end of bipolarity deck Flashcards
when was Berlin wall built
1961
when was Berlin wall broken
9th November 1989
When did USSR come into existence
1917
what were the advantages of USSR?
- had complex communication system
- vast transport and communication system
- minimum standard of living for all
- govt subsidies on education and healthcare
- no unemployment
what were the disadvantages of USSR?
- was bureaucratic and authoritarian
- lack of democracy
- no freedom of speech
what further weakened the system in USSR?
Afghan Invasion
when did USSR invade afghan
1979
who introduced reforms in USSR? when did he become the general secretary?
Gorbachev, 1985
what reforms did gorbachev introduce
democratised the system and loosened relations with US
what hastened the process of disintegration
the policies of economic and political reform
who opposed his reforms?
communist party leaders
what is a coup? when did it take place in USSR?
coup is sudden seizure of power from the govt, took place in 1991
who was behind the coup?
community party headliners
who opposed the coup?
Boris Yeltsin
Who was Boris Yeltsin
He had won the elections in Russian Republic
When and which countries first declared that USSR was disbanded?
December 1991, ukraine, belarus and russia
What developments took place after USSR was declared disbanded?
Communist party was banned
capitalism and democracy were adopted
Commonwealth of States formed
why did USSR disintegrate?
internal weakness, economic stagnation, ordinary citizens who realised the disparities between US and USSR, people did not identify with the oppressive Communist Party, Gorbachev’s reforms, rise of nationalism and sovereignty in Russia, Baltic Republics, Ukraine and Georgia
what was the most immediate reason for USSR’s disintegration?
Rise of nationalism in Russia, Baltic republics, Georgia and Ukraine
name the baltic republics?
estonia, latvia, lithuania
what were the consequences of end of cold war?
- end of ideological war
- US became supreme power
- capitalist economy dominated the world
- emergence of new countries
what did Baltic states want after disintegration of USSR?
they wanted to join the EU and become part of NATO
what is shock therapy?
painful process from authoritarian socialist to democratic capitalist system. the model of transition in russia, central asia and east europe that was influenced by IMF and world bank
what changes took place in shock therapy?
- private ownership became dominant
- collective farming was scrapped
- private farming was practised
- no state controlled ownership of propery
- free trade became essential
- breaking up of existing trade alliances among the soviet bloc countries
what were the consequences of shock therapy in russia?
Russia’s economy declined severely, largest garage sale took place, restructuring happened through market forces, value of Ruble fell, rate of inflation was extremely high and people lost all of their savings, russia began importing food, subsidies were withdrawn which further pushed the people in poverty, privatisation led to economic disparities, constitution was drafted in a hurry and their executive president had the widest powers
what happened in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan?
the presidents there appointed themselves for 10 + 10 years (2 terms of 10 years) and allowed no dissent
when did russia’s economy revive and how
in 2000, through export of natural oils, gas and minerals
which 2 republics in russia had violent _________ movements?
chechnya and dagestan, secessionist movements
which central asian country witnessed a civil war for 10 years, when did it end?
Tajikistan, ended in 2001
which province in Ajerbaijan witnessed secessionist movements to join armenia?
Nagorno-Karabakh
after 11th September 2001, US military wanted bases in the ______ region to fight wars with ____ and _____
central asian, afghanistan, iraq