A costly empire

Question 1

What did the Soviet empire act as?

Answer 1

An economic drain on the USSR

Question 2

In theory, what should the SU have been?

Answer 2

An affluent superpower, bearing in mind the huge reserves of natural resources (oil, gas and metal ores) that were located in Siberia

Question 3

What did the Soviet’s favourable trading arrangements with its socialist allies ensure?

Answer 3

That the USSR saw relatively little of its potential wealth

Question 4

What happened to Soviet energy and raw materials?

Answer 4

They were sold to the socialist states at very low prices in return for low-grade industrial or consumer goods

Question 5

Between 1981 and 1986 what did the USSR provide Cuba and Vietnam with?

Answer 5

$4 billion and $6 billion, respectively, in aid and oil subsidies

Question 6

What did the Warsaw Pact countries receive?

Answer 6

A yearly subsidy of $3 billion due to cheap oil sent from the SU

Question 7

What did the relationship between the SU and its socialist allies encourage and contribute to?

Answer 7

Encouraged - relative economic backwardness in the Soviet Bloc
Contributed to - low living standards in the USSR