COLD WAR 1984-95 Flashcards
economic and social problems in the USSR and Eastern Europe
weaknesses of the system:
- many (including US and people in USSR and EE) saw cause as weakness of communist system itself
e. g qualityof goods poor as no competition between private firms and soical problems like alcoholism - these spread to eastern european countries as well who could see near by effects of capitalist success by uncontrolled countries
stagnation:
economic stagnation in eastern bloc by 1980s
- lack of technological innovation to increase productivity and outdated infrastructure e.g Chernobyl
- most of money into arms production
- argricultural production stagnated as fewer farmers not met with technological replacements so food e.g grain produce remained stagnant for 60s-80s
- oil shortage as 1980s production in USSR fell by 30%, soured relations with Comecon countries as unable to supply them with correct levels of oil (30%). had permitted an 8% growth rate in 60s in 80s fallen to 1.8%
- mid 1980s GNP of USSR 37% of that of US
SHORTAGES AND COMPARISONS WITH MORE PROSPEROUS WEST UNDERMINED THE SYSTEM
importance of western influence and the arms race in bringing about the end of the cold war
reaction to Afghanistan:
applied much more pressure than in Hungary or Czechoslovakia by supporting Mujahedeen
boycotted Moscow Olympic games 1980
increased military spending and extended arms race
arms race:
previous restrictions to arms maintained theory of mutual destruction which acted as a deterrent
Reagan’s Star Wars policy increased defence spending and meant the US could potentially win a future conflict (strengthened by Soviet failures in Afghanistan) so confident and USSR at disadvantage as economically stagnated and backwards technology
new detente 1985-88 indication of pressure from west, economy and arms (1985 Gorbachev became general secretary of communist party and began revival of detente)Gorbachev’s policies
april 1985 Gorbachev stopped increasing SS-20 missiles stationed in eastern europe
total withdrawal of medium range missiles in europe in 1987
limitations of the extent of western influence in bringing about the end of the cold war
soviet military spending already high and didn’t increase in response to arms race
Gorbachev wanting to scale back arms race due to economic stagnation not just due to pressures from the west
direct pressure limited as trade continued and western capital invested in the east
also ended conflicts in china due to military spending
Gorbachev’s policies
Perestroika - restrucing of the economy to relax centralised control and permit greater economic freedom
1987 private enterprise was allowed in some industries but didn’t make them any more efficient or imrpove economic situation and more shortages than before in some goods
Glasnost- openness allowing more discussion of economic and political issues
1986 state controls of media relaxed so people learned of corruption inefficiencies
political changes under Gorbachev
proposed multi-candidate elections
new political organisations began to form e.g Democratic Union due to new openness and criticisms
1989 elections for new Congress of People’s Deputies led to new leaders from outside party emerging e.g Yeltsin and many members of communist party removed. the Congress came to assume the role of parliament
what did policies by Gorbachev lead to in the wider context of the cold war
eastern europe divided over changes e.g in Romania and DDR leadership showed no desire for change but in Hungary and Bulgaria they adopted similar policies to Gorbachev
pressure for changing coming from the leadership of the USSR and not being dictated by western pressure
Afghanistan
what happened
effects on the cold war and ending of it
made worse by
what happened
1979 100 000 Soviet troops enetered Afghanistan to instal a more controllable commuist leader
faced opposition from guerrilla fighters inspired by Islamic beliefs (Mujahedeen) and were supported by the West
stuggles in fighting similar to that of the US in Vietnam
over 38 000 died or were wounded
effect:
previously armed intervention in satellite states had been effective and met with little Western and internal resistance BUT it eroded confidence of military intervention as a tactic to regaining control due to actions of the west e.g supprorting troops and upping military spending
also, confidence in strength of Red Army weakened which the soviets had relied on from the civil War onwards
SO MILITARY ACTION AGAINST THE DISINTEGRATING SOVIET EMPIRE NOT SEEN AS A VIABLE OPTION
and increased resentment in USSR from those who weren’t russian e.g Baltic states who engaged in ‘draft dodging’ as no benefit for them
made worse by:
Glasnost as open reorting of war meant demand for change
veterans of war active in political opposition
examples of ending of communist control in eastern europe
