21. The ending of the cold war 1985-1991

Question 1

explain pressures on Gorbachev as a soviet leader?

Answer 1

• food shortages:
  
  • due to poor grain harvests from 72-75, government had to purchase grain from abroad
• military expenditure:
  
  • 25% of GNP spent in soviet military every year to be more superior than USA
  • drain on funds due to Afghanistan
• lack of consumer goods: black market flourished
• worker discontent:
  
  • wages rarely stayed in line with inflation
  • poor air and water quality
• public dissent:
  
  • criticism of government as they were not in fear of stalinist regime
  • minority groups wanted independence

Question 2

when did Gorbachev become a soviet leader+ his aims?

Answer 2

• 1985
• aims:
  
  • reduce tensions of the ‘second cold war’
  • reform the communist system to save it from collapse

Question 3

explain Gorbachev’s ‘new thinking’ policy?

Answer 3

• G saw a link between USSR’s economic performance and ability to maintain position as a global superpower
• represented a significant shift in Soviet thinking

Question 4

explain Perestroika as part of Gorbachev’s ‘new thinking’?

Answer 4

• maintain state ownership
• allow some decisions to be made independently of Gosplan
• permit some self management
• end state price controls
• open USSR to foreign investment
• hardliners opposed this policy as it was a move away from communism, fearing instabiliy

Question 5

explain Glasnost as part of Gorbachev’s ‘new thinking’?

Answer 5

• April 1986= chernobyl in Ukraine=radiation spreading to eastern countries
• USSR covered it up, but swedish reported high traces of radiation back to the Ukraine
• soviets had to publicly recognise the accident and informed citizens and other countries
• leading to glasnost= 1988= more open communication between government and people, intended to demonstrate that the government was acting in the interests of citizens

Question 6

explain the changes resulting from Glasnost?

Answer 6

• more open reporting
• release of high profile dissidents from exile
• rehabilitation of those persecuted in the stalinist era

Question 7

explain soviet economic problems?

Answer 7

• need to increase foreign investment to assist soviet farmers to end dependency on foreign grain
• need to withdraw from Afghan war for economic and social reasons
• subsidies satellite states

Question 8

explain the positive’s social and economic significance of Gorbachev’s economic policies?

Answer 8

• 61 joint venture agreements were made with western countries by 1988= technological developments in USS
• corruption in state was cut
• collectivisation ended, state still owned land, but farmers paid to lease land, and payed tax= incentivised farmers =agricultural improvement

Question 9

explain the negative’s social and economic significance of Gorbachev’s economic policies?

Answer 9

• consumer prices increased with end to price controls
• industrial production declined
• labour productivity fell
• short term: living standards declined and economy suffered
• long term: G’s reforms began the transformation of the soviet system, moving it towards a free market based economy