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Andropov, Chernenko and Gorbachev Flashcards

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1
Q

What happened in June 1991 concerning the coup?

A
  • Yeltsin elected president of the Russian federation
  • 28th party conference- rifts between Conservatives and Reformers were aired in the open- 1990.
  • Gorbachev’s power was weakened by the Communist party losing its members.
  • Popular support for Yeltsin and he was still willing to work with Gorbachev and the party at that time.
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2
Q

What were the results of Gorbachev’s reforms?

A
  • Caused an economic downfall resulting in a series of strikes
  • Factories reduced the production of everyday consumer goods as they concentrated on more expensive goods.
  • Rise of price of consumer goods.
  • Money became worthless
  • Inflation
  • The nation was plunged into an economic crisis and food rationing had to be introduced.
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3
Q

What was glasnost?

A
  • openess
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4
Q

Identify the problems experienced in the republic of Georgia by 1990?

A
  • March in support of independence in 1989, broken up by Soviet troops.
  • Sovereignty declared 7 months later.
  • Different regions of Georgia wanted independence e.g. South Ossetia in 1991.
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5
Q

Give 9 reasons for the collapse of the Soviet Union?

A
  • Political turmoil
  • Unrest in workforce
  • Poor government decisions
  • Military
  • Republic nationalism
  • Ineffective management
  • Economic- enterprises
  • Monetary issues
  • Corruption
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6
Q

What were the causes of problems in Latvia in 1990?

A
  • Protests at first focused on cultural issues
  • Strong Russian presence
  • Yeltsin recognised independence
  • Given to SU by the Nazi’s
  • Soviet attacks increased rebellion
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7
Q

What were the USSR’s foreign policy weaknesses in 1985?

A
  • Issues linked to domestic problems
  • Struggling to maintain superpower status.
  • Investment in Afghanistan.
  • Relations between Soviet Republics
  • Negotiations over detente and arms control- SALT
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8
Q

How did Andropov reform through a change of staff?

A
  • 1/5 of regional party secretaries were replaced, including 7 of 20 Kazakhstan, some of Brezhnev’s ministers and 1/3 of the departmental heads of the Central Committee. He then promoted his own supporters.
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9
Q

What happened under Chernenko?

A
  • A military and political leadership crisis developed. The politburo was split between the old guard and new younger more liberal reformers.
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10
Q

How did Gorbachev try and gain support from the public?

A
  • This was a generation awaiting its saviour; and they found him when Gorbachev, like superman pulling off his Clark Kent suit, revealed himself as a child of the Twentieth Congress- SERVICE
  • Films- ‘repentance’- satirised the Stalin years
  • Drama- ‘Onward! Onward! Onward!’- portrayed the risk taking of Lenin in the face of Stalin’s plotting
  • Soviet history was subject to public reconsideration
  • 16th December 1986- spoke to dissenting physicist Andrei Sakharov and invited him to return from exile.
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11
Q

What role did Andropov have in suppressing dissident behaviour?

A
  • Had been head of the KGB from 1967-82
  • Created the Firth Directorate of the KGB; its task was to suppress all forms of dissidence
  • Ordered Sakharov’s exile in 1980.
    Nerveless, a realist; as head of the KGB he received more accurate propaganda free reports of events in the USSR.
  • Did not believe the KGB was a law unto itself.
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12
Q

What was the content in the 1989 issues of Ogonek?

A
  • 17% articles on cultural politics
  • 16% re-evaluations of history
  • 11% economic reform
  • 8% transformation of society
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13
Q

What were the USSR’s political weaknesses in 1985?

A
  • People wanted to keep the existing system in order to maintain privileges and power
  • Gorbachev like others wanted to address issues within the existing system
  • Still some corruption
  • Conflict between military and defence polices
  • Conflict between old and new
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14
Q

Give evidence surrounding the idea of Gorbachev as ‘the cautious reformer’?

A
  • Too young to have been involved with Stalin
  • Political skill and powerful patrons
  • Echoed Khrushchev and Andropov
  • Supported the Afghan war and stance on dissidents.
  • Wanted to catch up with the west economically and technologically but without democracy or capitalism.
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15
Q

What were the causes of the problems experienced in Russia?

A
  • Divide between support for Gorbachev and Yeltsin who became Russia’s first popularly voted leader.
  • Economic decline, nationalistic policies, perestroika, glasnost.
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16
Q

What does Beissenger say about the collapse of Communism?

A
  • Gorbachev’s policy of Glasnost and the political liberalisation that it produced were obviously the critical institutional conditions that allowed the collapse of communism to occur.
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17
Q

What was Shatalin’s plan created in 1990?