and common features
in both hungary and bulgaria, the communist leaders were removed and replaced with a reforming leader who enabled free elections in 1990
half a million strong crowd in East Berlin demanding freedom of movement so government allowed free exit on 10th nov 1989 so opened the Berlin Wall
Poland economic unrest led to Solidarity movement being recognised and then as a political party in 1989 and elections resulted in majority Soldarity government and the USSR accepted the non-communist government
Czechoslovakian ‘velvet revolution’ led to end of communism 1989
common elements
built up resentment due to economic instability leading to widespread support for change
acceptance of Gorbachev that the states should make changes and unwillingness to use force against them
the coup
rapid changes by Gorbachev in russia and eastern europe led to opposition from key figures in the communist party, the army and teh KGB
attempted to takeover the state on the 19th august 1991 by detaining Gorbachev in the Crimea and taking control of radio and TV stations in Moscow
Yeltsin made emotional appeal and 21st august troops withdrawn
success of coup may have meant restrating of teh Cold War and good relations with west established by Gorbachev to be overturned
russia under Yeltsin
became dominant leader after coup and Gorbachev resigned in 1991
banned Communist Party from political activities in november 1991
accepted breakup and formal demise of USSR e.g accepted withdrawal of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine in Decemeber 1991
economy:
sudden change to capitalist, indivudalist culture so state controls and welfare removed
introduced very high interest and tax rates to prevent high inflation
GDP halved
decline in production
welfare slashed so mass poverty
social:
high rates of crime and alcoholism
growth of ultra-nationalist and communist opposition e.g tank attack of Russian White House in 1993 by pro-cmmunist army
BUT
newfound capitalism seen as final end to Cold War as no lomger divided by underlying ideology tha had emerged in 1917
reunification of germany
social, economic and monetary union in may 1990 and Federal Deutschmark became official currency
Reunification Treaty in august 1990 separate states of east germany became official states within the Federal Republic
Two Plus Four Treaty in 1990 involved agreement of 4 occupying powers that berlin should be part of the federal republic
Germany became part of NATO
last allied troops left in 1994
shows extent to which east were impoverished as west put in $2 trillion but still continued inequalities e.g unemployment higher and living conditions lower
yugoslavia
nationalism encouraged by growth of naionalism in other areas of the soviet empire
had previuosly been unified by fears of russia but now removed
free elections, non-communist parties and economic changes e.g 80s $20 billion US foreign debt
assess the reasons for the end of the cold war and the collapse of the USSR
1) economic and social prblems in the USSR which impacted on eastern europe
- alcoholisn and absenteeism which reduced productivity
- not techonological advances
- arms race which restared after 1979 with SDI
- oil shortages of 30% and europe resentful as 30% went to them
- GNP 37% of tha of US
FORCED GORBACHEV TO REACT AND MADE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES INCREASINGLY RESENTFUL
Gorbachev’s policies:
- Perestroika meant restrcuting of economic system to allow some industries to be privately owned (didn’t improve economic situation but paved way for Yeltsin to abandon state controlled industry which helped end of Cold War as capitalism)
- Glasnost emphasise failings of system both abroad (Afghanistan) and at home and combined with political freedom led to opposition parties forming e.g Democratic Union
- multi-candidate elections enabled reformers to come into Congress e.g Yeltsin and removed old communist presence
UNINTENTIONALLY CREATED FOUNDATIONS FOR YELTSIN TO END THE COLD WAR AND ENABLE COLLAPSE OF USSR IN 1991 BUT WOULDN’T HAVE ACTED WITHOUT ECONOMIC FAILURES
Eastern Europe:
- the combination of economic resentment, Gorbachev’s policies and reluctance to use force due to Afghanistan led to end of communist domination in eastern europe
- marked end to cold war, especially tearing down of berlin wall in 1989 and reunification of germany in 1990, as no longer controlling eastern europe which had begun the war in the first place
- other countrie e.g bulgaria caled for free elections
FELT ABLE TO RESIST SOVIET CONTROL DUE TO POLICIES OF GORBACHEV AND BUILT UP BY ECONOMIC RESENTMENT
WITHOUT ECONOMIC PROBLEMS, GORBACHEV MAY NOT HAVE ITRODUCED THE REFORMS HE DID AND PURSUED SUCH A REFORMIST POLICY WHICH ENABLED YELTSIN TO END BOTH THE COLD WAR AND THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION
