Gorbachev's New Thinking Flashcards
When did Gorbachev come into power?
March 1985
What issues were the Soviets facing?
- Lots of money was being spent on arms to match the USA, their economy was very bad.
- There was a real lack of human rights and low standards of living, there was unrest in some satellite states. The Polish trade union ‘Solidarity’ posed such a threat, the Communists had to ban it. Marshall Law was introduced in Poland in 1981.
- There had been a line of leaders in poor health, who died before they could put important plans for the future into action.
What was Perestroika?
Russian for reconstruction. It was used to describe Gorbachev’s programme for restructuring the state.
What was Glasnost?
Russian for ‘openness’. In the 80s and 90s, it was used to describe Gorbachev’s more open attitude to government and foreign relations.
What were Gorbachev’s reforms?
The state would include certain practices that made Capitalism so attractive - Perestroika.
There should be more transparency and less corruption in the government. Glasnost.
The Brezhnev Doctrine would be dropped. The USSR would no longer get involved with the affairs of other Satellite States.
The USSR would reduce spending on arms and would withdraw from Afghanistan.
How did Gorbachev’s time as Soviet Leader affect tensions between the USA and the USSR?
Gorbachev being in power reduced tensions between the USSR and the USA because it showed Ronald Reagen that they were more open and there was no need to continue with the ‘Second Cold War’.
What did the end of the Brezhnev Doctrine mean?
Satellite States could start pushing for their independence.
What happened in 1989? What did it show?
The Berlin Wall fell. Gorbachev didn’t intervene when Satellite States began overthrowing their Communist regimes.
What happened in 1990?
The Baltic States (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia) declare independence.
Gorbachev wins the Nobel Peace Prize.
What happens in December 1991?
The USSR collapses and Gorbachev resigns.
