Background

This is a tough one.

But, let us get into Geopolitics a bit.

Definition

Wikipedia

Link

What does “Peace Dividend” Mean?

Origin

Mikhail Gorbachev

Link

Born 1931, Mikhail Gorbachev served as the last president of the Soviet Union.

Gorbachev served as the eighth and final leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to the country’s dissolution in 1991.

Foreign Policy

In May 1985, Gorbachev gave a speech to the country’s Foreign Ministry.

In the speech, Gorbachev said he will try to radically restructure his country’s foreign policy.

Afghanistan

In May 1985, Soviet Union had been involved in a war with Afghanistan.

The Soviet Army suffered heavy causalities.

Both the Soviet public and the army did not support the war.

Mikhail Gorbachev prioritized an orderly end of the war.

Nuclear War

Mikhail Gorbachev was very dispirited about the prospect of a nuclear war between the super powers, United States and Soviet Union.

The nuclear buildup was very expensive.

Funding for the military held a large percentile of the soviet union budget.

Impetus

Soviet Union impetus for reaching agreements with the United States and Europe was to:-

1. Deescalate tension
2. Redirect funding to other areas other than the military
3. Constrain the need for foreign proxy wars

Outcome

Here are some of the outcome:-

1. Countries
   • Germany
     • Unification of Germany
       • The wall between West and East Germany came down
     • Industrialization
       • Germany became an industrial powerhouse
   • Poland
     • Westernization of Poland
   • United Kingdom
     • Brexit
       • Britain exiting the European Union
       • Hope to principally focus within its own borders
   • United States
     • Refocusing of national resources in the United States
   • Russia
     • Restructuring and Reforming of its political and economic system
       • Decentralized Planning
       • Internally known as Perestroika

New Temperature

Like anything, let us take a near term measurement.

1. World
   • The world at large as benefited from a cooling of the cold-war
2. Regionally
   • Unfortunately peace has not come to all regions and nations
     • Middle East
       • Wars
         • Since the attack on the homeland on 9-11-2000, the Middle East has faced the brunt of wars
         • Inclusive
           • Afghanistan
           • Iran
           • Iraq
           • Libya
           • Syria
           • Yemen
       • Social Unrest
         • Arab Spring
           • Timeline:- 17 December 2010 – December 2012
         • Countries
           • Tunisia
           • Algeria
           • Jordan
           • Oman
           • Saudi Arabia
           • Egypt
           • Syria
           • Yemen
           • Djibouti
           • Sudan
           • Palestinian National Authority
           • Iraq
           • Bahrain
           • Libya
           • Kuwait
           • Morocco
           • Mauritania
           • Lebanon
           • Borders of Israel

What lies ahead

If war, especially within European borders, become normalized, it will be proof that we have past the point of full realization of the gains of the Peace Dividend.

Judging that the term “Peace Dividend” was coined around 1990, it makes a bit of sense as these things usually play out for 30 or so years.

And, one has to either recommit or walk away.

Dedication

Mikhail Gorbachev

I will dedicate this post to one Mikhail Gorbachev.

Mikhail Gorbachev lived between 2 March 1931 – 30 August 2022.

May God bless his peacemakers.

Scripture

1. Psalm 122:6 – Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem ( Link )
   • ⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you prosper.
     ⁷ May there be peace within your walls, and prosperity inside your fortresses.”
     ⁸ For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.”
     ⁹ For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity

Referenced Work

1. Wikipedia
   • Mikhail Gorbachev
     Link
   • Arab Spring
     Link