The Fall of the USSR Flashcards
Who does G want to replace B’s ‘Gerentocracy’
New, young communists to end the stagnation
What idea was instroduced at the 27th party congress in 1986
‘Glasnost’ - new committment to ‘genuine’ democracy
What initial steps were taken in reaction to 27th party congress?
New head of media - true extent of Stalin’s terror published
- much media that was critical of Stalin was unbanned
What happened at the 19th party congress in 1988
Senior Officials admit to true extent of economic weakness - contrasted usual meetings where lying was commonplace
Democratic election reform was permitted
Why does Glasnost destablize the party?
Shakes Russian faith in Communism
- Also allows for profound criticism
Importance of the 1989 election
- Several High-Ranking Coms defeated
- Yeltsin won with 89% of vote in Moscow
- Violence in Georgia
- Yeltsin promotes private property and greater autonomy for states
Importance of 1990 elections
Anti-communist trends
‘Democratic Russia’ wins 85% of seats in Moscow
What weakens the Party significanlty
G’s Reforms of Glasnost and Democrazitation
How does G try to gain more power and why does this fail?
G appoints himself ‘President of the SU’ but is unelected to loses respect to Yeltsin
G does censor some press and use troops which makes him a hypocrite
What was the economic growth of USSR in 1955 compared to 1980
7.1% - 0.6%
4 fundamental flaws USSR’s Economy
1) Lack of Incentive - no one wanted to produce grain as there was no money to be made - in 1970s, Richest 10% were only 3x richer than bottom 10%
2) Waste - Gosplan is unadaptble -reward for porduction over quality - 400k tractors made but 20% not used as no drivers
3) Lack of Modernisation- 1960s, 25.4% of russians worked on farms by human labour
4) Military Spending - 17% - 1965-84
Biggest issue with G’s way of reforming
too quick and rapid changes meant no real fundamental basis
Two examples of failed Reforms by G
Alcohol Production - Tries to cut down on alcohol consumption by reducing alcohol production at state run factories by 50%. Instead leads to citizens drinking illegally manufactured alcohol which loses the government 67billion roubles in vodka, making economic problems worse.
Acceleration - Designed to end economic stagnation whcih meant huge increase in investment.
Failed because Russia sold oil at $70 a barrel in 1981 but price went $20 per barrel in 1985
Soviet Oil revenues drop, and Gorbachev borrows from the West (debt increased from $18.1b in 1981 to $27.2b in 1988).
Creates an economic crisis.
What were successful reforms pased by G
Law on Co-operatives (1988) - Legal to set up large-scale private companies. By 1990, nearly 200,000 were set up. In the first year, turnover increased from 29.2m roubles to 1.04b roubles. Income larger than those who were state employed
Gosplan abolished (1990).
What were successful reforms pased by G
Law on Co-operatives (1988) - Legal to set up large-scale private companies. By 1990, nearly 200,000 were set up. In the first year, turnover increased from 29.2m roubles to 1.04b roubles. Income larger than those who were state employed
Gosplan abolished (1990).
Problems with Market Economy
- This partial market undermined the central planning system while at the same time failed to create an effective market alternative.
- There were shortages in essential goods and in 1990 there were severe food shortages
- In April 1990, Gorbachev finally cut government ‘caps’ for basic products and allowed them to rise
- Led to a small inflation
What the consequences of the small inflation in 1989
Gorbachev’s approval rating dropping from 52% in December 1989 to 21% in November 1990
Strikes increase - 1755 enterprises had strikes in 1991
What is the impact of the transition to a Market economy
By 1991, the Govt is essntially bankrupt
How big a factor was economic weakness
Long term weakness in the Soviet economy clearly undermined the Soviet Union but there was no economic crisis in 1985.
What was G’s assumption about the nature of the Republics
G thought ppl felt more loyal to the USSR than to their individual republics
Stablity of Republcd was maintained by waht?
B’s ‘Social Contract’ - economic decline threatens livelihood for people in republics
What was Resented by Non-Russians
Unlike Brezhnev, Andropov and Gorbachov want effective gov over representation gov - the ‘better’ candidates were all Russian and replaced the non-Russian leads to
Link between Gladnost and Nationalism
It exposed ways in which Stalin’s government had persecuted non-Russian people
It allowed people to see how much better Western living was - From the mid-1950s to mid 1980s citizens in the republic were broadly happy but this comparison frustrated them
What was the ‘Sinatra Doctrine’
each country should follow their own path to Communism which allows greater freedom in Eastern Europe.
A rejection of B’s doctrine which allowed Russia to intervene in other states