A
  • Shatalin’s plan was to create a market based structure in 500 days.
  • The black market would be legalised.
  • Extremely ambitious
  • Sign of desperation
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18
Q

What were Kosygin’s attitudes to foreign policy?

A
  • Wanted improved East-West relations

- Believed military spending was a burden to the economy- ‘peaceful coexistence’

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19
Q

How did Andropov try and reform through competition and incentives?

A
  • Surplus labour reabsorbed. Wages and bonuses limited to production and sales. More emphasis on prices, Large monopolies broken into smaller units.
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20
Q

How did Gorbachev’s behaviour and actions lead to the 1991 coup?

A
  • Didn’t want to lose his political position and Yeltsin was by August in control of Russia. Gorbachev refused to resign or declare a state of emergency even when he was placed under house arrest.
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21
Q

What happened to Shatalin’s plan?

A
  • Rejected in 1990 and replaced by the Supreme Soviet- Compromise.
  • It was to be replaced by a four stage process
    1) Commercialisation of state enterprise
    2) Relaxation of state control
    3) Social security measures
    4) Rouble would become fully convertible
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22
Q

What was the main problem with Gorbachev’s goal of democratic self-government?

A
  • It would involve giving independence and self-governance to the republics.
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23
Q

Why was Glasnost met with a mixed response?

A
  • Intellectuals were most enthusiastic as they had more freedom than ever before.
  • Conservatives and part members were strongly opposed. They believed it would cause social instability as there was less respect for the party and its legitimacy
  • majority had mixed feelings. Most had more pressing concerns in their daily lives. Difficult to believe official attitudes could change overnight when frank and open discussion of views was difficult
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24
Q

What did Ogonek start doing in 1987?

A
  • Feature a regular weekly ‘Letters to the Editor’ becoming the first USSR magazine to do so.
  • Letters became more open and demanding
  • Radical topic matters
  • 150,000 letters in 1989.
  • Column emerged as a national forum for open political and social discussion.
  • Sparked small fires for social change
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25
Q

Why did the law on joint enterprises not work well?

A
  • Foreign companies operated on the profit motive, unlike Soviet enterprise
  • Confusion and more corruption.
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26
Q

Which issue did Andropov fail to appreciate?

A
  • the centrally planned economy
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27
Q

How did Soviet citizens respond to the changes of the later 1980s?

A
  • Western items became prized on black market- pair of jeans cost 2 months wages.
  • Workers protesting for trade unions in Poland particularly.
  • People setting up small businesses
  • People feeling braver and no longer accepting the parts.
  • Taking opportunity for self- determination
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28
Q

What did Gorbachev create in his first year and why?

A
  • Regrouped over 60 industrial ministries and stale committees into a maximum of seven ‘superministries’
  • Recognised need for improvement in quality in order to compete globally
  • proposed more investment in high-technology engineering and agriculture
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29
Q

What were Gorbachev’s main political reforms?

A
  • New constitution for the rights of individuals
  • Congress of People’s Deputies
  • Supreme Soviet
  • Local soviets more accountable and professional
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30
Q

What were the positive responses to glasnost?

A
  • Intellectuals supportive as they had more freedom to share their ideas and debate.
  • Radical/liberal party members and politicians were supportive of Gorbachev’s aims to reform the economy.
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31
Q

What were some examples of perestroika and glasnost?

A
  • Dangerous to speak out
  • People beginning to question before perestroika and glasnost.
  • People increasingly saying what they wanted- creation of first independent trade union in Poland.
  • Read books and films which were once censored.
  • Television
  • Challenging totalitarian economy.
  • Let people travel to the west.
  • Physical barrier
  • Living conditions documented.
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32
Q

Why did a coup occur?

A
  • System was collapsing
  • Threat of violence removed
  • Sections of the iron curtain removed.
  • Violence used against uprising in Romania.
  • Division in military
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33
Q

According to SERVICE what failures did Andropov have?

A
  • Had to take into account the feelings of the Politburo
  • Old
  • Women
  • Not as radical as Kosygin
  • Kept independently minded advisers under firm control
  • Administration
  • Didn’t want to damage the system
  • relations between superpowers deteriorated
  • Traditional
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34
Q

What were the social reasons for the break up of the USSR?

A
  • Attitudes of ordinary people

- Living conditions

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35
Q

Identify the problems experienced in the republic of Latvia by 1990?

A
  • First major public demonstration in Riga, 1987
  • radical nationalities won victories at the polls.
  • Wanted to copy Lithuania- Supreme Soviet
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36
Q

What was perestroika?

A
  • economic and political reform
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37
Q

Describe the collapse of communism in the USSR as well as in Eastern Europe (iron curtain)?

