Gorbachev's New Thinking Flashcards
Causes of Gorbachevs reforms
Mikhail Gorbachev became Soviet leader in 1985 – he realised that the USSR had many problems:
The Soviet economy was bankrupt because it could not afford to support communism world-wide AND compete with the USA in the nuclear arms race.
The communist economic system was inefficient.
The international humiliation that followed the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster of April 1986, became a symbol of the crisis facing the Soviet Union
No industrial growth
No satellite state growth
Low living standards
Corrupt
Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan
Key features of Gorbachevs reforms
Perestroika (restructuring) – economic reforms designed to make the Soviet economy more efficient
Glasnost (openness) – censorship of the press was to be relaxed, less corrupt, governemnt more open and people
Gorbachev thought Perestroika and Glasnost would Strengthen Communism
Effects of Gorbachevs reforms
Led to the break-up of Eastern Europe and the fall of the Berlin Wall
As the Eastern Bloc disintegrated the Warsaw Pact could no longer survive
Glasnost gave people freedom of speech whereas perestroika made the economy worse. Many Soviet republics begun to demand for independence in 1990-91
What was Gorbachevs plan
To strengthen communism by no longer fighting capitalist countries but by accepting them as allies instea dof enemies to further improve their conditions
How did Gorbachevs plan backfire
Human rights protests:
The communist states had never been able to answer those inside and outside their borders who condemned the injustices of communist society.
Economic:
The Eastern bloc countries were heavily reliant on COMECON for their survival. Gorbachev’s decision to abandon it meant that the old regimes would not be able to survive.
Warsaw pact:
After 1985, Gorbachev refused to use Soviet or Warsaw Pact forces to control E. Europe:
Gorbachev encouraged Glasnost and Perestroika in other Eastern European countries.
To save money, Gorbachev withdrew Soviet troops from other countries in Eastern Europe.
In 1989 Communist rule collapsed across Eastern Europe
Geneva 1985
No formal agreements but Reagan and Gorbachev establsihed good relationships
What happened during Reykjavik 1986
Americans couldn’t give up on SDI (Strategic Defence Intiative) - satellites to destroy nuclear missiles.
Meeting broke up and no formal agreement made.
Relations improved
What happened during Washington 1987
First formal treaty (intermediate range nuclear force) INF both countries abolished all land based missiles with a range of 500-5,500km
What happened during Moscow 1988
INF treaty resolved. Reduction in warsaw pact troops and Soviet forces would leave Afganistan
What happened during Malta 1989
No new agreement were made, but both the USA and the Soviet Union saw thus meeting as the end of the cold war
Why did both leaders (Reagan/Gorbachev) wanted to end the cold war
Despite their many differences, Reagan and Gorbachev needed each other:
Although the USSR had more missiles than the USA, it could not carry on the arms race. Gorbachev knew that if the Soviet Union was to survive was by making agreements with the USA to reduce arms.
Although America had the money and resources to carry on the arms race, it had fewer missiles. Reagan also needed to cut military expenditure.
Why did Gorbachev sign an INF treaty
The Soviet economy was in a desperate situation.
Disarmament would be popular with the West and make trade deals easier.
A degree of trust between the US and Soviet leaders had been established.
Events leading to the fall of Soviet Union
Many senior members of the Communist Party blamed Gorbachev’s reforms for the break-up of the Eastern Bloc and felt that he had weakened communism.
A group of senior communist government officials, known as the ‘Gang of Eight’ organised a coup to remove Gorbachev –Initially it was successful but was eventually defeated by a group including the future leader, Boris Yeltsin.
Gorbachev’s resignation – Gorbachev returned to his position but his authority had been severely damaged by the coup.
He tried to introduce a new constitution but this was rejected by the leaders of the Soviet Republics (e.g. Latvia and Ukraine).
Gorbachev eventually resigned in December 1991 and announced the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
The Warsaw pact ended (July 1991)
Three examples of the collapse of Communism across Eastern Europe
In September 1989 Hungary opened its borders with Austria and East Germany opened its borders with Austria.
In November 1989 Berliners tore down the Berlin Wall with hammers and chisels and the Communist governments of East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria all resigned.
In December 1989 Ceausescu, the Romanian dictator, was overthrown and shot.
When was Reykjavik
October 1986
