The Soviet Political and Economic System

Question 1

What were some of the major reforms introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s?

Answer 1

1. Glasnost: Increased government transparency, reduced censorship, and allowed more public debate.
2. Perestroika: Economic reforms aimed at decentralizing and introducing market mechanisms.
3. Democratization: Reforms to allow multi-candidate elections and reduce Party control.
4. New Thinking in Foreign Policy: Reduced Cold War tensions with arms control and withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Question 2

What is the significance of the New Economic Policy (NEP) introduced by Lenin in 1921?

Answer 2

The NEP aimed to address the economic collapse following the Civil War by allowing some market elements within a socialist framework. Small businesses and agriculture were permitted some private control, while heavy industry remained under state control. It successfully revitalized agriculture and trade but was criticized by some communists as a betrayal of socialist principles.

Question 3

How did Stalin’s leadership contribute to the development of the Soviet state?

Answer 3

Stalin’s leadership was marked by extreme centralization, rapid industrialization, and collectivization, which were enforced through mass terror. This created a powerful state but left institutions weak and reliant on fear, which contributed to the cult of personality around Stalin.

Question 4

How did single-party rule in the Soviet Union impact political governance?

Answer 4

Single-party rule in the Soviet Union meant that the Communist Party, led by the Politburo and General Secretary, controlled all aspects of political life. Political opposition was banned, and decisions were made centrally, with no room for democratic pluralism. This system allowed the government to maintain strict control over society but also led to repression and the suppression of dissent.

Question 5

What was the relationship between Soviet federalism and the ethnic republics within the USSR?

Answer 5

The Soviet Union had a nominally federal structure, granting symbolic rights to ethnic minorities in 15 republics. However, real power was centralized in Moscow. Over time, growing ethnic-national identities in the republics contributed to the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Question 6

What was the Soviet approach to political participation and civic engagement?

Answer 6

Political participation in the Soviet system was largely ceremonial, with elections often noncompetitive and state-sponsored. The system aimed to create the illusion of civic involvement, but real political power remained in the hands of the Communist Party, limiting genuine public influence.

Question 7

What were the 7 main reasons for the decline of the Soviet system in the 1980s?

Answer 7

The main reasons for the decline of the Soviet system in the 1980s include:

1. Gorbachev’s Reforms: Glasnost and perestroika exposed deep issues, increasing nationalism and calls for more freedom.
2. Increased Nationalism: More autonomy demands from Soviet republics after glasnost.
3. Chernobyl Disaster (1986): The nuclear accident undermined the Soviet system’s credibility.
4. Economic Struggles: The economy stagnated due to inefficiency and poor management.
5. Afghanistan War: The costly and unpopular war drained resources and hurt public confidence.
6. 1991 Coup Attempt: A failed coup weakened the Soviet government.
7. Natural Disasters: The 1988 Armenian earthquake exposed government ineffectiveness.
8. Leadership Issues: Gorbachev’s reforms lacked broad support, leading to instability.

Question 8

What were the key features of Stalin’s rule in the Soviet Union?

Answer 8

Rapid industrialization
Collectivization
Terror
Fear and repression

His leadership left a legacy of a powerful but fragile state built on personal loyalty rather than institutional strength.

Question 9

How did the Soviet state respond to external threats and internal challenges?

Answer 9

External threats:
- Cold war = military build up, centralised power
- Threat to communism = built up comintern, supported socialism globally (afghanistan)

Internal threats:
- Consolidating patronalism, central authority and autocracy
- Economic reforms like NEP, Perestroika, and loans-for-shares schemes to tackle economic instablity
- Repression = propaganda, KGB, censorship

Question 10

What was the role of the Comintern (1919) in the early Soviet state?

Answer 10

The Comintern (Communist International) was created by the Bolsheviks to promote global socialist revolution. It aimed to spread communist ideology and unite communist parties across the world but also reinforced Soviet isolation due to its confrontational stance towards capitalist nations.

