1989 Revolutions

Question 1

Jacqueline Hayden

Answer 1

“Communism collapsed in Eastern Europe and later in the Soviet Union, but it collapsed in different ways and to different degrees in each of these countries”

Question 2

James Krapfl

Answer 2

CZs rejected Soviet regime because it was inhumane, not because it was socialist

Question 3

Prague Spring (1968)

Answer 3

1. period of political liberalisation and mass protest after WW2 in CZ
2. Aug: Soviet Union and other members of Warsaw Pact invaded to suppress reforms of Alexander Dubcek
3. New York Times cited reports of 650,000 men equipped with most modern weapons of Soviet military catalogue

Question 4

Catalyst of CZ Revolution

Answer 4

1. 17 Nov 1989
2. brutal suppression of peaceful student-led demonstration in Prague commemorating 50th anniversary of Nazi German storming of CZ universities
3. emotive reports distributed throughout CZ depicting cruelty of police

Question 5

General Strike CZ

Answer 5

50% of labour force took part and 25% expressed symbolic solidarity

Question 6

Student Demands CZ

Answer 6

1. investigation of massacre
2. punishment of perpetrators
3. free and honest reporting in media
4. release of all political prisoners
5. freedom of assembly

Question 7

Relationship between Soviet Union and GDR

Answer 7

1. Erich Honecker forged close ties with Soviet Union and worked closely with Moscow
2. Red Army maintained large presence even after establishment of GDR (belief war against NATO most likely fought in Central Europe)

Question 8

GDR most successful regime in Eastern Bloc

Answer 8

1. special case since most relatively prosperous: 1960s and 1970s fully employment, nationwide system of childcare, comprehensive health coverage
2. 1973: opened itself up to international community, normalisation of relations with FRG, admitted as full member of UN
3. one-party state supported by vast security apparatus

Question 9

Why was the Berlin Wall erected in 1961?

Answer 9

1. fears of political leadership due to increased emigration westward through Hungary
2. by 1960 only 61% of its population working age compared to 70% before WW2
3. Brain Drain: Aug 1958 Yuri Andropov wrote urgent letter regarding concerns about 50% increase in number of E Gers intelligentsia among refugees

Question 10

Dirk Phillipsen

Answer 10

GDR dependent on two tenuous factors: (1) frail legitimacy among its own population (2) willingness of Soviet leadership to guranteed its permanent existence

Question 11

Rainer Eppelmann

Answer 11

1. founding member of Democratic Awakening
2. operated from safe realm of Church as Protestant pastor
3. described persistent struggle to carve out space “in which one could breathe freely”

Question 12

“Berliner Appeal” (1982)

Answer 12

1. co-authored by Eppelmann and other members of resistance
2. called for demilitarisation and disarmament of GDR, and withdrawal of all occupational troops from Germany
3. disseminated throughout E Ger using internal church network

Question 13

New Forum

Answer 13

1. established Sept 1989

2. offered citizens means to express their discontent and demand drastic reforms

Question 14

Padriac Kenney on economic reasons for revolutions

Answer 14

1. tightly centralised and inflexible planning system meant that regimes were unable to respond to popular demands or to technological innovation
2. economic policies dictated by politics

Question 15

Gdansk shipyard strikes

Answer 15

1. 1980
2. protested against persistent increases in food prices while wages continued to remain stagnant
3. founded Solidarity

Question 16

Solidarity

Answer 16

1. non-government trade union
2. central revolutionary organisation
3. reached 10m members
4. fought for workers

Question 17

Role of Pope John II in Polish Revolution

Answer 17

1. Jun 1979: from pulpit of his old cathedral, “The future of Poland will depend on how many people are mature enough to be nonconformists”
2. Ash Garton: “It is difficult to have conceived of Solidarity without the Polish Pope”
3. provided significant financial support during clandestine years
4. church provided effective organisational structure since never outlawed under communist rule

Question 18

Ash Garton

Answer 18

1. “refolution” describes revolutionary activity alongside movements towards reform
2. 1989: Polish Communist Party agreed to negotiate with opposition leaders
3. primary motivation as realisation of failed economic reform
4. Round Table discussions: agreed Polish legislative elections carried out June 1989

Question 19

Brezhnev Doctrine

Answer 19

1. announced to retroactively justify the invasion of CZ Aug 1968
2. affirmed the right of the Soviet Union to intervene in the affairs of Communist countries to strengthen Communism

Question 20

Padriac Kenney on Gorbachev reforms

Answer 20

“From Gorbachev, economic reformers and democratic thinkers got the signal to push their ideas”

Question 21

Reasons for Revolutions

Answer 21

(1) accession to Kremlin leadership of Gorbachev
(2) fatally flawed economic system
(3) dissent

Question 22

Gordon Hahn: preconditions for revolution from above

Answer 22

(1) regime split
(2) establishment of dual or multiple sovereignty by way of the institutionalisation of one or more institutions of credible claim to authority
(3) society and opposition that are weak in comparison with ruling regime

Question 23

Gorbachev’s reforms

Answer 23

(1) sought to obtain democratisation of political institutions, mobilisation of civil society, and introduction of political economic and political reforms
(2) glasnost: “openness and transparency” in government institutions and activities in Soviet Union, reflected commitment to getting Soviet citizens to discuss publicly problems of their system and seek solutions
(3) perestroika: restructuring of the political and economic system
(4) David Lane: “Perestroika undermined state socialism economically, ideologically, and politically”