The Collapse of Communism Flashcards
How did Ronald Reagan help to contribute towards the end of the Cold War in the mid 1980s?
He became concerned about the possible consequences of a future nuclear conflict.
Key summits with Gorbachev including Moscow, Reykjavik and Washington. At Washington, he signed the INF agreement with Gorbachev, to reduce nuclear weapons.
He took back his evil empire comments
How did Ronald Reagan help to escalate Cold War tensions in the early 1980s?
His Evil Empire speech
Massive increase in arms spending from $325 to $456 billion between 1980 and 1987, with the U.S. Military developing cruise missiles and the neutron bomb.
Invested in the development of ‘stealth bombers’ which could avoid detection.
Installed cruise Missiles in Europe in 1983, which would take just 10 minutes to reach the USSR
SDI Star Wars defensive system which made the USSR feel threatened as it was intended to intercept incoming missiles.
Funded the Mujahadin during the war in Afghanistan
Reagan’s arms spending helped to hasten the end of Communism by leading the USSR to spend too much on arms in response and not enough on its people.
Why did the USSR lose the War in Afghanistan? (Give 4 main headings here).
The USSR could not cope with the spiralling cost of the war.
They failed to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan civilians.
The Afghans had support from Saudi Arabia and the USA.
Environmental issues and the guerrilla tactics of the Afghans.
Give examples of the cost of the war in Afghanistan for the Russians.
Financial cost - over 20 billion dollars along with the strain of keeping up production of weapons and supplies - making reforms such as Perestroika necessary inside the USSR.
Human cost - over 1500 casualties.
Which problems did the USSR face with the environment in Afghanistan?
Mountainous landscape making direct combat and keeping an army supplied and supported difficult. There were few roads and railways and Soviet veichles were vulnerable on the mountain passes. It was difficult to locate targets from the air and the local shad a much better. Knowledge of the landscape than the Soviet troops,amongst whom disease spread in the harsh environment.
How did the USA and Saudi Arabia support the Afghans during the war?
The US provided Stinger anti aircraft missiles and both provided vast sums of money
Why did the Soviets fail to win hearts and minds in Afghanistan?
The Muslim Afghans disliked the atheist nature of communism - indeed, the term Mujahadin means fighter of God. Communism seemed to challenge traditional Muslim beliefs. Also, over one million Afghans were killed in the war and 5 million displaced, with Soviet troops committing atrocities against Afghan people.
Why was the War in Afghanistan an important factor in the collapse of Communism?
The Red Army was undermined by their failure to defeat the Afghans - they lost their ‘fear factor’. This gave hope to countries in Eastern Europe that they too could break free of Comminism.
The War had put the Soviet economy on the brink of collapse causing people to lose faith in the Communist system
The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan caused a rift with the USA, resulting in Reagan becoming determined to defeat Communism and stepping up US arms spending, which the USSR could not keep pace with.
The cost of War made Gorbachev realise that economic reform such as Perestroika was necessary and that he could no longer keep pace with the USA in the arms race. These economic reforms would go against key Communist principles.
Soviet soldiers returned home demoralised and drug addiction amongst this group became a problem. Soviet society seemed to be breaking down,
What was Solidarity in Poland?
Solidarity was initially a Trade Union representing ship workers in Gdansk who were complaining about soaring food prices and low wages. It published a list of 21 demands which also included the right to form a trade union and the right to strike. Over 200 other factories also joined the strikers.
Who was the leader of Solidarity?
Lech Walesa
Why was Solidarity important in the collapse of Communism?
It involved millions of people and became a focus of international attention. With support from the USA and the Pope and the West in general which placed trade sanctions on Poland, the USSR feared that the West would support Solidarity and therefore found it difficult to ignore or crush the movement.
Walesa received the Nobel Peace prize in 1983, enhancing his international reputation and making him even more difficult to deal with for the Communists.
Radio Solidarity helped to spread their ideas further.
The Polish Government gave in to the 21 demands showing that peaceful change could successfully achieved in communist countries.
The movement gave hope for change and reform in other Eastern European countries.
Solidarity became the first legal race Union in Eastern Europe, undermining key principles of communism.
Even when general Jaruzelski made Solidarity illegal, it still retained mass support, showing how Communism could not control the movement.
Walesa retained popular support and eventually became the first non communist leader in Eastern Europe.
Describe the USSR which Gorbachev inherited…
In economic crisis thanks to the cost of the War in Afghanistan and the costly arms race with the USA
Industry was in need of reform and methods were out of date - eg the Chernobyl disaster.
The Russian people were demotivated and had lost faith in the state.
There were problems with alcohol, crime and drug addiction.
Absenteeism from the workplace was high
There was a very inefficient civil service called the nomenclature which made decision making slow
Name Gorbachev’s 3 key policies/ideas
Glasnost, Perestroika and reversing the Brezhnev Doctrine.
How did Glasnost help to weaken communism?
Glasnost means openness. Therefore censorship was reduced and free speech encouraged. Criticism of the Government was allowed and opponents of the Government permitted. The Scientist Sakharov who opposed Communism returned from exile. Non communists were allowed to stand for election. Freedom of information further undermined communism by making people aware of the brutal leadership of past Soviet leaders such as Stalin. Glasnost was also allowed in other Eastern European countries and anti communist feeling and criticisms began to spread.
How did Perestroika help to weaken Communism?
Perestroika focused on the restructuring of the economy. One. Key aspect was to pull the USSR out of the arms race with the USA and have other priorities instead. Gorbachev announced that he would cut spending on arms, perhaps highlighting the weaknesses of Communism. Aspects of capitalism were introduced such as splitting up huge state owned industries and encouraging private businesses. Private profit and competition were encouraged, key capitalist ideas, undermining core values of communism. Gorbachev also announced that he was going to allow free elections as part of his restructuring, which again seems to be undermining the one party state idea of communism.
