America's Foreign Policy Practice Ecam

Revisionist theories highlight the importance of Gorbachev's willingness to negotiate and his openness to reform as pivotal factors in the peaceful end of the Cold War. Gorbachev introduced policies like Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring), which were aimed at revitalizing the Soviet economy and society but also led to an easing of tensions with the West. These reforms permitted a more open dialogue not only between the U.S. and the Soviet Union but also among Eastern European countries. Gorbachev's approach diminished the ideological confrontation of the era and facilitated negotiations that ultimately contributed to the de-escalation of the Cold War without military confrontation.

The other options do not accurately reflect the core elements of revisionist theories. A shift towards isolationism by the U.S. would not align with the extensive diplomatic engagements of the era. The effectiveness of American military interventions is more aligned with a more traditional perspective of foreign policy that emphasizes strength and resolve rather than diplomacy. Lastly, while the collapse of democratic states in Eastern Europe is a significant historical event, revisionist theories focus more on Gorbachev’s initiatives than the internal struggles within Eastern European nations.