collapse of ussr Flashcards
détente
slight reduction in cold war tensions
thaw between 2 superpowers
US reasons for detente
economic difficulties after OPEC oil crisis + Yom kippur war
vietnam war expensive, reduced USA’s appetite for interventionalist foreign policy
USSR seemed strong (Brezhnev doctrine)
USSR reasons for detente
growth rates declined
military expenditure expensive (allies)
soviet technology falling behind
US + China improving relations- USSR feared isolation
SALT I
strategic arms limitation talks
1969
resulted in anti-ballistic missile treaty (abmt)
limited ab, systems used in defending areas agaisnt bm delivered nuclear weapons
CSCE
conference on security + co-operation in europe
1975
attended by all european states (including USSR+Eastern bloc states, USA + Canada)
agreed to accept principle of non-interference in internal affairs
SALT 2
strategic arms limitation talks
1979
agreement to cap number of nuclear warheads each side held (neither side ratified this)
detente strained by afghanistan invasion
SDI
strategic defence initiative
“star wars”
US plan by Reagan to develop a system to defend against nuclear attack.
confront socialist forces, try “roll back” soviet influences
killer satellites’ would be established in orbit
Lasers used to shoot down incoming Soviet missiles
war in afghanistan
strategic importance- geopolitical impact (bordered USSR + received aid from soviet union to bring it under soviet sphere of influence + counterbalance pro-american states of turkey, pakistan, iraq, iran)
afghanistan became republic after monarchy overthrow
sought support from both powers - US uninterested
Khalq
revolutionaries who wanted more socialist state for Afghanistan
led by Nur Mohammad Taraki + Hafizallah Amin
when was afghanistan invasion
25 December 1979 soviet forces crossed border, 27 dec - siezed control of capital killing amin + gov
amin replaced by Karmal - puppet
impact of afghanistan war
end of detente
unwinnable + expensive quagmire
deepened USSR economic issues - used resources
war broke spirits of soviet citizens + contributed to apathy of its workers
weakened control of east europe ( movement of troops to afghanistan
mikhail gorbachev
leader of ussr in 1985
dedicated communist- committed to save ussr through communism
undoes gerontocracy
- new thinking on foreign and domestic policy to change stagnant years and reform USSR- strengthen USSR and improve economy, allow more democracy, reduce military expenditure
wanted to ease cold war tensions
aimed to address + rectify systemic problems that plagued ussr
problems affecting USSR economy
-economy weak : faced chronic inefficiencies, stagnation, and shortages due to a inefficient, inflexible centrally planned system, lack of innovation, and corruption. Economic mismanagement and the inability to meet the demands of a changing global economy strained the Soviet Union’s resources. growth rates declined, industrial production + labour productivity declined
food insecurity: collective agriculture unproductive so had to import food
poor living conditions: few consumer goods in shops, bad quality housing + healthcare inadequate, people unmotivated to work, absenteeism ,alcoholism
corruption: black market created for goods that could not be purchased
military expenditure: supporting allies + war on afghanistan expensive, renewed arms race and announcement of sdi- USSR would have to research their own programme, drained money, resources, soldiers’ lives.
oil crisis - oil significant part of ussr revenue, prices dropped- huge impact
internal factors of collapse of USSR
Economic decline
The Soviet economy faced chronic inefficiencies, stagnation, and shortages due to a centrally planned system, lack of innovation, and corruption. Economic mismanagement and the inability to meet the demands of a changing global economy strained the Soviet Union’s resources and contributed to its collapse.
Political stagnation
The Soviet political system, characterized by a lack of transparency, repression, and a rigid bureaucracy, stifled individual freedoms and hindered political reform. The absence of political pluralism and the monopoly of power by the Communist Party weakened popular support and led to disillusionment among the population.
Nationalist Movements
The Soviet Union was a diverse nation consisting of various ethnic groups. Rising nationalist sentiments and demands for greater autonomy or independence in regions such as the Baltics, Ukraine, and Central Asia undermined the cohesion and stability of the Soviet state.
