap, etc. The 1980’s saw a transformation of television too. The 1980’s brought cable television into the forefront of viewership.

Shows like HBO and Showtime including ESPN brought in tons of new viewers. Satellite services allowed people in rural areas to have access to cable television. The 1980's also saw the debut of prime-time soap operas such as Dallas, its spin-off Knots Landing, Dynasty, Falcon Crest, EastEnders and Neighbours. Phil Donahue, Geraldo, Johnny Carson, Arsenio Hall, and David Letterman had their own talk shows. The Oprah Winfrey Show started in the 1980’s and she expanded hear wealth into a billion dollar empire (with the OWN Network, etc.). In terms of sports, Americans won many games in the 1984 Olympics. Also, the 1980’s saw Michael Jordan in the NBA to make records and amaze crowds. He came into the NBA by 1984 and the NBA would never be the same again. Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, dr. J, Larry Bird, and other athletes won championships during the 1980’s. Michael Jordan contributed to an increase of the popularity of basketball in the United States and worldwide. On November 26, 1986, Mike Tyson became the youngest boxing Heavyweight Champion in history at age 20. In the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers became the dynasty of the decade, winning four Super Bowls under the leadership of Joe Montana; the Chicago Bears won Super Bowl XX in January 1986, in which the team has been widely remembered for their defense; the Washington football team also enjoyed success throughout the decade, winning two of their three Super Bowls under the leadership of head coach Joe Gibbs. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird became the two most popular NBA players during the decade while even facing against each other in three NBA Finals(1984, 1985, and 1987) continuing the storied Celtics-Lakers rivalry. Flo Jo won Olympic medals too in the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and Seoul respectively. There were the perm, the mullet, the Jheri curl, the hi-top fade, and big hair in the 1980’s. The 1980’s saw shoulder pads, jean jackets, leather pants, etc. The Rubik’s cube has been defined as a 1980’s cultural icon. The 1980’s was the decade of my birth as I was born in 1983. I remember the 1980’s as a child in elementary school, and it’s a decade with a lot of dynamic power and creative energy.


By Timothy