The Great Partnership: How George Shultz Helped Ronald Reagan Win The Cold War
Feb 21, 2025
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Condoleezza Rice, former US Secretary of State, Natan Sharansky, a human rights activist and ex-Soviet dissident, and Abraham Sofaer, a legal advisor in Shultz’s State Department, dissect the Cold War dynamics shaped by George Shultz. They discuss Shultz’s pivotal role in integrating human rights into U.S. foreign policy and his strategic partnership with Reagan. Sharansky shares personal tales of advocacy and liberation, while Rice and Sofaer reflect on diplomatic balancing acts and the importance of historical awareness in today’s international climate.
George Shultz's integration of human rights into U.S. foreign policy profoundly influenced diplomatic negotiations during the Cold War, reshaping America's global image.
The Helsinki Accords, supported by Shultz, inadvertently empowered Soviet dissidents, showcasing the unexpected impact of diplomatic agreements on societal resistance.
Deep dives
The Legacy of George Shultz
George Shultz, who passed away at 100, had a remarkable career that intertwined academic accomplishments and significant government positions. He served as Secretary of State under President Reagan, where he implemented a four-part agenda focusing on human rights, arms control, regional issues, and bilateral relations. His role was crucial during the Cold War, where he advocated for human rights as a central tenet of U.S. foreign policy, pushing against authoritarian regimes. His dedication to promoting individual freedoms even influenced internal discussions within the U.S. administration, demonstrating that diplomacy could coexist with military strength.
The Helsinki Accords and Human Rights
The Helsinki Accords, signed in 1975, are often viewed as a pivotal moment in the global discourse on human rights, establishing a platform for individuals under communist rule to advocate for their freedoms. Shultz supported these accords, believing they could create a framework for dialogue about human rights while recognizing borders drawn after the Second World War. Notably, the accords inadvertently empowered dissidents within the USSR to challenge the regime, as evidenced by the establishment of monitoring groups advocating for civil liberties. The discussion emphasizes how the Soviets miscalculated the implications of signing the accords, unintentionally fostering a spirit of resistance among their citizens.
Human Rights as a Diplomatic Priority
Shultz believed in prioritizing human rights within diplomatic engagements historically overshadowed by military and economic concerns. His approach suggested that emphasizing human rights could enhance America's credibility on the global stage, even reflecting the moral standards of American society. Condoleezza Rice highlighted Shultz's firm stance on individual cases of oppression, reinforcing that these discussions about human rights were more than mere leverage points in negotiations, but were intrinsically linked to American values. This perspective shifted the narrative of U.S. diplomacy, suggesting effective foreign policy could be deeply connected to one's ethical stance.
The Role of Leaders in Shaping History
The conversation underscores the critical role leaders like Reagan and Shultz played in catalyzing change during the Cold War, highlighting their strategies in addressing the ideological showdown with the Soviet Union. While modern analyses sometimes diminish their contributions, it is essential to recognize that the environment shaped by their policies created the conditions for change in Soviet leadership. Gorbachev's eventual reforms and the dissolution of the Soviet Union were not merely coincidences but were influenced by the pressure exerted over the years by the United States. The interplay between leadership, policy direction, and historical outcomes is crucial for understanding the dynamics of international relations.
This panel discussion on the legacy of George Shultz, former US secretary of state and Hoover Institution senior fellow, features the Hoover Institution’s director, Condoleezza Rice; Israeli politician and human rights activist Natan Sharansky; and Abraham Sofaer, the former legal advisor to the State Department under George Shultz and the George P. Shultz Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy and National Security Affairs at the Hoover Institution. Together, they reflect on Shultz’s contributions to US foreign policy, human rights, and the end of the Cold War.
The discussion explores Shultz’s deep commitment to human rights, particularly in supporting Soviet refuseniks and advancing the cause of freedom in the USSR. The panelists recount how Shultz worked alongside President Ronald Reagan to integrate human rights into diplomatic negotiations, leverage the Helsinki Accords, and challenge the Soviet Union’s authoritarian system.
Sharansky, a former Soviet dissident imprisoned for 12 years for his activism, shares personal experiences of Shultz’s support for Soviet Jews and recounts the political maneuvering that contributed to his own release. Rice and Sofaer discuss Shultz’s diplomatic philosophy, his strategic role in Reagan’s administration, and his ability to bridge the gap between hardline anti-communism and pragmatic diplomacy.
The conversation also touches on the role of ideas in shaping policy and whether current generations fully grasp the stakes of international conflict in the way Cold War leaders like Shultz and Reagan did. The panelists debate modern revisionist views on the end of the Cold War with a strong defense of Reagan and Shultz’s deliberate strategy to weaken the Soviet Union.
Ultimately, the discussion serves as both a tribute to the life and times of George Shultz and a reflection on leadership, diplomacy, and the enduring battle of ideas in world affairs.
Recorded on February 12, 2025.
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