Gorbachev’s Reforms
Mikhail Gorbachev’s policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) aimed at revitalizing the Soviet Union, but they inadvertently exposed the deep-seated problems within the system. The relaxation of censorship and the opening of political discourse unleashed pent-up frustrations and demands for greater freedoms, leading to calls for radical reforms and ultimately contributing to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
political pluralism
p presence of multiple political parties and the tolerance of differing political opinions and ideologies. greater competition and diversity of political representation.
perestroika + aims
restructuring/reconstruction (of communist party,gov + economy) w reform policies aimed to revitalise and modernise soviet economy by decentralisation + market oriented reforms
goals:
economic restructuring- introduce elements of market economics to enhance productivity + efficiency (incentivised labour) + attract foreign investment, aid + trade from west
political reform : more openness +limited political pluralism to increase political participation + responsiveness
modernisation : of agriculture,industry, tech - in line w global standards - improve living standard
perestroika actions
economic reforms: limited private enterprise, decentralised economic planning, incentivised labour (wage rises).
political openness: encourage open discussions and debates abt political + social issues, censorship relaxed, previously taboo topics addressed in media (eg chernobyl disaster).
political pluralism: greater political pluralism, rise of non-communist parties, competitive elections
perestroika results
economy weakened -supply shortages, semi- mixed economy created chaos- instability, gov spending increased, inflation + food prices increased
emergence of non communist parties- political instability
nationalist movements- demands for greater autonomy
glasnot + aims
policy of increased transparency + openness which reduced censorship, allow greater freedom of speech,press, criticism in media +
public discussion
goals:
Encourage public debate and discussion of political and social issues.
Reduce censorship and allow for a more open and diverse media landscape.
Promote transparency in government and bureaucracy.
Facilitate political and economic reforms (perestroika) by garnering public support.
Improve the international image of the Soviet Union.
glasnot actions
relaxation of censorship on media, litt + arts
re-examination of soviet histoty
release of political prisoners + dissidents.
greater freedom of speech
legals reforms : laws to protect freedom of speech
political discourse: open discussions + debates encouraged
transparency initiatives: gov activities, budgets + decision making transparent + accessible to public
glasnot results
failure- floodgate of hatred for system
emergence of independent media- offered alt. view points
political activism - public engagement, protests, demonstrations, political orgs
nationalist + separatist movements fueled in various soviet republics
revealed depth of economic problems, highlighted soviet union’s inefficiency- fuelled public discontent
international: improved ussr’s image but exposed its weaknesses- revelation of past atrocities + corruption eroding public trust in gov
While Glasnost aimed to strengthen the Soviet Union by addressing its flaws, it ultimately contributed to its collapse. The policy revealed the extent of the system’s failings, fueled public dissatisfaction, and emboldened movements for greater political freedoms and independence, culminating/ending in the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
democratisation
transitioning from authoritarian/centralised system to democracy
result of gorbachev’s receptiveness to foreign criticism + allowing eastern european greater freedom to experiment w reforms- people given greater voice in politics
- 1988 political parties other than Communist party allowed to exist + campaign for election to new parliament: congress of people’s deputies (1/3 reserved)
opposition parties vocal - could criticise KGB + state - not prepared, party’s control began to slip away
collective result of reforms
The reforms had not improved people’s lives, but had given them permission to criticise, challenge and weaken the government. Perestroika did not improve the economy.unemployment grew, corruption increased etc
as a result- people took advantage of glasnot to criticise gov + failing economic reforms. State unprepared to handle criticism- people began to look to local politicians (govs elected for each republic- under democratisation)
Gorbachev was losing control over the people because of these reforms. He had changed the Soviet Union with these initiatives, but they contributed to his downfall. His moderate economic reforms went further than he had intended and his belief that the Party could keep control of the reform process proved wrong. The openness he allowed resulted in massive public criticism and hostility.
