| ID | 106270 |
| Title Proper | Fear, loathing, and cracks in Reagan's mirror images |
| Other Title Information | able archer 83 and an American first step toward rapprochement in the Cold War |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | DiCicco, Jonathan M |
| Publication | 2011. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Investigation into an often-overlooked Cold War episode reveals a tipping point in the Reagan administration's approach to the Soviet Union. In November 1983, NATO military exercise "Able Archer 83" reportedly touched off a crisis atmosphere among Soviet officials who feared a surprise nuclear attack. Intelligence reports about the war scare startled US President Ronald Reagan, altering his understanding of Soviet threat perceptions and prompting him to embrace his moderate advisers' recommendations that the administration take a more conciliatory approach toward the country Reagan had earlier labeled the "evil empire." By highlighting Soviet fears of the United States, intelligence stemming from Able Archer 83 cracked Reagan's mirror images and catalyzed a policy shift from hostile confrontation toward cautious cooperation. The case study identifies facilitating conditions for the shift and yields counterintuitive insights relating to international crises, perception and misperception, and the domestic politics of rivalry. |
| `In' analytical Note | Foreign Policy Analysis Vol. 7, No. 3; Jul 2011: p253-274 |
| Journal Source | Foreign Policy Analysis Vol. 7, No. 3; Jul 2011: p253-274 |
| Key Words | Loathing ; Mirror ; Able Archer ; Cold War ; Reagan |