1.5c What impact did the resurgence of nationalism have on the collapse of the USSR? Flashcards
Define liberal nationalism
The view that all countries should be self governing and independent of control of other nations
Define chauvinistic nationalism
The view that a specific nation has the right to rule or play a guiding role in the development of toher nations
Give 5 examples of government forced nationalism before 1985 (good luck)
- Campaign against the veiling of women 1927
- Minorities taught in Russian (Russification)
- Satellite states forced to take part in the Great Patriotic War
- Russians dominated the secret police
- Holodomor where the industrialisation of Russia was prioritised over Ukrainian lives
Give 3 examples of nationalism from Russia which benefited the Satellite States before 1985
- From 1953, economic planners invested into living conditions in the republics
- Brezhnev’s social contract - urbanisation and modernisation in exchange for obedience
- Educational investment higher in non-Russian republics
What had Gorbachov naively thought about the attitudes of people in the Satellite States concerning nationalism?
They had renounced their national identity and identified as ‘Soviet’
After 1985, what 2 things weakened the authority of the Soviet Union over the people of the satellite states?
- Revelations about the crimes of the Communist Party
- Economic collapse
What feature of Gorbachov’s tenure allowed Nationalist groups to obtain great power?
Gorbachov’s unwillingness to use force
The removal of what key policy was the major turning point for the growth of Nationalism in the satellite states?
Brezhnev Doctrine
Where did the Brezhnev Doctrine originate?
From invading Czechoslovakia in 1968 to stop the government introducing a more Capitalist-style system
What event provided Gorbachov the ability to meet every leader of the Communist regimes around Europe
The funeral of Chernenko
What did Gorbachov tell the leaders of the Soviet regimes across Europe at the funeral of Chernenko?
That he would not intervene in their internal events and that they were free to choose their own path of Socialism
How much did the Soviet Union spend annually propping up Communist regimes around the world?
$40 billion
Why did Gorbachov refuse to use force?
He believed it was morally wrong
What did Gorbachov focus his foreign policy on?
Ensuring that the universal values of human rights promoted people’s interests
What was the order of the countries to leave the Soviet Union?
Poland Hungary East Germany Czechoslovakia Romania
Which political party in Poland were able to beat the Communist Party?
‘Solidarity’
What was Gorbachov’s view on Poland leaving the Soviet Union?
He supported the Poles deciding their own future and did nothing to stop it
What was the name of the hardline Hungarian leader that was sacked?
Janos Kadar
What was the result of hardline Hungarian leader Janos Kadar being sacked?
There were elections in Hungary where other political parties were allowed
What caused the GDR to leave the Soviet Union?
The ending of the Brezhnev Doctrine sent them into economic turmoil and they fell to the Capitalist West
Which organisation in Czechoslovakia emerged as a platform for getting rid of the Communist government?
‘Civic Reform’
Which known playwright and Communist opponent became leader of Czechoslovakia and took them out of the USSR?
Vaclav Havel
Who was the last Soviet leader of Romania?
Nicolae Ceausescu
What did Nicolae Ceausescu instruct the army to do to demonstrators and what was the result?
To open fire on demonstrators but they were not willing to
What happened to Nicolae Ceausescu (final leader of Soviet Romania) as he was forced out of Romania?
Forced to flee by helicopter and was captured and executed on Christmas day
By the end of ____, every Pro-Soviet Communist government in Europe was disintigrated
1989
What did Pope John Paul II do in 1979?
Visited Poland and encouraged those who sought change by saying “do not be afraid”
The declaration of independence of what country was declared illegal by Gorbachov?
Lithuania
What did Gorbachov impose on Lithuania as a result of them declaring independence?
Economic sanctions
What did Yeltsin declare that caused a harsh spike in Russian nationalism?
That laws made in the Russian Parliament were superior to Soviet law
What else did Yeltsin do to stoke the fire and boost Russian Nationalism after declaring that laws made in the Russian Parliament were superior to Soviet law?
Brought back the old Russian flag
Give the 3 categories that come under ‘Factors encouraging Nationalism’
- Environmental Concerns
- Insecurity of local party leaders
- Culture and Language
Why was the environment an encouragement for nationalism from the satellite states?
They had been heavily polluted by the Soviet Union’s various industrial projects
In which area of the environment were the satellite states most impacted?
Soil erosion
By how much had the Aral sea in Kazakhstan shrunk?
By 90%
Why did local party leaders of Russia lend their support to Nationalist opposition?
Because they were fearful that they would lose their power from Gorbachov’s reforms
1980s USSR population:
___ million Russian
___ million non-Russian
1980s USSR population:
145 million Russian
141 million non-Russian
Why were some parts of the Soviet Union so Nationalist?