A
  • Most of the Satellite states had become more open in their demands for freedom.
  • Many revolutions happened in 1989, most involving the overthrowing of the Communist government.
  • This led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
  • In the USSR, Yeltsin took steps to end the power of the Communist party in Russia by suspending and banning the party and seizing all their property.
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38
Q

What were the results of acceleration?

A
  • Not promising
  • Operating within traditional framework
  • Economic growth was declining and no targets were being met.
  • Fall in oil prices led to trade deficit with the West.
  • Key sectors like oil and gas were running at a loss.
  • Reliant on grain imports and foreign loans
  • Budget deficit soared by over 10% in just 4 years
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39
Q

How could the new constitution help to develop economic changes?

A
  • Not drafted until 1989 and never finished because it would take away the leading role of the party.
  • Couldn’t accept a multi-party system.
  • Made the party seem redundant and can be attributed to the collapse of the soviet union.
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40
Q

What were the final stages of the SU collapse?

A
  • Gorbachev returned to Moscow on the 21st August. In a speech he reiterated his aim to save communism, this is seen as fatal as it reflects his lack of understanding in the changes of the political system.
  • His authority was damaged but Yeltsin came out as a hero.
  • He tried to implement the Union treaty but it wasn’t accepted and by this point most states want their full independence- Baltic states granted independence
  • Without support from the Soviet states, the role of the Communist party came to an end on Christmas day 1991 when Gorbachev resigned as president and announced the dissolution of the USSR.
  • The commonwealth of independent states was fromed including 11 of 15 former Soviet states.
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41
Q

What were Gorbachev’s reforms reliant upon in order to be successful?

A
  • That they were sufficiently attractive to inspire a desire for the republics to remain in the Union.
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42
Q

What was the 12th fiver year plan? Why did it fail?

A
  • Same mechanisms as previously
  • Set higher targets than the 1981-85 plan even though these had not been met.
  • Workers unhappy about having to work harder for the same wage.
  • Put more pressure on the economy, left no breathing room, insufficient resources to meet targets, many did not comply or lied about targets as they had done in the past.
  • Several economists argued that the plan needed to be scrapped.
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43
Q

What happened in April 1991 concerning the coup?

A
  • Russian federation grants Yeltsin extensive powers
  • Wanted to introduce reform and declared a truce between him and Gorbachev as he was afraid of a more hardliner- Gorbachev had filled the party with Conservatives.
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44
Q

What happened in November 1991 concerning the coup?

A
  • Yeltsin bans Communist party in Russia.
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45
Q

What happened in December 1991 concerning the coup?

A
  • Russia, Ukraine and Belorussia declare dissolution and formation of CIS.
  • Some other former republics join
  • Gorbachev officially resigns and the USSR ceases to exist.
  • Agreed to honour international agreements signed by USSR.
  • Unitary control of nuclear weapons.
  • Issues to do with economic arrangements, minority rights and ethnic and territorial disputes.
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46
Q

What happened in November 1982?

A
  • Andropov made a speech
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47
Q

What are some examples of problems and unrest under Gorbachev?

A
  • Little food- 1/100 of what shown in propaganda- queuing was a way of life (5 hrs a day)
  • Had to wait 15 years for a flat.
  • Shown Oliver to makes lives seem better
  • Regime enforced not by ideology but fear.
  • Political independence was the main goal and uncontrollable.
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48
Q

What economic reasons caused the decline of the economy?

A
  • Economy was already approaching crisis when Gorbachev came to power.
  • Economy harmed by inflation and collapse of rouble- arbitrary decisions
  • Unrest in workforce decreased productivity
  • Costly projects inherited e.g. Afghan war- pressure to match US military
  • Economy neither one or the other
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49
Q

What was Ogonek?

A
  • A magazine which became more and more radical throughout Gorbachev’s rule.
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50
Q

What did the USSR do after the war in terms of foreign policy?

A
  • Embarked on global expansion

- Increased navy and nuclear capacity to try and equal that of the US.

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51
Q

Give some info about the life of Andropov?

A
  • Son of a railway man and left school at 16.
  • Served in WW2.
  • Successful part career in Karelia. Marked for promotion, he was brought to Moscow to work for the Secretariat before becoming an ambassador to Hungary.
  • Developed leadership ambitions before Brezhnev’s death.
  • Interest in reform but wary of the West.
  • Ruthless when necessary
  • Not Brezhnev’s choice of successor.
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52
Q

Give some background information on Chernenko?

A
  • Born in a Siberian village in 1911
  • Served as a border guard on the Chinese border and later became a regional party secretary.
  • Employed in the NKVD during Stalin’s Terror.
  • Association with Brezhnev and in 1948 was put in charge of propaganda in Moldovia.
  • In 1956, he was placed on the Central Committee
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53
Q

What happened in phase 4; the break up of the Soviet Union?