Perestroika failed to raise the rate of economic growth and improve living standards. Without state control, many systems collapsed. Prices increased dramatically for food, housing and medical costs. Production remained low and there were shortages, resulting in long queues for basic commodities. Inflation and foreign debt increased. Life for the ordinary citizen did not improve under Gorbachev.
cessation of brezhnev doctrine
1988
cost of miltary power top high (army, equipment to allies, Reagan’s rearmament)
had to reduce expenditure - reduced nuclear stockpiles, withdrew from afghanistan, soviet forces would no longer guarantee communist control in eastern europe - not economically viable
external factors of collapse of ussr
Arms Race and Military Spending
The Soviet Union engaged in a costly arms race with the United States, diverting significant resources to military expenditures. The strain of sustaining this competition exacerbated economic weaknesses and hindered the allocation of resources for domestic development.
Influence of the West
The spread of Western ideas and values, facilitated by increased communication and globalization, challenged the Soviet Union’s ideological dominance. The allure of Western consumerism, individual freedoms, and democratic principles eroded support for the Soviet system among the population.
Revolutions in Eastern Europe
The wave of popular uprisings and pro-democracy movements in Eastern European countries, such as Poland, Hungary, and East Germany, challenged Soviet control and undermined the Soviet Union’s influence over its satellite states. The fall of communist regimes in these countries weakened the Soviet Union’s grip on the region. Oil Dependency and fluctuating markets
The Soviet Union heavily relied on oil exports as a major source of revenue. Oil accounted for a substantial portion of its export earnings, which were crucial for the country’s economic stability. In the early 1980s, there was a global oil glut, largely attributed to increased production by non-OPEC countries, including the United States. This glut led to a surplus of oil on the market and a subsequent drop in oil prices.
The decline in oil prices severely impacted the Soviet economy. Revenues from oil exports, which had been a financial lifeline, began to shrink rapidly. This decrease in revenue strained the Soviet government’s ability to fund its ambitious domestic and foreign policy initiatives. The government struggled to cover its extensive military expenditures, maintain subsidies for consumer goods, and manage its vast bureaucracy. This led to budget deficits and a growing national debt.
Poland
polish - long history of fighting for independence
catholic , resented anti- religious stance of USSR, church supported opposition
farmers resisted collectivisation
workers started Solidarity- unofficial trade union to campaign for better conditions
started strike in 1980 at Gdansk shipyard, led by electrician Lech Walesa
spread accross nation, church supported
gov declared martial law to prevent ussr invasion, walesa imprisoned
1989 polish leader general jaruzelski - negotiations w Solidarity (ussr would not help)
1990- walesa won elections
other countries inspired
mohammad daoud khan
cousin of king mohammed zahir
appointed as prime minister in ‘53
overthew monarchy + established republic
mujahideen rebels
muslim traditionists
oppose Khalq
supported by Pakistan + Us
fall of berlin wall
-east germany (german democratic republic) important to ussr- frontline state where WARSAW pact forces faced NATO, gdr army had best equipment,no reforms allowed, SHINING EXAMPLE OF COMMUNISM + ITS ECONOMY WAS IMPORTANT TO WARSAW PACT
-clear to east germans that their life did not match west (federal republic of Germany
-may 1989 hungarian gov opened its borders w austria - provided path for easterners to get to west
-sept- many took part in demonstrations in gdr for democracy + civil rights, ppl fleeing
-9 nov 1989- thousands went to wall in berlin demanding to be let through
confused, eventually gates opened- free access to west Berlin
people climbed, chipped at wall
east germany united w west on 3 october 1990
USSR lost important source of revenue as Eastern Europe’s new democratically elected governments began to expand trade with the West. This deepened the Soviet Union’s economic difficulties. The USSR was also weakened militarily as the Warsaw Pact dissolved in April 1991.
boris yeltsin
president of russian republic after 1989 elections
called for democracy + end to communist party rule
boldly criticised party
