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.