Gerontocracy and Soviet Leadership 82-85 Flashcards
When did Brezhnev die?
November 1982
Who was Brezhnev replaced by?
Andropov
When was Andropov in power?
Nov 82 - Feb 84
When did Andropov die?
1984
Who replaced Andropov?
Cherneko
When did Cherneko die?
March 1985
Who replaced Cherneko?
Gorbachev
What was the technological gulf between USA and USSR under Brezhnev?
USA - 140 mill telephone and USSR 15 mill
USA 170,000 computers and USSR 15,000
When was their crop failure under Brezhnev and what could this have led to?
1972
- Food shortages and potential protest
How much of Soviet GNP spent on Soviet military supplies?
25%
What was the issue under Brezhnev regarding consumer goods production?
Limited except on black market
- No profit for the Soviet regime
Overall why was their economic growth declining?
- Military production costs
- Consumer goods limited production
- Technological gap
- Rationing of oil
- Five year plans failure
What percentage of exports included gas and oil and impact?
4%
- Demand dropped which damaged the USSR’s economy
What did Andropov do November 1982?
Outlined a series of reforms that needed addressing (e.g development of raw materials)
What did Andropov begin in January 1984?
Limited Industrial experiment
- Gave factory managers more power
Why did Andropov fail to reduce relations with the west?
August 1983 - KAL 007 Crisis
How many ministers were appointed in Chernenko’s rule?
4
Positive aspects to Chernenko’s rule ?
Continued Andropov’s industrial reform programme, where workers were paid by results (c/a, no industrial reforms actually happened)
Why was Chernenko’s aim of detente difficult?
- Soviet boycott of LA olympics 1984
- US Star Wars
- Continuing Soviet intervention in Afghanistan
- Military opposed the idea (Chernenko said military war is not winnable, so suggested focus on agriculture and consumer goods)
What % of personal income came from the corrupt economy?
40%
