Mikhail Gorbachev: ‘ New Thinking’

Question 1

Why was the Soviet Union struggling ?

Answer 1

The Cold War had drained the soviet unions wealth and it couldn’t develop economically
This was creating unrest

Question 2

How did Gorbachev want to address the issues ?

Answer 2

By reforming the communist party in the Soviet Union and modernising Soviet Union style socialism

Question 3

What did Gorbachev intend to do ?

Answer 3

He intended to not abandoned communism and the communist party but introduce a Radical program of reform know as ‘ knew thinking’

Question 4

What were the three main strategies Gorbachev introduced which ended the Cold War ?

Answer 4

• initiating sweeping reforms in the community party and soviet system in the Soviet Union including Perestroika and Glasnost
• ending the arms race with the USA and signing various arms reduction agreements
• abandoning the Brezhnev doctrine and stopping soviet interference in Eastern European satellite states

Question 5

What was perestroika ?

Answer 5

Reforming the economy and opening it up to market forces

Question 6

What was glasnost ?

Answer 6

Freedom of religious expressions and original liberties
It increased democracy and improved opportunists and freedom

Question 7

What did Gorbachev want to maintain and why ?

Answer 7

The soviet unions role as a superpower
- he had to win over the soviet people and show the world he wouldn’t threaten world peace

Question 8

What did Gorbachev do within his first month ?

Answer 8

• went around Moscow visiting factories and supermarkets
• he talked with workers and discussed pays