Republicans greatest praise of Ronald Reagan is that he ended the Cold War.

[underpants]

10. I have read here and elsewhere that the increase in military spending extended the Cold War

it is commonly accepted in the diplomatic and economic world that Reagan's massive expansion in military spending had two results:
1. lined the pockets of his cronies
2. extended the Cold War for 10 years.

The old Red Army types beat the dreaded Nazis/Germans and they weren't about to lose to the Americans without a shot fired. They were fine in their situation so they forced the issue with Breshnev and others.

The Soviet system was doomed for failure by the 1950's and they knew it. When Stalin finally died there was much consideration to just phasing out of it. As an economic system, especially the way they had it set up, it was never going to work. The Red Army said "HELL NYET!!" and so it went on.