Democracy must learn to defend itself.

Gorbachev was essentially creating his own political support base independent of CPSU conservatives and radical reformers. Later that year in September Gorbachev proposed that the Soviets and Americans both cut their nuclear arsenals in half. ) "in recognition of his political service and contribution to peace" from Trinity College Dublin Ireland.

Gorbachev's attempts at reform as well as summit conferences with United States President Ronald Reagan and his reorientation of Soviet strategic aims contributed to the end of the Cold War ended the political supremacy of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) and led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. He was awarded the Otto Hahn Peace Medal in 1989 the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 and the Harvey Prize in 1992 as well as Honorary Doctorates from University of Calgary in 1993Durham University in 1995Trinity College in 2002 and University of Münster in 2005 and Eureka College in 2009. This was Gorbachev's third attempt to establish a political party having started the Social Democratic Party of Russia in 2001 and the Union of Social Democrats in 2007.