A
  • There was Resistance from hardliners and extremists.
  • As a result, Gorbachev was indecisive and consequently didn’t follow any consistent policies.
  • By the summer of 1990, it was evident that the ‘tinkering’ was over and only a full market-based economy could avoid catastrophe.
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54
Q

Talk about Soviet disagreements during the period of detente?

A
  • Political and military establishments disagreed about the policy of detente.
  • USSR didn’t relax and continued with military spending.
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55
Q

What attempts did Chernenko make at reform?

A
  • Conservative
  • No coherent policy
  • Considered a new programme for the party with the view that peaceful competition would eventually lead to the triumph of socialism over capitalism.
  • Dropped Andropov’s anti-corruption campaign.
  • Emphasised importance of educational advances, lightened censorship and continued Andropov’s hardline against dissidence.
  • Similar agricultural policy to Khrushchev- increasing amount of land under cultivation.
  • Continued some of Andropov’s industrial reforms including a scheme whereby workers were paid by results.
  • Sought detente
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56
Q

What were the causes of the problems in Georgia?

A
  • Referendum in 1991, supported independence with 99% of votes.
  • Military response to protest radicalised the national movement.
57
Q

What was Gorbachev’s anti- alcohol programme?

A
  • Started by Andropov
  • Price of vodka was increased and the legal drinking age increased from 18-21.
  • Hours of alcohol sales were reduced.
  • Wanted to discourage workers from drinking in the hope that this would increase productivity and industrial output.
58
Q

What were the negative responses to glasnost?

A
  • Conservative party members believed the consequences would be social instability and increased dissent. They also argued it would damage the party.
  • Majority of normal people were unconvinced and more concerned about issues in their everyday lives.
59
Q

How did Andropov deal with problems with efficiency and discipline?

A
  • Concerned to carry out reforms but these were within the parameters of the orthodox system; he remained an orthodox believer- comparable with Khrushchev
  • Removed Brezhnev’s closest supporters, Gorbachev was put in charge of agriculture.
  • Rounded up absentee workers.
  • In 1984, he began a limited industrial experiment: factory managers were given the power to make decisions including those concerning production and use of profits. Wages and bonuses were closely linked to production and sales. More emphasis was put on prices. Competition was promoted by breaking up larger monopolies into smaller units.
60
Q

How significant were the changes that Gorbachev made to the communist party?

A
  • No communist leader before him had ever attempted such radical change.
  • Political reforms needed in order to make economic ones.
  • Election of the Congress of People’s deputies and the Supreme Soviet could hardly be considered democratic but opened the gates for democratic ideas.
  • Hugely significant
61
Q

How could the election of a supreme soviet help the economy to develop?

A
  • 750 of 2500 seats in the USSR congress of People’s Deputies were reserved, making it only partially democratic.
  • Congress had the power to overule the Supreme Soviet, meaning it could never be the reforming body it was intended to be.
  • Resulted in the formation of the first political opposition which reduced the party’s power.
62
Q

How did the Union treaty lead to the 1991 coup?

A
  • Would remove ‘Socialist’ from the title of the USSR and the new state would become a voluntary Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics. If this happened Conservatives would lose their important power bases in the army, party and KGB.
63
Q

What happened in October 1991 concerning the coup?

A
  • KGB dissolved.

- Economic treaty signed by several Republics.

64
Q

How could the removal of the Nomenklatura system help develop develop economic changes?

A
  • Party officials and conference delegates were to be genuinely elected from candidates within the party.
  • from 1988, a party position could not be held for more than 10 years consecutively.
  • Nobody allowed to hold a position of both party and state.
  • people chosen should theoretically be good at their jobs which will increase efficiency and economy.
  • Less corruption and complacency
65
Q

What happened in July 1991 concerning the coup?

A
  • Yeltsin swore in as Russian president USSR Supreme Soviet approves Union treaty.
  • 57% of vote
  • First democratically elected president.
  • Dual power
  • Yeltsin declared members of political parties could not be active within state organisations including the KGB and army- Remove links between party and government.
  • Yeltsin signed an agreement recognising Lithuania’s sovereign status
  • New Union treaty was drawn up and approved by the Supreme Soviet.
  • New democratic movement formed.
66
Q

How did Gorbachev rise to power?

A
  • Born in 1931 to a well off family.
  • Studied law at Moscow
  • Worked for the Komosol upon graduating.
  • Party chief for Stavopol
  • Appointed by Andropov as general committee secretary
  • Young
67
Q

Was Chernenko any more than a stop gap leader?

A
  • Chosen as an end to Andropov’s attempts at anti-corruption.
  • The people surrounding him wanted someone who was old and Conservative who they would be able to control and manipulate.
  • No one had any real respect for him or his policies and his power was continually undermined.
68
Q

How was the party weakened by Gorbachev’s political changes?

