Ronald Reagan's Speech At The Brandenburg Gate Analysis

Ronald Reagan’s speech at the Brandenburg Gate was delivered during a transformative time for both Soviet leadership and the American approach to foreign relations. Reagan’s initial presidential stance advocated for a firm, forceful presence meant to deter Soviet advances and aggression against American freedom. Weapons upsurge and military expenditure rose drastically during Reagan’s early years, in efforts to protect Americans in the event of a nuclear altercation with the Soviets. However, the nature of such an altercation was exposed to result in toxic, hostile environments unsuitable for all life and every nation. In addition to this discovered conclusion on nuclear conflict, the Soviets welcomed a novel leader, Gorbachev, into office in 1985. Gorbachev’s policies were innovative and centered on openness (glasnost), restructuring of the Soviet Union, and restoration of U.S. relations.
Given the new foreign atmosphere and awareness of the expense of nuclear fallout, Reagan took a previously uncharacteristic diplomatic attitude toward the Soviets, proclaiming an invitation for Gorbachev to enter peace talks and a reciprocal pursuit of nuclear disarmament. His speech continued to align against communism and its threat to freedom; however, he altered his level of opposition to accommodate for the possibility of peace between nations and minimize the risk of mutually assured destruction, perhaps recognizing this as a greater threat to American safety. Reagan acknowledged the Soviets evolving state as he spoke on the importance of freedom, noting: “Now the Soviets themselves may at last, in their own way, be coming to understand the importance of freedom. We hear much from Moscow about a new policy of reform and openness. Some political prisoners have been released. Some foreign news broadcasts are no longer being jammed. Some economic enterprises have been permitted to operate with greater autonomy.” Therefore, throughout his speech, Reagan demonstrated a belief that standing firm on the values of freedom while maintaining openness to mutual weapons reduction (by the pursuit of alternative methods of protection), would prove successful in establishing security and peace between nations. “For we believe that freedom and security go together – that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace”. Nonetheless, Reagan’s speech resonated with traces of suspicion about Gorbachev’s intentions in the Soviet restructuring and he probed “are they token gestures, intended to strengthen the Soviet system without changing it? We welcome real change and real openness”. In this regard, Reagan challenges Gorbachev to demonstrate his sincerity toward peace and freedom through the disassembly of the Berlin Wall. To Reagan, these actions would symbolize the Soviet’s true openness, and be an evident showcasing that freedom would be valued and respected by the Soviets. Prior to Reagan’s directive to Gorbachev, he referred to a statement by President von Weizsäcker affirming that “as long as this scar of a wall is permitted to stand, it is not the German question alone that remains open, but the question …show more content…
As each nation sought to protect itself in a world already exposed to nuclear powers and development, this marked a thoroughfare to balancing deterrence and defensive faculties in the management of armaments. Through his message, the reduction of the proliferation of arms was crucial. It was proposed that countries could retain the assurance of security through alternative methods, and peace could be established through diplomatic understanding of fundamental