America's Foreign Policy Practice Exam 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Revisionists, who often critiqued the dominant narratives of the Cold War, typically viewed the end of the Cold War through a skeptical lens, arguing that it represented a failure on the part of the superpowers, particularly the United States. They believed that the extensive resources devoted to military build-up and interventionist policies were ultimately squandered, leading to a missed opportunity for a more peaceful and diplomatic resolution of conflicts.

This perspective posits that rather than celebrating the end of an ideological battle as a victory, one should scrutinize the costs incurred during this prolonged confrontation, both in economic terms and in terms of human lives and societal impacts. Revisionists often emphasized that the drive for dominance may have resulted in negative consequences that overshadowed the supposed successes of American foreign policy.

The other options present various interpretations that may have some validity but do not align with the revisionist perspective which critically examines the efficacy of military and diplomatic strategies in light of the resources expended. For instance, attributing the end of the Cold War solely to military superiority undermines the complexity of international relations and discounting the role of public sentiment oversimplifies the human factors at play.