Gorbachev's Demokrazatsiya Flashcards

1
Q

Multiple Parties

A

• Gorbachev’s attempt at democratization led to multiple political parties that were not communist aligned.
• These parties managed to defeat communist candidates.
○ The most prominent party was the Democratic Russian Election Bloc.
§ The DREB campaigned against one party rule and played a big role in amending the constitution to remove the CPSU from its sections.

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2
Q

Exectuvie Presidency- Intention

A

○ Intention: A strong presidency would push through reforms and keep the USSR stable.

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3
Q

Executive presidency - Powers

A

§ Veto Legislation (Supreme Soviet can override)
§ Appoint the Prime Minister
§ Dismiss the Government
§ Dissolve the Supreme Soviet
§ Get the Congress the elect a new Supreme Soviet
§ Can also declare a state of emergency

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4
Q

Executive Presidency - Legitimacy

A

Elected by Congress (Initially proposed by the people)

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5
Q

Extra Provisions with reason

A

○ A council of Federations made up of the heads of the republics.
§ Reason: to oversee inter-republican relations.
○ A Presidential Council
§ Reason: Oversee foreign policy
§ Was abolished and morphed into the Council of Federations.
○ Council of ministers became a cabinet.
§ Function: Responsible to the president, under the Prime Minister
○ Security council
§ Reason: Responsible for defense and internal security
§ Legitimacy: Appointed by the President

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6
Q

Reasons for CPSU membership dropping

A

§ Incomplete democratization

§ Lack of direction

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7
Q

New CPSU draft

A

○ Gorbachev drafted up new plans for the CPSU.
§ Communism was not mentioned.
§ Operated as a Social Democratic model.
§ Played a part in instigating a Reactionary Coup

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8
Q

Nationalism in the Republics

A

• Federal Republics wanted independence to leave the USSR’s economic crisis.
○ These republics were wrong as they were heavily subsidised.
§ Hence they suffered the most at the end of the USSR.
• Lithuanian Supreme Soviet votes for secession (March 1990)
○ Strong reactions:
§ Soviet troops were sent in.
• Russian Supreme Soviet votes for sovereignty

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9
Q

The New Union Treaty Overview

A

• The existing Union treaty for the 15 Republics were written by Stalin.
○ It has given prominence to the Russian Federation.
○ It was more centralized then Lenin had planned.
• Gorbachev wanted a new union treaty to give power to the SSR Republics.

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10
Q

The New Union Treaty laws

A

§ Minimum 2 year waiting period of secession applications.
§ Reasons:
□ Soviet Enterprises
□ Nuclear Weapons
○ The issue was further complicated with Ethnic groups wanting to secede within these republics.
§ Example:
□ Ossetians and Georgian race riots in Georgia.

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11
Q

Outcome of first draft of New union Treaty

A

○ Approved and published by the Supreme Soviet November 1990.
○ Drafting committee in January 1991 to make revisions.
○ Outcomes:
§ Lithuania suspended its declaration of independence until ratification.
§ Estonia and Latvia declared 1940 annexations illegal.
§ Moldova spearheaded by Moldovan Popular front showed growing nationalist unrest.

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12
Q

Republics refused to participate in drafting

A
§ Estonia
			§ Latvia
			§ Lithuania 
			§ Moldova
			§ Georgia
			§ Armenia
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13
Q

Aftermath of first draft refusal

A

□ They wanted more independence and autonomy.
○ A new draft was published by the Supreme Soviet in March 1990.
○ Gorbachev holds a referendum on the future of the USSR.

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14
Q

Yeltsin’s actions

A

• Yeltsin supported a free market economy.
• He formed non-communist parties to compete in the government.
• He was elected as the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation
• There was mass support for him as a Russian president.
○ He became President of the Russian Soviet Federalist Soviet Republic.
• Created a De-Facto dual power system in the country.
• Yeltsin’s actions of secession:
○ Russian Republic
○ Recognized Lithuanian independence.

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15
Q

Weakening of Gorbachev

A
  • Gorbachev was accused of bringing back authoritarianism.
    • Laws were passed that accused him of censorship.
    • His policy of glasnost became under attack.
    • His weakness lead to calls for him to resign.
    • The republics began to follow local laws instead of Moscow.
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