Russia: Historical Interpretations 1

Question 1

What would we call the type of economy in the Soviet Union from 1928 to the late 1980s

Answer 1

A command economy

Question 2

What does perestroika mean?

Answer 2

Restructuring

Question 3

Explain the 5 fundamental economic weaknesses of the soviet economy

Answer 3

Waste - gosplan rewarded production so things were overproduced

Incentives - increase in equality

Centralisation- government had little expertise

Arms race - GDP 17% keep up with America

Modernisation - transport agriculture

Question 4

3 periods of “perestroika” according to Richard sakwa

Answer 4

Rationalism: 1985/6 - Gorbachevs initial reforms - stimulate economic growth

Reform: 1987-90 - Gorbachev introduced market forces into economy and political reforms

Transformation: 1990-91 - abandon fundamental aspects of the system such as single party rule and command economy

Question 5

What was Gorbachev first initiative?

Answer 5

Continued anti alcohol campaign and reduced state produced alcohol by 50%

Question 6

Why did Uskorenie fail?

Answer 6

Decline in global oil price decreased. 2/3 decrease

Gorbachev invested in energy production instead of high tech machinery… no growth

Led to more debt

Question 7

What did Gorbachev do after Uskorenie failed?

Answer 7

Accepted that there would have to be partial market reforms

and began to give more power to factory managers

Restrict power of gosplan

Question 8

What were the consequences of partial market reform?

Answer 8

Economic chaos - no plan. No alternative

No effective way to distribute food - shortages

Question 9

How did the economic chaos have political consequences?

Answer 9

Gorbachevs approval rating dropped from 52% to 21%

Number of strikes increased from 260 in 1990
To nearly 2000 in 1991

Question 10

What was the 500 day program?

Answer 10

A plan for economic transition in 1990 by Gorbachev and Yeltsin - widespread privatisation

Gorbachev backed down from communist pressure

Question 11

How did the economy finally change in 1991?

Answer 11

1991 Supreme Soviet introduced private property and shares could be bought

Question 12

What does Martin mcauley believe about the move from command to market economy?

Answer 12

China and Vietnam did it whilst being communist so Gorbachev had political issue not economic