A
  • Not all nominated party officials would get elected.
  • In 1989, an international group of deputies emerged out of the congress.
  • This became the first real opposition group to the party as it began to challenge the government, party and supreme soviet.
  • Prompted formation of other potential groups.
69
Q

Is there anything to show that Gorbachev did not have a radical agenda?

A
  • Reforms should take place within the existing political and social system, led by the communist party.
70
Q

Why did Gorbachev create an executive presidency? What powers did this role have?

A
  • By 1990, it was clear to Gorbachev that his constitutional experiment had not been a great success.
  • Government increasingly unstable.
  • Gorbachev’s solution was the executive presidency.
  • He was elected by the Congress Of People’s Deputies with just over 70% of the vote despite being the only candidate.
  • Hoped it would allow a return to strong government.
  • Gorbachev could now veto legislation, appoint the PM and other important ministers, dissolve the government and Supreme Soviet and declare a state of emergency.
  • Following this there was various other political modifications including A Council of the Federation for inter- Republican republics.
71
Q

What was the impact of Gorbachev’s replacement of ministers?

A
  • Put his own supporters in place and removed rivals
  • Rival Romanov was sacked in 1985 and corruptible and disreputable behaviour exposed.
  • Brought in Yakolev, a liberal and the father of Glasnost.
  • Worried Conservatives within the party and Ligachev and Chebrikov both made critical statements of him.
  • In 1987, Gorbachev sacked Ligachev and held on to his position by summoning an extraordinary party congress which allowed him to bring in his own supporters.
  • open struggles between reformists and conservatives
  • Assembly endorsed a scheme of G’s which took power from the Secretariat- step towards constitutional gov.
72
Q

How could the Congress of People’s Deputies help economic development?

A
  • Chose the membership of the Supreme Soviet, therefore indirectly nominated by the party.
  • Not really democratic- enforcing party’s power.
73
Q

What were the USSR’s political strengths in 1985?

A
  • Gorbachev would be in power longer than both Andropov and Chernenko
  • Less corruption
  • Fresher perspectives emerging- Andropov’s dismissals
  • 1977 constitution- Party unopposed
  • No serious dissidence
74
Q

What happened in August 1991 concerning the coup?

A
  • Coup against Gorbachev.
  • Estonia and some republics declare independence.
  • ‘Heading for a showdown’- LAVER
  • Conservatives weakened by lack of leadership but Liberals had no coherent policy.
  • Union treaty would make the new State voluntary. If this happened Conservatives would lose power in the party and KGB and Gorbachev would have no political power.
  • Gorbachev placed under house arrest and a ‘state emergency committee formed’.
  • Yeltsin called for resistance to the coup which was successful. On his return Gorbachev doesn’t realise the power shift and is indecisive which leads to his resignation.
75
Q

Describe the 4 phases of Gorbachev’s rule?

A

1) Acceleration
2) Radical reform from above
3) Market based reform and reaction

76
Q

What were some of the policies Brezhnev followed to solve absenteeism, alcoholism and corruption?

A
  • Attempted to improve economy by raising management effectiveness without changing socialist principles.
  • Contrasted Brezhnev’s policy of avoiding conflict + dismissals. In 15 months, he dismissed 18 ministers, 37 first secretaries Central Committee.
  • Facts about economic stagnation and obstacles to scientific progress were made available to the public and criticised.
77
Q

What happened in phase 3; market based reform and reaction?

A
  • Growing economic collapse led to major disturbances, beginning with a coal miner’s strike in the summer of 1989 and repeated in 1990 and 91. Strikes also took place by rail workers.
    gdgg
78
Q

What were the results of Gorbachev’s radical changes?

A
  • Disappointing
  • Widespread rationing of basic foodstuffs such as meat, potatoes and sugar.
  • Ration coupons didn’t guarentee provisions.
  • By 1990, poverty was rising
  • Factories couldn’t get what they needed from the government
  • Hard to bother
79
Q

What were the consequence of the 1991 coup?

A
  • Showed central authorities lacked power
  • Gorbachev didn’t deal with the the new political groups who had provided him with support by resisting the coup.
  • Failed to thank Yeltsin
  • Filled government with new Conservatives who hadn’t supported him.
  • Failed to appreciate that support had shifted to Yeltsin.
  • Gorbachev agreed the government should resign.
  • Liberals and democrats boosted.
  • Nationalism boosted.
  • Gorbachev resigned as head of part on the 24th of August.
  • Communist party banned and CIS formed.
80
Q

Describe the campaign against corruption?

A
  • Some leading ministers and officials were arrested for any array of offences.
  • Some were leading figures in administration and resentment helped to fuel opposition.
81
Q

Describe the circumstances surrounding Brezhnev’s death?

