The end of the cold war Flashcards
What were the impacts of Glasnost?
- New political organisations created including the Democratic Union party.
- Books by former dissidents published as well as Western Music and ideas on protest allowed.
- Religion was tolerated; for example places of worship were allowed and religious literature appeared in shops.
- May 1989, newly elected Congress of People’s Deputies elected. It was no parliament however was able to criticise government policies and select members to Supreme Soviet.
What was involved with Gorbachev’s Watershed?
- Feb 1990 he cancelled Article 6 of the Soviet Constitution, which had previously provided a leading role for the communist party.
- Parties officials now needed 50% backing to remain in power.
- This led to most long term Communist officials being rejected and led to Gorbachev’s appointment as President of the USSR.
- This overall led to the fall of communism. Gorbachev had believed the support for him reflected the support for communism, this was however false and the dominance of communism was over.
What percent of Russian GDP was spent on nuclear weapons?
What is an example of Gorbachev shifting his focus?
- 17%
- Gorbachev wished to focus more on his policy of Perestroika.
For example the stopped increasing the number of SS-20s being installed in Europe in April 1985 and even reduced numbers in October.
What happened in Iceland in 1986?
What was the name of the Conference?
- Gorbachev met Reagan at the Reykjavik Conference in 1986.
- He was unable to stop Reagan’s plan for his ‘Star Wars Plan’
Where did Gorbachev agree to NATO plans?
What were the details?
- Gorbachev agreed to NATO plans for total withdrawal of medium-range missiles in Europe.
- This was the Washington Summit 1987.
- This also produced the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Force Treaty.
How did Gorbachev show his move away from the ‘Brezhnev Doctrine’?
- Public speech at the UN in December 1988, renounced the Brezhnev Doctrine in what came to be known as the ‘Sinatra Doctrine’.
- Removed 500,000 troops from Eastern Europe and pulled troops from Afghanistan, admitting it was a ‘bleeding wound to the USSR.
What did some US spectators say about the removal of troops in Europe?
What was the real reality of the situation?
- They said that it was a statement of surrender.
- In reality subsidies given to European states ran into the billions and instead could be reinvested at home.
Explain the failures of Gorbachev.
-Glasnost could be argued to have gone too far, G was a committed communist who thought the USSR could survive.
-Perestroika was a failure, USSR budget decreased and inflation rose. The deficit doubled to 100b roubles and growing shortages of goods and living standards.
Hard to impose form of reasonable capitalism as there was already a black market and corruption rifled under the surface.
-Much Western influence showed the success of capitalism as compared to Perestroika.
- Resulted in critique from hard-line communists who left him caught in the middle.
- There were calls from eastern bloc that these concessions be broadened to them.
Who became the new East German leader on the 13th October 1989 in Germany?
-Who did he replace?
- Hans Modrow became new leader.
- Replacing Krenz the new leader agreed to free elections in March 1990 which followed Polish decisions of the same nature.
By the end of 1990 how many citizens of East Germany had moved to the West?
-By the end of 1990 600,000 had left for the West, the West was struggling to adapt to this huge level of migration.
When was the Ostmark rid of?
-Rid of 1st July 1990.
What was the ‘Two-Plus-Four Talks’?
- It was the formal peace treaty that never came for the end of WW2.
- Ended the partition of Germany and terminated the residual rights of occupying foreign powers and committed Germany to recognising the ODer-Neisse border with Poland.
- 2nd October 1990 the GDR was integrated into the FRG, Kohl won a landslide victory and became the first full German elected President since 1932.
What were some difficulties when it came to German reunification?
How were difficulties dealt with?
- East struggled to cope with transition to capitalism.
- Germany was now part of the EU so had even more financial support.
What happened to the Warsaw Pact?
- Warsaw Pact was dissolved July 1991.
- Representatives of NATO and Warsaw Pact met to agree on Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces. This agreed to an equal reduction in East and West Europe and declared they were no longer adversaries.
How much did the USSR spend on the Afghan War?
-Estimated to be $50b
Outline the economic and social problems within the USSR.
- Poor consumer industry
- Only 37% of Western production
- Inability to adapt to international economic issues (mainly oil)
- No incentive to work leading to absenteeism and low morale
- Drunkenness and drug addiction problems
Outline the unrest in Poland in 1989.
- Price rise of up to 200% by 1988, fuelled discontent on communism.
- Number of protests which move the government into negotiations with Solidarity leaders and the catholic church.
- 7th April the ‘Round Table Agreement was signed and Solidarity became an official political party and a new constitution was created.
- The new constitution meant that Solidarity could compete for 35% of seats in lower house of parliament. However 65% was still reserved for communists.
How well did Solidarity do in Polish elections?
How was this political milestone undermined?
- Gained 92 out of 100 seats in upper house.
- gained 160 of 161 seats in lower chamber.
- Gorbachev made it clear that the USSR would not intervene to reinforce the unpopular communist regime.
- The significance of gains by Solidarity were undermined by the fact that Communists still controlled Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Transportation and foreign trade.
Outline unrest in Bulgaria.
- Cronyism in Government these officials were allowed to shop in ‘Western shops’ and boosted a salary 500% more than other officials.
- Foreign Minister Peter Mladenov informed Gorbachev of intended ‘change of direction’ and on the 9th November Zhivkov (Communist leader) was forced to resign.
- Free elections were proposed for June 1990.
- The Communists entered a coalition in 1992 and gained electoral success in 1994. However they were faced with economic crisis of 1996-7 and failed to distance themselves from legacy of communism.
Outline unrest in Czechoslovakia with the ‘Velvet Revolution’.
- Czechoslovakia was still ruled by those who had suppressed the Prague Spring.
- Economic reforms were carried out however there were no political reforms. The agenda for political reforms was only opened up following the fall of the Berlin Wall.
- Mass protests were seen stemming from honouring a soldier from WW2.
- 19 November opposition group to communist rule was created named ‘Civil Forum’.
- 7th December Adamac resigned and communist party became minority party and Havel became President.
- USSR troops were removed and in 1992 Czechoslovakia became Slovakia and Czech Republic.
