RUSSIA- Fall of the USSR 1985-91- POLITICAL REFORMS Flashcards
Glasnost
Openness
What were the key criticisms of the Party that came out as a result of glasnost?
Poor housing; brutality of Soviet history; reckless waste of human lives in WW2; environmental issues
What had convinced Gorbachev that glasnost was essential?
Soviet government’s response to the Chernobyl nuclear accident in April 1986
When had the Soviet population become much more politicised due to Glasnost?
1989
How many informal groups and clubs were campaigning for reform by 1989?
Over 60,000
When did Gorbachev seek to separate the Party and state?
Nineteenth Conference of the Communist Party of June 1988
Why was it so difficult to separate the Party and state?
Lines between the two had become so blurred
What did Gorbachev become at the same time he was made General Secretary of the Party?
President of the Soviet Union
How did Gorbachev attempt to shift power from the Party to the Soviets?
Soviets were to be elected for 5 years rather than 2- gave them greater security in their post
How did Gorbachev attempt to streamline the Party?
Departments of the CC were reduced from 20 to 9; 6 new commissions were created; combining ‘superministries’
Who was one of the leading casualties of Gorbachev’s clampdown on corruption?
Brezhnev’s son-in-law, Yuri Churbanov, was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment
How did Gorbachev attempt to move towards democratisation?
Discussion about secret ballots; June 1987 experiment with multiple candidates in elections for local Soviets; Nineteenth Party Congress of June 1988
When did Gorbachev discuss the idea of secret ballots for multiple candidates?
Early 1987
What did Gorbachev announce about elections at the Nineteenth party Conference?
Principle of multi-candidate elections would be extended to a national level with elections for the new Congress of People’s Deputies
What was the Congress of People’s Deputies?
Set up to provide an independent, supervisory role over the government; part of attempts to separate the Party and state