Cold War Flashcards
American reaction to Afghanistan invasion (3)
- Ended Detente, Carter referred to invasion as ‘grave threat to world peace’
- Carter Doctrine. Increase in military spending and America interested in Middle East
- Economic sanctions - trade embargo on grain and high technology / strategic items
The overarching indirect consequence of Invasion of Afghanistan
The collapse of detente and invasion of Afghanistan led to election of Reagan
How many members did Solidarity have in 1981
10 million.
Pope Jean Paul gave speech in 1979 to 13 million Poles calling for self determination
Impacts of Solidarity crisis (3)
- Aggressive stance of Reagan forced Soviets to rethink upholding Brezhnev Doctrine
- Lasting resentment of Communists - nationalist element to 1989
- Economic sanctions - fishing rights
What did corruption show about communism in USSR
Reflected a broken economic system. Huge black market, which represented 25% of economy.
When did Gorbachev take power and why was it significant
1985 at age 54. He was determined to restructure the failing economy and willing to criticise Soviet foreign policy
Impact of the election of Reagan
Aggressive stance against Soviets, labelling ‘evil empire’. Soviets cautious in Poland.
Massively increased military budget 50%
Afghanistan situation by 1984
Soviets fighting a very costly war. 15,000 soldiers lost and failed to implement a new government in Afghanistan. USA supplied Mujahideen
Events in 1983 that demonstrated a ‘new cold war’
- Able Archer - NATO military operation in Europe. Soviets convinced of attack
- Korean Airlines is 007 - played into Reagan’s evil empire speech and caused uproar with NATO
Factors contributing to failing economy (4)
Poor infrastructure
Unrealistic worker targets
Over-reliance on heavy industry
Arms race
Growth rates in 1967 compared to 1980
5.75% in 1967 and 2.70% by 1980
Soviets arms spending
Soviets spending 20% of budget on arms and resulted in rampant 10% inflation.
Social problems in the Soviet Union
- SoL very poor, average Russian had to work 4.5 hours for a loaf of bread compared to 48 minutes in America
- Frequent shortages and poor health and housing
- alcoholism
How far did Soviets implement Helsinki human rights agreement
Brezhnev Constitution 1977 tolerated discussion on communism but not a complete rejection of it. Andropov labelled dissidents as mentally ill.
Republics in 1984
Ukraine and Baltic states and Muslim states after Afghanistan invasion, wanted independence but movement limited in strength and leaders would never allow.
United against a more dangerous common enemy
Economic Perestroika
Whole scale restructuring of Soviet economy by liberating enterprises from the dead hands of central control
Impacts of Gorbachev’s economic reforms (3)
- Industrial production from 1985-87 fell by 6%
- Enterprise Law 1988 to cut subsidies meant wage drops and unemployment
3 collapse of Comecon
Impact of perestroika and glasnost
- Diminished the position of absolute power of CPSU and indirectly causes the fall of the Soviet Union
- Magnet for constructive change in Eastern Europe as opposition groups saw potential for change - crowds in Berlin oct 1989 chanting ‘Gorby’
Glasnost
Opened the government up to criticism
Evidence of glasnost in politics (3)
- Democratic Union established 1989 - first new political party
- Congress of People’s Deputies elections- complete freedom to criticise gov’t policy. Yeltsin took advantage of this
- 1990 article 6 of constitution removed. Allowed non-communists in politics
Gorbachev’s new thinking
Loosen Soviet control of Eastern Bloc and support self-determination
Evidence of changing Soviet foreign policy (4)
- Renounces Brezhnev Doctrine 1988 and traditional communist views. Supports self determination in Eastern Bloc
- MBFR Talks cut Warsaw Pact troops 10%
- Withdraws aid to Angola and Nicaragua and collaborates with the West to find a solution
- Made concessions over arms reduction - accepts Reagan’s SDI proposals
Evidence Gorbachev wanted progressive change in foreign policy
- Reassures Nemeth he will not intervene with multiparty elections
- Accepts reunification and tells Honnecker to move forward
Economic failures of Eastern Bloc (4)
West German loans - 38.5 billion Deutschmarks by 1987
Polish inflation 200% in 1988
Romania’s systemisation
Czech GDP per capita $3100 compared to Austria’s $19200
Why communist regimes lost support (4)
- Corruption - Zhukov and Ceausescu
- Repression - Stasi 5.5 mil files, Securitate killed 71 in Timisoara and repression of Catholic Church in Poland
- Economy
- Specific policies - systemisation
Examples of proactive leadership in Eastern Bloc
Jaruzelski held round table talks with opposition
Hungarian government cut barbed wire with Austria
Examples of repressive leadership in Eastern Bloc
Honecker and Ceausescu resist change, but only accelerates oppostion
