You might do more reading on the subject.
The advent of rapid advances in computers in fact was a factor, but not in the simplistic way you are probably thinking of.
One of the key requirements of SDI was massive computer capacity - this was something the west had the ability to deliver, but not Russia. It was a natural built-in advantage - one which the administration didn't even need to be the primary source of funds for, since it was rapid advances were already happening in the private sector anyway. The spin offs to the military were a nice coincidental present. Of course there is some chicken and egg going on here, some advances were directly funded by the military, including DARPANET the forrunner to the Internet.
Telecommunications and media were very much a factor in the demise of the soviet union. Unlike China which had for all intents and purposes remained behind a wall for the entire first half of the 20th century, many Soviet states had lesser or greater communication and interaction with the west. You could find a Coke far easier in Moscow than in Peking.
Due to the juxtaposition of many Soviet states to others with more liberal ideas, the progress of thinking happened at a much quicker pace than would ever have been possible, at the time, in China.
The ease of flow of ideas was exponentially greater within the Warsaw pact countries, leading to internal support for men like Walesa and Havel. Czechoslovakia already had a history of fighting back against the Soviets - its no surprise that critical thinkers continued to find support among their countrymen there.
How presumptuous and arrogant to presume that the people of these countries, including Russia itself, had no role or only a tiny part in their change.
What do I know. I only speak a little Russian, more Czech, and still more Polish. I've got direct family ties in the region and have spent a goodly amount of time thinking about this over the years.
Read some assorted works from Rand alumni and others - you will find many that agree with me, even among conservative think-tank folks.
You clearly need to do more reading and stop believing everything which is handed to you as gospel. |