A
  • For the last 2 years, Brezhnev was largely a figurehead. The country was being governed by Gromyko, Ustinov, Suslov and Andropov.
  • Suslov died. Andropov took his seat in the Central Committee Secretariat. He and the KGB started rumors about the worsening corruption during the Brezhnev era.
  • Made his last public appearance in November 1982.
  • Honored with a state funeral followed by nationwide mourning. Buried in Red Square.
82
Q

What law was passed in January 1991?

A
  • Allowed private property ownership. This effectively ended the planned economy since enterprises outside of state control were set up.
83
Q

Describe Glasnost? Why did it get off to a bad start?

A
  • Went with early reform measures
  • Openness or publicity
  • Chernobyl 1986
84
Q

According to LAVER what were some of Andropov’s failures?

A
  • failed to improve relations with the US or resurrect detente.
  • Afghanistan war still in progress.
  • Made various blunders himself e.g. politics in Germany
  • Still lots of censorship e.g. the Kremlin tried to deny any involvement in the shooting down of a Korean airplane containing passengers.
85
Q

How did Andropov try and increase workplace efficiency?

A
  • Rounded up absentee workers and encouraged enterprise managers to be more flexible. KGB scoured public places. In 1982, 30 of 100 people in work were absent at any one time.
86
Q

What was soviet spending like during the 1980s?

A
  • Up to 25% of the Soviet economy was spent on the military.
87
Q

How did the Conservative feeling in the party lead to the 1991 coup?

A
  • Some Conservatives decided to act because by 1991, they were convinced that the centre of political gravity was shifting from Moscow to the various republics. Alarmed about Yeltsin.
88
Q

What arms agreements occurred under Brezhnev?

A 
1972- SALT (Strategic Arms limitations Treaty)
1972- Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
1973- Nuclear Non-Aggression Agreement
1975- Helsinki agreement
1976- 79- SALT II
89
Q

How had Gorbachev’s policies regarding national groups led to the rise of separation?

A
  • The anti- corruption drive under Andropov and Gorbachev upset some of the Republican party elites, who had enjoyed the benefits of corruption under Brezhnev.
  • Gorbachev political reforms weakened Moscow’s control over the Republics.
  • This weakening of central control was also important because the Republics contained minority ethnic groups and tensions simmering beneath the surface emerged into the open, especially with Glasnost.
90
Q

What were the causes of the problems in the Ukraine in 1990?

A
  • Disagreements between perestroika and traditionalists.

- ‘Cultural aims with political undertones’- KOCHAN AND KEEP.

91
Q

identify the problems experienced in the republic of Ukraine by 1990?

A
  • Difficult time under Stalin, famines, German invasion- relatively stable by 1970s.
  • Difficult situation emerging in 1980s
  • Ukrainian party split between majority groups and the reformist group Rukh.
  • Nationalist parties grew and eventually claimed independence in 1991.
92
Q

When was the arms race?

A
  • 1964- 82
93
Q

How were Yeltsin and Yakalov able to mobilise public opinion?

A
  • Men like these were uncommon. Most officials only wanted minimal reforms and were horrified at the thought of changing their methods of rule.
  • Gorbachev therefore looked to the intelligentsia for support hoping that their communication skills would help him win support from other party members and public
94
Q

When was Andropov in power?

A
  • 1982-84
95
Q

What were the economic causes of the break up of the USSR?

A
  • Industrial growth
  • Soviet agriculture
  • Defence
96
Q

What were the main causes of the 1991 coup?

A

1) Various political forces
2) Conservatives
3) Union treaty
4) Gorbachev

97
Q

How did Andropov try and reform through the devolution of power to managers?

A
  • Factory managers were given more power to make decisions, including those concerning production and use of profits.
98
Q

What were the effects of Perestroika on nationalities within the USSR?

A
  • Perestroika and glasnost implied self-government for nationalities within the USSR.
  • First signs of national tension were in Kazakhstan in 1986. First secretary was sacked and replaced by a Russian national which lead to demonstrations in the capital. Armed forces killed some demonstrators.
  • In the same year came demands from the Volga region and Crimean transported by Stalin, to be able to return to their homelands. However, Russians and Ukrainians were now in these areas. A compromise allowed them to return but without land.
  • The most serious threat came from the Baltic Republics. In 1988, the Estonian Supreme Soviet declared its laws took precedence over the USSR’s laws.
99
Q

Identify the problems experienced in the republic of Belorussia by 1990?

A
  • 1/4 population died in WW2.
  • Communists remained strong in their parliament.
  • Increasing opposition by 1990.
  • Communist leadership stood firm
100
Q

What political reasons caused the decline of the economy?

