Ch 09 - Color revolutions: The Philippines, Eastern Europe and the USSR, and Ukraine Flashcards

1
Q

What are some hallmarks of violent revolutions?

A

Victims hanging from lamp posts, guerrilla warfare, terror, civil wars, and international conflicts.

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2
Q

What are some nonviolent actions that have toppled regimes?

A

Marches, general strikes, occupation of public spaces, refusals to obey government orders, efforts to win over soldiers, and exposing corruption.

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2
Q

What conditions help nonviolent resistance succeed?

A

When rulers depend on support from democratic foreign powers that disapprove of violent repression and do not want to bear the cost of backing the regime.

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2
Q

What are the key factors that make nonviolent resistance successful?

A

Depriving the government of resources, causing the military to defect, building a broad coalition of opponents, and causing foreign powers to abandon or pressure the government.

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2
Q

hat happened in Iran with the Shah in the 1970s?

A

President Jimmy Carter pressured the Shah to end violent repression and allow peaceful demonstrations, which weakened the regime’s support.

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2
Q

How did Gandhi’s Indian Independence movement succeed?

A

By exploiting the British public’s repugnance at brutal treatment of peaceful protestors and the economic costs of boycotting British goods.

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2
Q

What conditions typically lead to the failure of nonviolent resistance?

A

When the military remains loyal to the government, and the government is financially strong and independent.

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3
Q

Can you give examples of nonviolent resistance failures?

A

The Green Revolution in Iran (2009), the pro-democracy revolt in Burma (1988), and the Tiananmen Square revolt in China (1989).

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3
Q

What are “color revolutions”?

A

Nonviolent revolutions characterized by the adoption of symbols, such as yellow ribbons in the Philippines and orange in Ukraine.

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3
Q

What factors have improved the prospects for nonviolent resistance since the mid-1980s?

A

Global norms requiring elections, new mass media, international networks for training in nonviolent resistance, and reduced willingness for foreign military intervention after the Cold War.

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3
Q

Can you name some examples of color revolutions?

A

The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia (1989), the Bulldozer Revolution in Serbia (2000), the Rose Revolution in Georgia (2003), the Tulip Revolution in Kyrgyzstan (2005), and the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia (2011).

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3
Q

Who was Ferdinand Marcos?

A

A brilliant lawyer who became president of the Philippines in 1965, later ruling with autocratic powers, including declaring martial law in 1972.

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3
Q

What did Marcos do after coming to power in 1965?

A

He appointed family members to high positions, enriched himself and his family, and used his power to control media and bribe Congress.

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3
Q

How did Marcos stay in power initially?

A

By using vote-buying, violence, and suspected fraud to secure reelection in 1969, and later justifying martial law to suppress opposition.

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4
Q

What was Marcos’s approach to dealing with opposition after declaring martial law?

A

He arrested political opponents, including Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, who was sentenced to death but later released for medical treatment.

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4
Q

What strategy did Marcos use to maintain control during the late 1970s?

A

He relied more on the military, rewarding loyal officers with promotions and large raises.

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4
Q

How did Marcos maintain popularity in the early years of martial law?

A

By redistributing land and disarming private armies, although mainly those of his opponents.

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4
Q

What caused Marcos’s popularity to fade?

A

Economic stagnation, increased poverty and unemployment, and the growing contrast between his lavish lifestyle and the worsening conditions of the people.

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4
Q

What was the role of the elites during Marcos’s rule?

A

Wealthy businessmen and landowners opposed Marcos’s economic takeover but lacked unity and a common strategy to challenge him.

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4
Q

What was the fatal mistake that led to Marcos’s downfall?

A

In 1983, Ninoy Aquino returned to the Philippines and was shot and killed upon stepping off the plane, sparking opposition and rifts within the military.

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4
Q

How did the opposition unify after Ninoy Aquino’s death?

A

Cardinal Jaime Sin encouraged rallying around Aquino’s widow, Corazon “Cory” Aquino. The International Fellowship of Reconciliation trained union leaders, students, and clergy in civil resistance techniques.

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5
Q

What role did the military play in opposing Marcos after Ninoy’s death?

A

Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and junior officers formed the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), which met with the opposition. Gen. Fidel Ramos also became disillusioned with the corruption in the military.

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6
Q

What economic impact did Marcos’s rule have in the early 1980s?

A

Economic growth fell to just 1.1% by late 1983, down from an average of 6.4% per year in the early 1970s. There was a debt crisis, shortages of imported goods, and inflation rose to 50%.

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7
Q

What actions did Marcos take in response to economic troubles in 1984?

A

Marcos called National Assembly elections, used bribes, dominated the media, and intimidated voters, leading his party to victory.

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7
Q

What happened in the February 1986 presidential election in the Philippines?