Question 11

How did the Soviet Union’s political system evolve after World War II under leaders like Krushchev and Brezhnev?

Answer 11

Khrushchev: de-Stalinization, decentralisation, cultural thaw, strengthen communist party (contradictory ppolicies)

Brezhnev: stability and stagnation, oil revenues and reduced repression, developed socialism, detente

Question 12

What were the political consequences of the failure of the Soviet system to modernize in the 1970s and 1980s?

Answer 12

The failure to modernize led to Brezhnev’s economic stagnation and a growing disconnect between the state and society. This lack of reform, alongside high military expenditures and rising social discontent, contributed to the eventual collapse of the Soviet regime.

Question 13

What were the main features of the Soviet federal system, and why did it contribute to the Union’s eventual dissolution?

Answer 13

The Soviet federal system was highly centralized, despite appearing to grant autonomy to ethnic republics. Over time, national identities within the republics grew stronger, and the central control from Moscow could not contain the nationalist movements, leading to the Soviet Union’s eventual collapse.

Question 14

How did Gorbachev’s reforms set the stage for the collapse of the Soviet Union?

Answer 14

Perestroika: Failure of economic reforms led to economic instability and decline further widening gap between rhetoric and reality

Glastnost: Political liberalisation like the Sinatra doctrine led to the loss of control over Eastern European states, gave rise to Yeltsin and reduced overall control of the CPSU

Question 15

What is social capital, and how does it relate to governance in Russia?

Answer 15

Social capital is about the connections and trust people have with each other in a society, which helps them work together. In Russia, low social capital means people don’t trust each other or the government enough to make it work well. This has led to people preferring strong, authoritarian leaders who can make decisions without needing broad public support.

Question 16

How did the Communist ideology of class struggle influence Soviet policies?

Answer 16

The Communist ideology of class struggle shaped Soviet policies by prioritizing the interests of the working class (proletariat) over those of the bourgeoisie. This led to the nationalization of industry, the collectivization of agriculture, and the emphasis on eradicating perceived class enemies, with the goal of building a classless society. Marxist-Leninist principles were used to justify the centralization of power and the elimination of opposition.

Question 17

What role did state control over the economy and five-year plans play in the Soviet Union?

Answer 17

State control over the economy played a crucial role in the Soviet Union’s efforts to build a socialist system. Under Joseph Stalin, the government implemented five-year plans to rapidly industrialize the country and boost production in key sectors like steel, coal, and machinery. While these plans aimed to transform the economy, they often led to inefficiencies, forced labor, and widespread famine, especially during the collectivization of agriculture.

Question 18

How did isolation from the outside world affect the Soviet Union?

Answer 18

Isolation from the outside world during the early years of the Soviet Union, especially after the 1917 Revolution, was both strategic and ideological. The Soviet government sought to protect the revolution from foreign threats and maintain control over internal developments. This isolation, especially during the Stalin era, contributed to economic self-sufficiency but also led to technological stagnation and a lack of international trade and cooperation.

Question 19

5. What was the role of the purges in Soviet politics?

Answer 19

The Purges during Stalin’s rule, involved identifying and eliminating individuals or groups perceived as threats to the state or the Communist ideology. This included political rivals, intellectuals, military officers, and even ordinary citizens. The Great Purge, resulted in mass arrests, executions, and forced labor, and created a climate of fear that stifled dissent and consolidated Stalin’s control.

Question 20

How did the Cold War shape Soviet foreign policy and internal politics?

Answer 20

FOREIGN POLICY: Changed geopolitical rivalry to ideological rivalry (US capitalism vs USSR communism). This led to military buildup, the formation of alliances (like the Warsaw Pact), and the spread of communist ideology through proxy wars and support for revolutionary movements worldwide.

INTERNAL POLITICS: Cold War heightened paranoia, contributing to further repression and censorship as the Soviet leadership sought to safeguard its power and maintain unity against perceived external threats.