Gorbachev's influence Flashcards
Historian Peter Grieder main argument
“its failure can partly be attributed to indigenous factors. Its collapse, however, could only occur once the Soviet Union had withdrawn its support.”
The pivotal economic and political changes Gorbachev implemented brought about a substantial departure from…
“democratic centralism” and the previous norm – thereby destabilising the Socialist state
Since its inception, the GDR were heavily sustained by the Soviet Union – a fact made evident during the…
East German Uprising whereby Soviet occupation forces declared martial law and employed a significant military presence to suppress riots and defend the East German regime
What did the Sinatra Doctrine lead to?
This policy enabled a wave of democratization to surge through the Soviet Union – much to the chagrin of the East German administration
By permitting Hungary and Poland to liberalize, Gorbachev showed East Germans that…
emancipation from Moscow would be tolerated
How did the newfound prospect of reform in neighbouring states emboldened East Germans?
It emboldened East Germans to envision the potential for similar transformations within their own nation through active pursuit
What is an example of a civil rights movement in the GDR?
The New Forum
What was the New Forum?
A civil rights movement that advocated for the implementation of democratic principles through the adoption of free and fair elections
Historian Martin McCauley on the impact of Gorbachev and the policies he initiated
“Only the collapse of Soviet willpower to defend the GDR could undermine it” as “The state which has emerged in the GDR is the strongest in German history”
“Only the collapse of Soviet willpower to defend the GDR could undermine it” as “The state which has emerged in the GDR is the strongest in German history” – what does this suggest?
This implies that the collapse is not attributable to any inherent weakness in the state but rather to the fluctuating geopolitical landscape that was incited by the actions of Gorbachev
What were the consequences of Gorbachev publicly criticising the East German system and its leaders?
He undermined the legitimacy of the East German government and cleared the path for democratic reforms and eventual reunification
The Soviet leader undertook a visit to the GDR to mark its…
40th anniversary commemorations
What did Gorbachev assert at the 40th anniversary commemorations of the GDR?
“life punishes those who come too late”
Analyse the quote “life punishes those who come too late”
His prescient warning at the event amounted to an unequivocal rejection of the oppressive totalitarian system – the implication that “life controlled politics rather than the other way around” served to affirm the acute need for immediate action and transformation
What did Gorbachev discredit?
The East German propaganda surrounding the supposed principles of democracy in the “Workers and Peasants State”