A

The opposition, led by Cory Aquino, was better organized, and volunteers monitored the polling. Despite this, Marcos was declared the winner, with the election result widely condemned as fraudulent.

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8
Q

What was Cory Aquino’s response after the election results were falsified?

A

She called for a civil disobedience campaign to oust Marcos, addressing a rally of two million people in Manila.

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8
Q

What happened during the February 1986 military coup attempt in the Philippines?

A

Enrile and Ramos, with RAM soldiers, planned a coup. Cardinal Sin called for public support, and hundreds of thousands of Filipinos surrounded the camp to support the rebels.

9
Q

What was the outcome of the 1986 revolution in the Philippines?

A

Nearly 80% of the army defected, television workers stopped broadcasting Marcos’s statements, and Marcos, realizing his power was gone, fled to Hawaii on February 25, 1986.

10
Q

How did the Filipino public resist Marcos’s forces during the 1986 coup?

A

A nonviolent crowd, including nuns, pregnant women, grandmothers, and children, surrounded the rebel base, offering food and water to soldiers. The soldiers refused to use force and joined the crowd.

11
Q

How did the Soviet Union respond to attempts to overturn communist regimes in Eastern Europe?

A

The Soviets used tanks to crush peaceful uprisings in Hungary (1956) and Czechoslovakia (1968) and built walls to prevent East Germans from fleeing to the West.

11
Q

What role did the Soviet Army play in Eastern Europe after WWII?

A

The Soviet Army occupied Eastern Europe, supporting local communist parties in taking over governments, including in Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, and Hungary, and establishing East Germany.

11
Q

What was the economic model of the communist regimes in Eastern Europe?

A

The communist regimes followed centralized, party-run economies focused on heavy industries like steel, tractors, and weapons, but lacked market incentives and individual freedoms, leading to inefficiency.

11
Q

What reforms did communist leaders seek after Stalin’s death in 1956?

A

They aimed to maintain political control while importing goods from the West to meet consumer demand. However, by the late 1970s, this led to corruption and spiraling state debts.

12
Q

How did the economic system in Eastern Europe fail over time?

A

The centralized economy produced substandard goods, and agriculture failed to match the productivity of Western nations. The regimes also struggled to keep up with military spending and technological progress.

13
Q

What major changes did Mikhail Gorbachev introduce as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) in 1985?

A

Gorbachev introduced two key reforms: glasnost (openness) to expose corruption and perestroika (restructuring) to introduce more democracy and efficiency in government.

13
Q

What was the outcome of the Solidarity movement in Poland in the 1980s?

A

After strikes in 1988, the Polish government agreed to new elections. Solidarity won every contested seat, and in 1989, a Solidarity-led parliament took control, electing Lech Walesa as president in 1990.

14
Q

Why were Gorbachev’s reforms difficult to implement by the late 1980s?

A

All communist economies were in decline, with widespread discontent among workers over stagnant pay, corruption, and living conditions far behind the West. Intellectuals and workers demanded glasnost and perestroika.

15
Q

What happened in East Germany in 1989?

A

After massive public demonstrations and defections from the military, the government allowed free movement to the West. On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall was torn down, and East Germany reunited with West Germany in 1990.

15
Q

How did other Eastern European countries respond to Gorbachev’s reforms in the late 1980s?

A

In Hungary and Czechoslovakia, mass protests led to elections that ousted communist parties. In Bulgaria, a reform faction within the Communist Party led a transition to democracy. In Romania, Nicolae Ceaucescu was overthrown and executed.

16
Q

What role did Boris Yeltsin play in the late 1980s and early 1990s?

A

In 1987, Yeltsin was removed from the Politburo. In 1991, he was elected president of the Russian Federation and became a key figure in opposing Gorbachev’s reforms and leading the country toward independence.

17
Q

What event in 1986 further discredited the CPSU and fueled calls for reform?

A

The explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear plant spread radioactive fallout over Ukraine, severely discrediting the CPSU and prompting support for nationalist, anticommunist politicians across the Soviet republics.

18
Q

How did Gorbachev respond to growing demands for autonomy in the Soviet republics in 1991?

A

Gorbachev proposed a new constitution that would grant far-reaching autonomy to the republics, which upset hardliners in the Communist Party, military, and secret police.

18
Q

What happened during the August 1991 coup attempt against Gorbachev?

A

Hardliners attempted to seize control, holding Gorbachev in Crimea while they seized the Kremlin and broadcast stations. However, they failed to arrest Yeltsin, who rallied public support, and the coup quickly collapsed.

19
Q

What was the result of the failed coup in August 1991?

A

The coup collapsed after military defections, and Gorbachev was effectively replaced by Yeltsin. Gorbachev resigned as CPSU general secretary, and by the end of 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved, with republics declaring independence.