A
  • perestroika worsened things.
  • Collapse of communist party in republics
  • Reforms characterised by indecision and a lack of support.
  • Failure of reform
101
Q

What was Gorbachev’s initial political strategy?

A
  • Replacement of ministers
102
Q

What was Gorbachev’s leadership style like?

A
  • Confident, self-assured
  • ‘Walkabouts’ which were stage-managed and widely covered by the media.
  • Frank, open and honest impression.
103
Q

According to LAVER what were some of Andorpov’s successes?

A
  • Intelligent
  • Wanted reform within the confines of teh system
  • Wanted to inject new life into the economy.
  • Rounded up workers
104
Q

Give some everyday issues facing people in the 1980s?

A
  • Queueing for 5hrs a day

- 15 year wait for a flat.

105
Q

What happened to the arms race after Brezhnev?

A
  • It was recognised that military spending was damaging to the economy and so attempts to resurrect detente were made.
106
Q

How was Brezhnev’s arms policy a development from Khrushchev?

A
  • In theory, they had similar beliefs on the idea of ‘peaceful co-existence’.
  • However, Brezhnev was less willing to back down and increased military spending.
107
Q

What was the consequences of Cuba for future policy?

A
  • the USSR wouldn’t back down again.
108
Q

What happened in September 1991 concerning the coup?

A
  • Widespread ethnic violence in some areas including America and Azerbaijan.
  • Several Republics declare independence and sever all ties with USSR.
  • By September, the USSR supreme soviet had banned all activities by the communist party.
109
Q

How could local changes help to develop the economy?

A
  • Local part secretaries became the chair persons of Republican and local Soviets- meant the party was still bound closely to the state.
  • less central control and more initiative.
110
Q

According to SERVICE what successes did Andropov have?

A
  • Didn’t want to govern in the same way as Brezhnev and believed change to be vital.
  • Campaign against corruption.
  • ‘Andropov was the brightest party leader of his generation’.
  • Very little self-indulgence
  • Punished absenteeism, alcoholism etc
  • Surrounded himself with free thinkers and wanted to learn from the people.
  • Greater enterprise in foreign policy- summit with Reagan
  • Industrial output was 5% higher in 1983 than the year before
  • Agricultural production rose by 7% a year.
111
Q

How successful was Gorbachev’s strategy of replacing ministers?

A
  • All Republican first secretaries were replaced between 1986-89.
  • 70% of party officials at district and city level were replaced; some charged with corruption and inefficiency.
  • Got rid of Nomenklatura; sacked 39 ministers out of 101.
  • Of the central committee, 52% were new.
112
Q

What is glasnost?

A
  • SERVICE- ‘Glasnost, for all its vagueness, does not mean freedom of information’
  • Motive= there could be no move to real reform unless there was an admission that change was necessary.
  • Openess or publicity
113
Q

What was Gorbachev’s radical reform from above?

A
  • Gorbachev introduced more fundamental changes such as the Law of State Enterprises. This gave business much more independence from the government or state ministries that controlled them in the past. Workers could elect their managers.
  • Many were opposed to this change. Workers were encouraged to be more open and give suggestions. They were also encouraged to form small privately owned cooperatives such as grocery shops.
  • State enterprises were less state-governed and open but received resistance from the old guard particularly.
  • Some limited steps towards democracy.
114
Q

What key ministers did Yeltsin want sacked under the Union treaty?

A
  • Pavlov (PM)
  • Kryuchkov (KGB)
  • Pugo (Minister of the interior)
115
Q

Describe the end of detente?

A
  • Through the 70s, the USSR expanded its influence in Angola, Mozambique and Ethiopia etc.
  • During the 70s the USSR spent more on military than America.
  • Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 ended the polciy.
116
Q

What were some secondary consequences of the problems within the economy?

A
  • Absenteeism
  • Alcoholism
  • Corruption
117
Q

Why did problems arise amongst the nationalities?

A
  • The national question was the achilles heel of Gorbachev’s reforms?
118
Q

Identify the problems experienced in the republic of Russia by 1990?

A
  • ‘In Russia itself the political scene was chaotic, and none too promising from the viewpoint of those who hoped for a stable democratic order’
  • Demanded new constitution and market economy.
119
Q

How did various political forces lead to the 1991 coup?

A
  • Conflict between Liberals and Conservatives, becoming more obvious in the KGB and army. Neither had any coherent policies or leadership.
120
Q

What occurred in The August Coup of 1991?

A
  • By 1991, Gorbachev was prepared to negotiate a settlement in which the republics would belong to a new union.
  • Hardliners were horrified.
  • On the 18th August, these hardliners launched a coup in which he was placed under house arrest and rule was taken over by an eight member committee.
  • Yeltsin condemned the coup and called upon the Russian people to resist.
  • The coup failed but Gorbachev became increasingly powerless and therefore resigned.
121
Q

What was the law on Individual Labour Activity? Why was it opposed?

