Conventional wisdom holds that communism collapsed
because America forced the Soviet Union into an
economically ruinous arms race. But the truth is that
the West won the Cold War less because it pointed
nuclear missiles at the Soviet people—and more because
it won their hearts and minds.
This article is just making up facts. Falling oil prices had more to do with the fall of the USSR than probably any other factor.
Falling oil prices made the giant on feet of clay fall. But how it got feet of clay in the first place?
First, it failed to be self-sufficient. USSR failed to make an independent economic ecosystem, it had to export oil and import numerous things it could not make inside (nor buy from other "communist" countries).
But second, communism failed to deliver the quality of life that first world boasted. Quality of life which of course included rock music, movies with violence and sex, and freedom of expression, but also good clothing, abundant tasty food and friendly service sector.
(I think that importance of Beatles is greatly exaggerated in the article, but I was born in 85 so I'm no expert on the exacts)