Many of them were Muslim groups who had a strong, ingrained sense of identity and cultural heritage
Which 2 counties was the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between?
Armenia & Azerbaijan
Which group of people mostly populated Nagorno-Karabakh?
Armenians
Why did tensions arise around Nagorno-Karabakh?
The people wanted to join Armenia but it was an autonomous region
In what year did Nagorno-Karabakh erupt into violence?
1988
Why did the referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh not solve the issue despite having a large majority?
It did not have Soviet permission
What did Armenia do to fuel the fire after the Soviets declared the elections had no meaning?
Announced it was under their control, causing Russian intervention
What did Armenia’s disregard for Soviet authority at Nagorno-Karabakh show?
Showed the declining authority of the USSR from their inability to use force
How was the declining authority of Russia shown further after Nagorno-Karabakh?
Ethnic clashes in:
- Georgia 1989
- Kyrgyzstan 1990
- Moldova vs Turkey
- Ethnic Romanians vs Ethnic Russians
What did the various ethnic clashes around Eastern Europe do to Russian control?
Destabilised it but did not pose a direct threat to the Soviet Union as a whole
What was the name of the massacre in Georgia?
Tbilisi
What were Georgian nationalists protesting for in the Tbilisi massacre?
Abkhazian minority rights
How did the Soviets try to restore order in Tbilisi?
Using force
How many protestors died as a result of Russian force in Tbilisi?
19
What was the result of the Tbilisi massacre for Georgian Nationalists?
Turned them against the government
What was the result of the Tbilisi massacre for the Russian military?
They became unwilling to use force
How did many people view the Baltic republics such as Lithuania, Armenia and Latvia due to their independence since WW2?
As individual states with the Russians as an occupying force
What made the Baltic republics harder to control?
Had better education and economy
What happened in 1988 in all 3 Baltic Republics?
Popular fronts established by members of the inteligenista
What is the Russian term for ‘movements’ in the context of the Baltic Popular Fronts?
Sajudis
What 2 things did the Baltic Popular Fronts call for?
- Independence from the USSR
- Protection of their native language and traditions
What percentage of the Lithuanian population were Lithuanian?
Over 75%
The anniversary of what event was used to stage a mass demonstration in 1989?
The Nazi-Soviet pact
What had the Nazi-Soviet pact previously resulted in?
The annexation of the 3 Baltic Republics
What was called for at the anniversary demonstration of the Nazi-Soviet pact?
A conclusion of the annexation of the Baltic Republics
What did the protestors do on the anniversary of the Nazi-Soviet pact?
Held hands in a chain spanning all 3 Republics
What did the Popular Fronts in the Baltic Republics do in 1990?
Won a majority in elections to the Supreme Soviets
Why were the Popular Fronts in the Baltic Republics allowed to win a majority in elections to the Supreme Soviets?
Due to the abolition of Article 6
Which was the first Baltic Republic to declare independence from the Soviet Union?
Lithuania with the other 2 to follow shortly
Which 3 countries are the Baltic Republics?
Lithuania, Armenia and Latvia
What was the Russian government’s reaction to the declaration of independence by the Baltic Republics?
Refused to acknowledge it
What did the Soviets do when they took action against the declaration of independence by the Baltic Republics?
Red Army troops attempted to take over the TV station in Vilnius
How many people died when Red Army troops attempted to take over the TV station in Vilnius ?
13
What did Red Army troops attempting to take over the TV station in Vilnius result in?
The start of a bloody civil war
What was Gorbachov’s response to the Red Army troops attempting to take over the TV station in Vilnius? (2)
- Denied giving orders to use force and claimed they were the actions of rogue elements in the Red Army
- Issued a statement saying he would not have prevented the Baltic independence
Give the 6 key subheadings to the limits of Nationalism
- Limited experience
- Already had a degree of autonomous control
- Republics beneficiaries of Soviet economic investment
- Loyalty to tribal groupings
- Role of ethnic Russians
- Support for the Soviet Union
Why did limited experience limit nationalism?
The satellite states had apprehension of being independent after so many years as part of the USSR
Why did already having a degree of autonomous control limit nationalism?
Reduced some opposition to the Soviets
Why did the Republics being beneficiaries of Soviet economic investment limit nationalism?
Caused their government to want to stay part of the USSR
Why did loyalty to tribal groupings limit nationalism?
Any wider national identity was superficial to them so there was no desire for independence
Why did the role of ethnic Russians limit nationalism?
Complicated national resurgence
What did the March 1991 referendum show in terms of satellite independence?
The vote showed support for maintaining the USSR from all but Georgia and the Baltics