A
  • Allowed for some private enterprise in the service sector
  • Proved largely ineffective because of bureaucratic obstructionism which reflected continued suspicion of private enterprise and the profit motive which was equated with ‘unearned income’. This was considered anti-social and anti-socialist.
122
Q

What problems were identified by Andropov?

A
  • ‘Lack of coordination in the development of raw materials’
  • Lack of reform by managers
  • Force of inertia and old habits
  • Poor work, sluggishness and irresponsibility
  • Need for a response to violations by the party, state and labour discipline.
123
Q

Why was Gorbachev’s ant- alcohol policy a disaster?

A
  • Very unpopular
  • A decree in May 1985 closed down distilleries.
  • People turned to illegal home-brewing of spirits
  • Sugar ran out
  • Alcoholism increased
  • Stat lost huge amounts of revenue which Gorbachev didn’t anticipate.
124
Q

What other key leaders were were influencing public opinion when Gorbachev was in power?

A
  • Yeltsin- Moscow party city committee first secretary

- Yakalov- Department chief in the secretariat and general committee secretary

125
Q

Why did Chernenko become leader?

A
  • Andropov made it clear that he wanted Gorbachev to become the next leader.
  • Chernenko was chosen because his frailty would enable them to keep their own post and end Andropov’s anti-corruption campaign.
  • Although the Central Committee viewed them with contempt given that they had largely been promoted by Brezhnev, they didn’t object.
126
Q

What occurred in December 1991?

A
  • republics met to discuss a new kind of relationship.
  • This saw the birth of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States)
  • This represented the complete downfall of Communism in Russia as well as the fall of the Iron Curtain.
127
Q

What were the USSR’s economic weaknesses in 1985?

A
  • Most pressing problem
  • Declining economic growth and stagnation
  • Not sure how to restructure
  • Difficult to innovate when repressed
  • Command economy and party control
  • Military drain and lack of coordination
128
Q

Why wasn’t the economy working?

A
  • Command economy
  • Poor co-ordination
  • Targets
  • Poor decision makers
  • Inflexible economy
129
Q

What were the USSR’s foreign policy strengths in 1985?

A
  • Policy of detente had been around a long time and no one wanted to change it .
  • Potential for fresh dimension to superpower policies.
  • Gorbachev liked by Thatcher and Reagan
130
Q

What failed reforms caused the decline of the economy?

A
  • reforms ill planned
  • Not made by economists
  • Gorbachev wanted a market based economy within state-controlled economy
  • Administrative reorganisation created confusion and a lack of coordination.
  • Party lost ability to force enterprises to conform
  • By 1990, several economic bodies were competing against each other.
131
Q

To what extent was Glasnost encouraged?

A
  • Glavit, which censored all printed materials prior to publication, was instructed from June 1986 to relax its rules.
  • Weekly newspapers and magazines such as Moscow news and Little Spark were encouraged to be more radical and to mobilise Russian people after 1986.
132
Q

What happened in January 1991 concerning the coup?

A
  • Soviet forces attacked institutions in Lithuania.

- Valentin Pavlov appointed PM of the USSR.

133
Q

What were the causes of the problems experienced in the republic of Belorussia?

A
  • Increasing number of protests which included major strikes calling for political changes.
  • Effects of Chernobyl
134
Q

How did Nationalism remerge under Gorbachev?

A
  • Under glasnost, more republics within the USSR started to express their anger towards being incorporated into the USSR during WW2 as a result of the Nazi- Soviet Pact of 1939.
  • They resented this incorporation and made it very apparent
135
Q

What happened in March 1991 concerning the coup?

A
  • Referendum in the USSR and Russia on the future of the USSR.
  • Just before the referendum, radicals from Russia, Ukraine and Belorussia formed a coalition in support of Yeltsin.
  • Result was 3 to 1 in favour of maintaining the USSRs structure, albeit and adapted one.
  • Demonstrations and rallies continued in Moscow in support of Yeltsin who argued Gorbachev had too much power.
136
Q

Describe foreign policy before 1964?

A
  • First use of atomic bomb.
  • Construction of Berlin wall
  • Cuban missile crisis
137
Q

Define detente?

A
  • The relaxation of tension
138
Q

What were the political reasons for the break up of the USSR?

A
  • resistance of change
  • No consistent policies
  • Relationship between Yeltsin and Gorbachev
  • Political reforms
  • Soviet Republics
139
Q

What were the USSR’s economic strengths in 1985?

A
  • More attention had been given to agriculture
  • Guardian- ‘Change does come’
  • Incentives in industry, end to absenteeism, managers
  • Great achievements

History (2 decks)

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