Gorbachev reforms

Question 1

Aims

Answer 1

○ Establish and maintain a reformed socialist system.
○ Revitalize the CPSU
○ Combine economic reforms with greater freedoms and democracy.

Question 2

New policies

Answer 2

○ Perestroika - Restructuring of the economy.
○ Glasnost - Transparency of government
○ Demokratizatsiya - Democratization and liberalism

Question 3

New-Thinkign foreign policy

Answer 3

§ Foreign Policy
□ End Soviet occupation of Afghanistan
□ Loosen the USSR control in Eastern Europe.
□ Cut costs and use money to modernize the USSR.
§ Abandoned the Brezhnev doctrine.
§ Encouraged communist leaders to adopt economic and political reforms.
§ Lead to Reform communists ruling Eastern Europe.

Question 4

New Thinking- Seperation of party and state

Answer 4

○ Separation of Party and State
§ Heavy opposition from conservative communists.
Fear of breakup of USSR.

Question 5

Economic 1985-1989 successess

Answer 5

• Successes:
		○ Full Employment
		○ Cheap Housing
		○ Cheap Fuel and transport
Subsidized food prices.

Question 6

Economic 1985-1989 Failures

Answer 6

○ Continuous decline in average annual growth.
		○ Rise in consumer demands.
		○ Stagnation of economy.
		○ Labor shortages
		○ Low Productivity
		○ Poor quality goods

Question 7

Economic 1985-1989 Expenses

Answer 7

○ Investment to improve industrialization and modernization.
○ Military spending for the Arms race.
○ Improve living standards for the population

Question 8

Opposition to reform

Answer 8

○ Enormous opposition
§ Nomenklatura
○ This lead to Gorbachev moving his supporters into the politburo.
○ Gorbachev wanted rational investments
Factory and machinery investment

Question 9

Uskorenie policy aims

Answer 9

§ “Accelerated Growth”
§ Wanted efficiency and increased production.
§ Called for greater administrative efficiency from managers.

Question 10

Perestroika aims

Answer 10

○ Reduced centralized planning.
○ Increased self management at local enterprise.
○ End subsided prices.

Question 11

Perestroika agriculture

Answer 11

§ Factory and farm workers were given greater say in production and hiring.
§ Self financing phased in:
□ Enterprises paying for their operating costs by themselves.
§ Partial revitalization in:
□ Agriculture
□ Service industries
§ Encouraged greater use of private plots and cooperatives
□ Began to account for 25% of all agriculture in the USSR.

Question 12

Perestroika heavy industry

Answer 12

§ Reduced industrial ministries.

§ Limited 6-7 super-ministries.

Question 13

Law and joint enterprise

Answer 13

§ Allow Foreign companies to invest in joint schemes in the USSR.
§ Lead to:
□ Corruption
□ Confusion

Question 14

Perestroika reduction of state control

Answer 14

§ Requirement for fundamental shift in Soviet priorities:
				□ Social Provisions:
					® Housing
					® Food
					® Health 
					® Education
				□ Improved Industrial Technology
Reform in enterprise management

Question 15

Perestroika law on state enterprises

Answer 15

§ 60% of state enteprises were shifted to their managements instead of being state controlled.
§ Lead to:
□ Own prices
□ Negotiate trade with other firms