20
Q

What was the outcome of the collapse of the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe?

A

Most Eastern European countries transitioned toward liberal constitutional democracies, aided by the promise of future European Union integration. By 2013, all former communist countries in Eastern Europe, except Albania and parts of Yugoslavia, had joined the EU.

21
Q

How did Russia fare after the collapse of the Soviet Union?

A

Under Boris Yeltsin, Russia faced rebellions and economic crises. Vladimir Putin, his successor, solidified the government and restored the economy but did so by allying with wealthy oligarchs in exchange for political loyalty.

22
Q

What was the political trend in the former Soviet Republics of Central Asia and the Caucasus after the Soviet Union’s collapse?

A

Former communist strongmen emerged as presidents, using patronage and corruption to maintain power while pursuing varying degrees of economic development.

23
Q

Who was Leonid Kuchma, and what role did he play in Ukrainian politics?

A

Leonid Kuchma, elected president of Ukraine in 1994, initially pushed for economic reforms but later became embroiled in corruption scandals, including the murder of a journalist. He backed Viktor Yanukovich for president in 2004.

24
Q

Who were the main candidates in Ukraine’s 2004 presidential election?

A

Viktor Yanukovich, backed by Leonid Kuchma, and Viktor Yushchenko, a former prime minister leading a coalition of reformers, including Yulia Tymoshenko.

25
Q

What happened to Viktor Yushchenko during the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election?

A

Yushchenko was poisoned under mysterious circumstances, leaving him disfigured, but he survived and continued his campaign.

26
Q

What irregularities occurred during the 2004 Ukrainian presidential runoff election?

A

Exit polls showed a clear victory for Yushchenko, but official results gave Yanukovich a surprising lead due to suspiciously high turnout and support in some regions, leading to widespread allegations of fraud.

27
Q

What actions did Ukrainian protesters take during the Orange Revolution?

A

Protesters organized a general strike, local councils refused to recognize the election results, and security forces began to fragment, with some declaring for Yushchenko.

27
Q

What sparked the Orange Revolution in Ukraine?

A

Protestors, wearing orange ribbons to symbolize Yushchenko’s campaign, gathered in Kiev’s Maidan Square on November 22, 2004, to demand a fair election count after allegations of fraud in the runoff.

28
Q

What challenges do nonviolent revolutions, like the Orange Revolution, face?

A

These revolutions often struggle with weak institutions, divided elites, and restive populations, making it difficult to establish trust and good governance.

28
Q

How was the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election dispute resolved?

A

On December 3, the Supreme Court declared the runoff election invalid due to fraud and called for new elections. These were held on December 26, and Yushchenko won by a clear margin.

29
Q

What were some challenges faced by leaders of nonviolent revolutions in other countries?

A

In the Philippines, Cory Aquino preserved democracy but struggled with land reform and elite corruption. Her successors, Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada, faced economic collapse and corruption scandals.

30
Q

How long has Vladimir Putin been in power in Russia, and what positions has he held?

A

Vladimir Putin has been in power as president or prime minister continuously since 1999. As of his March 2012 election, he was set to remain president at least until 2018.

30
Q

How has Putin dealt with his opponents and critical journalists?

A

Putin’s most vigorous opponents have been marginalized or imprisoned, and critical journalists have been found murdered.

31
Q

What is one of the major issues undermining Russia under Putin’s rule?

A

Rampant corruption continues to weaken the economy and undermine the legitimacy of the government.

31
Q

What challenges did Viktor Yushchenko face during his presidency in Ukraine?

A

Yushchenko faced fruitless power struggles with his former ally Yulia Tymoshenko, and by 2006, Viktor Yanukovich had returned as prime minister.

32
Q

What happened in Ukraine’s 2010 presidential election?

A

Yushchenko, Yanukovich, and Tymoshenko ran in the 2010 election. Yushchenko received less than 6% of the vote, and Yanukovich won.

32
Q

What actions did Viktor Yanukovich take once he became president of Ukraine?

A

Yanukovich restricted press freedoms and jailed Tymoshenko, prosecuting her for abuse of office and other crimes.

32
Q

What does the situation in Ukraine after the Orange Revolution illustrate?

A

It illustrates that making a revolution can happen quickly, but creating a stable democracy is a lengthy process that may take years or decades.

33
Q

What are some common challenges faced by countries after “color revolutions”?

A

These challenges include corrupt elites retaining economic power, weak political parties, unreliable judicial systems, and factional struggles.

33
Q

What pattern do color revolutions often follow in their aftermath?

A

They often experience backsliding and authoritarian tendencies, showing that the fall of an old regime is just the start of a long revolutionary process.

34
Q

What is the key lesson about revolutions from the provided information?

A

While revolutions can happen quickly, establishing a stable democracy is a complex and prolonged process that may take several years or decades.