12 - Gorbachev Flashcards
When did Gorbachev come into power?
1985
What did Gorbachev want to do when he came into power?
- maintain position as a superpower
- recognise difficulties the country was facing
- modernise the party with his ‘new thinking’
Glasnost
- more openness
- less corruption
- people should be allowed to criticise the government
- political prisoners released
- banned books republished
Impact of glasnost
People became confident to criticise USSR = harder for Gorbachev to keep control
Perestroika
- state and economy reformed to contain some capitalist ideas
- aspects of the free markets introduced to accelerate economic development
Brezhnev Doctrine
- doctrine abandoned so satellite states no longer worried about invasion
- USSR would no longer intervene in the domestic affairs of other communist countries even if they conflicted with the USSR
Arms Race
- reduced spending on arms
- withdrew from Afghanistan
- made significant steps to bring further limitations to nuclear weapons at summitts
What were the four pieces of Gorbachev’s new thinking?
1 - Glasnost
2 - Perestroika
3 - Brezhnev Doctrine
4 - Arms Race
Where was the INF Treaty signed?
Washington Summit (1987)
What were the three Gorbachev - Reagan summits?
1 - Geneva (1985)
2 - Reykjavik (1986)
3 - Washington (1987)
What were the terms of the INF (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces) Treaty?
- both countries would start to disarm
- abolish land-based missiles with a range of 500-5,500 km
- both could check other was destroying nuclear weapons
Result of INF Treaty on international relations
- Gorbymania (gained popularity in the West)
- able to encourage trade deals with the West to help revive USSR economy
What was the Malta Summit and what is it viewed as doing?
- 1989
- Gorbachev and Bush promised to co-operate
- seen as end of the Cold War
Consequences of Gorbachev’s new thinking (4 points)
1 - ‘Glasnost and Perestroika’
2 - End of Brezhnev Doctrine
3 - INF Treaty - 1987/Washington Summit
4 - Fall of Berlin Wall
Impact of Glasnost and Perestroika on the Cold War and Eastern Europe
Cold War: Reagan sees Gorbachev as someone he can work with. Prepared to negotiate
Eastern Europe: Citizens prepared to criticise the government and expose corruption. Started to lose faith in communism. WEAKEN SOVIET CONTROL
Impact of the end of the Brezhnev Doctrine on the Cold War and Eastern Europe
Cold War: IMPROVE RELATIONS Reagan reassured that Gorbachev is serious about not spreading communism
Eastern Europe: WEAKEN SOVIET CONTROL satellite states no longer fear invasion so prepared to challenge communism –> riots + protests
Impact of the INF Treaty on the Cold War
IMPROVE RELATIONS reduces chances of war. Persuaded USA that USSR genuinely did not plan to invade them
Impact of the Fall of the Berlin Wall on Soviet control in Europe
REDUCES TENSIONS IN EUROPE symbolic of ending division in Europe and contributes to the re-unification of Germany
