23. The collapse of communism in satellite states Flashcards
1
Q
explain the end of the Brezhnev Doctrine?
A
- Gorbachev wanted to relax soviet control over the satellite states of Eastern and Central Europe
- they would be allowed to establish socialism in ways that suited them best
- by ending the Brezhnev doctrine, G renounced the use of force against satellite states
- in July 1989 in a speech to the council of Europe
- once the doctrine ended communist regimes in the states collapsed
- by end of 1989 Albania was the only remaining communist country in Eastern Europe
2
Q
explain the collapse of communism in Poland?
A
- solidarity had been officially suppressed in 1981, but by 1986 the Polish prime minister believed they were no longer a threat= amnesty for political prisioners
- Feb 1988: raised food prices due to poor economy= strikes and following Glasnost the Pgovernment tried to appease rather than suppress dissenters
- Feb 1989: government agreed to talks with solidarity and other groups
- June 1989: elections= solidarity won 92 of senate seats + 160 of 161 seats allowed to compete for parliament
- August 1989: Walsea demanded new government be solidarity = pro-solidarity government formed with soviet approval
- by end of 1989= Poland was a multi-party state with coalition government dominated by solidarity
3
Q
what were the reforms created due to Polish government talks with dissenting groups?
A
- legislation of non-government trade unions
- creation of the position of president
- ability for the lower house government seats to be freely elected
4
Q
explain the collapse of communism in Hungary?
A
- in 1980’s Hungary had economic downturn
- 1988: Janos Kadar resigned as Hungary’s leader and Nemeth became prime minister
- he created economic reforms:
- government adopted basic freedoms, civil rights and electoral reforms
- non-communist parties allowed
- April 1989: USSR withdrew military forces by 1991
- June 1989: free elections could take place in 1990 (believing hungarian communist party would win)
- 1990 elections moved Hungary from communism to democracy
5
Q
explain the collapse of communism in Czechoslovakia?
A
- although C had a thriving economy Gorbachev’s new policy legitimised further discussions and open criticism of the communist regime.
- C’s wanted a life as prosperous as Western Europe
- Jan 1989: although leaders of Prague demonstration were jailed this didn’t suppress dissent
- July 1989: limited economic reforms announced= didn’t appease public = mass demonstrations in Prague
- November 1989: Com party proposed a coalition but newly formed Civic Forum led by Havel rejected it
- December: communism leadership resigned and Havel was elected president
6
Q
explain the collapse of communism in Bulgaria?
A
- 1988, organised resistance to Tudor Zhivkov began with organisations that advocated reforms
- November 1989, he was removed by party and replaced by Mladenov , but people wanted democracy
- April 1990, communist party dissolved =Bulgarian socialist party
- June: free elections held and social democrats won
7
Q
explain the collapse of communism in Romania?
A
- Ceausescu (ruler of Romania and hard communist), the country had substantial debt which he tried to reduce= decline in standard of living
- November 1987: opposition began when workers stormed the communist party headquarters and destroyed records
- december 1989: military crackdown, but anti communist demonstrations grew rapidly= rebellion involving some military
- 25th December 1989: Ceausescu and wife executed
- May 1990: free elections held, National salvation front won
8
Q
explain how the Berlin wall led to the collapse of communism in East Germany?
A
- Eric Honecker east german leader was firmly loyal to socialism and wanted to keep EGermany a single-party state However…
- May 1989, Hungary removed fortified fence on boarder with Austria to make it easier for H get goods from A
- september= 60,000 hungarians had sought asylum in Hungary
- international pressure forced EG to allow citizens to travel to WG if they promised to return
- October= protest against Honeckers regime= resigned and replaced with Krenz in october who agreed with P/G and end of BDoctrine
9
Q
explain how leadership led to the collapse of communism in East Germany?
A
- 5th November 1989: Krenz proposed more relaxed travel laws= criticism for being too limited and did nothing to appease public
- politburo resigned, Krenz had to deal with situation
- 6th November: news conference announced east G had free transit into westG and Berlin, thousands of Germans converged through check-point charlie, Krenz hoped this would help stability and popularity but= collapse
- 3rd December: Krenz and Central Committee resigned, coalition government planed reunification of east and west
- October 1990, East Germany was incorporated into the Federal Republic of Germany
10
Q
explain the significance of the events of 1989?
A
- Gorbachev’s decision not to use force and policies og Glasnost and Perestroika encouraged popular independent movements beginning with Poland
- single party states replaced with multi-parties, and free elects based on capitalism
- revolutions were not only anti-communist but also based on revolutions against corrupt regimes fuelled by economic problems
- 1989 marked the beginning of the end of the cold war, and Soviet citizens began to question communist party doctrines despite Gorbachev’s reforms
11
Q
summarise why each satellite state collapsed?
A
- G’s rejection of BDoctrine, intended to reduce dependence on satellite states and allow then to maintain socialism in their own ways
- Poland, Hungary and Czech:
- pressure on government to enact changes led to collapse of communism and move to democracy through demonstrations
- East Germany:
- mass migration of population to the west forced government to reconsider travel policies, once wall was breached= democracy and reunification
- Romania:
- violent change, due to suppressive measures by Ceausescu led to his execution
- all marked the beginning to the end of the cold war
