End Of CW

Question 1

What is Glasnost?

Answer 1

• Called for greater transparency, freedom of speech and expression
• Anti-communist radio broadcasts from Western radio stations (Radio Free Europe and Voice of America) no longer blocked, fully accessible to public (better exposed to the quality of life in USA and Western European
  countries
• Instructed relaxation of censorship of books, journals and newspapers. Writers could freely voice opinions on the need for reform.
• Positive picture of Soviet life that governments previously presented fell apart. Citizens in Soviet bloc felt lied to by governments + deprived of what the rest of the world had access to.Lost confidence in vision and rule of communist governments, increasingly desired independence. Created a platform for criticism of communism

Question 2

What was American economic and military Superiority?

Answer 2

• Growth of American economy enabled Reagan to renew the arms race and exert pressure on the USSR’s ability to keep up with military expenditure and production.
• Instead of merely producing more nuclear weapons: Supported Star Wars programme aimed at developing new technologies:satellites deployed in orbit around the earth to detect/destroy potential nuclear attack
• Expensive but able to fund research more easily through extensive financial network.
• NATO stationed >100 Pershing II missiles in West Germany: Aimed at western parts of the USSR.
• Held 10-day joint military exercise with NATO allies, code-named ‘Able Archer 83’.
• In response, Soviets prepared nuclear forces and put their air force units in East Germany and Poland on alert.
  1. Realized aggressive stance pushed both sides closer to another nuclear war, not protect USA as he thought.
  2. Fearful reaction of USSR, realized they too wanted peace not conflict.
  3. Growing public opposition to the Star Wars programme + renewed fears of a nuclear war

Question 3

Why was there a lack of confidence in USSR’s government?

Answer 3

Lack of Consumer Goods
* Five Year Plans emphasized industrial production at expense of consumer goods. Cold War: many resources diverted to production of military goods and weapons, fewer devoted to producing consumer goods.
* Shortages and poor quality in stark contrast to the abundance of the Western European countries.
* Even as citizens experienced such deprivation, government established special stores used by high- ranking Party officials

Economic Burdens
* USSR in charge of economically weaker alliances amd supported poorer communist economies through economic bartering.
* Annual subsidy to Warsaw Pact allies through discounting of oil prices – US$3billion.
* Involvement in decade-long Soviet-Afghan War: drain – money, resources, human casualties.

Question 4

What was the difference in the economies of USSR and USA?

Answer 4

FREE MARKET
* Intellectual freedom, innovation/creativity
* Competition spurred companies to improve quantity and quality of goods
* Open debates encouraged effective reforms, Economy grew at faster rate

COMMAND ECONOMY
* Overemphasis on quantity, lack of innovation/creativity, poor quality of goods
* officials falsify statistics to meet quotas, engage in corrupt practices and graft (bribery)
* One-party state stifled debate, made reform more difficult
* This led to chronic shortages of consumer goods, low-quality products, and wasteful overproduction in heavy industry, while basic goods and services were neglected.