Nationalism

Question 1

Bolshevik Soviet Constitution of 1924 brought the republics into a ‘Soviet Union’
Each republic had:

Answer 1

Its own leader (First Secretary) and government (Supreme Soviet)
The CP was filled by locals – not Russians
They kept their own language, culture, newspapers and education

Question 2

Why did they remain in the Union if they were being controlled by Russia?

Answer 2

First Minister and government members of the CP so loyal to Moscow
Army and secret police under control of Russia
Depend on and benefit from economic growth of USSR

Question 3

How did Gorbachev’s reforms undermine Russia’s control over the Soviet Socialist Republics?

Answer 3

Perestroika- Life grew worse for masses, but Gorbachev did not reform privileges of CP elites – created inequality
Anti corruption campaign-Usually led to non-Russians being replaced by Russians Riots in Central Asia in 1986 after local Kazak leader replaced by Russian
Glasnost- Resentment of Stalin, Realised benefits of West

Question 4

Limits of Nationalism

Nationalism mostly confined to Baltic and Caucasus regions

Answer 4

Hardly no independent traditions – always part of Russia
SSRs allowed autonomy and local control
Many, such as Central Asian SSRs, benefit from economy
More about ethnic/tribal identity, not nationalism
60m Russians lived outside of Russia in the SSRs

Question 5

Union Treaty of 1991

Answer 5

Referendum in March 1991 – 75% vote in favour of USSR
Gorbachev followed up with Union Treaty of 1991
Concessions to SSRs to maintain their support
Likely USSR could survive without Baltic/Caucasus SSRs

Question 6

Russian Nationalism

Answer 6

Yeltsin elected Chairman of Russian Supreme Soviet in 1990
Yeltsin won 60% of vote. Coup launched by CP conservatives in 1991 to overthrow Gorbachev
Yeltsin’s popularity soared when he resisted coup and looked like defender of democracy

Question 7

Western historians

Answer 7

Western historians ignore developments within individual SSRs
Instead, they focus on developments in Moscow and the response of the CP leadership
When they have considered role of individual SSRs, usually just the satellite states in the Eastern Bloc
Western historians view collapse of USSR as part of Cold War

Question 8

Revisionist historians

Answer 8

Revisionist historians argue that nationalism in Eastern Bloc different from within USSR
Instead, focus on unique developments within the SSRs, such as Baltic nationalism or ethnic conflict in Georgia
Revisionist historians also focus on success of USSR for holding itself together for such a long time despite massive divisions and numerous different cultures and nationalities