Yeltsins Role In The Collapse Flashcards
1
Q
Did Yeltsin support Gorbachev?
A
Initially… late 1980s very critical of not embracing reform
2
Q
Yeltsin as a POPULAR RADICAL
A
- Gorbachev becoming more conservative, Yeltsin becomes more popular and more radical
- attacked the communist party/antireformers
- 1989 - campaigned in first multi candidate elections - 89% vote in Moscow (while 5 CC members voted out)
- formed the ORGANISED opposition to the CPSU, the Inter-Regional Deputies Group (dominant within the Congress of peoples deputies
3
Q
Yeltsin and the party
A
- damaged reputation of the CPSU - resigned in 1991
- popular, so when he left the popularity of the party
- membership dropped from 19 million to 16.5 million
4
Q
Yeltsin as Gorbachev rival
A
- high profile and POPULAR political opponent
- 1990 opinion polls show this
- set out a rival and more radical programme to Gorbachev
- presented as a RIVAL leader who would lead a non communist government
5
Q
Yeltsin and nationalism
A
- popular with Russian nationalists, and also within the republics (supported their nationalism too)
- emphasised the autonomy of Russia
- upon visits: ‘take as much sovereignty as you can swallow’
- supported Baltic stated declarations of independence
- new independent governments rivalled that of the USSR
6
Q
YELTSINS POWERBASE
A
- grew as Gorbachev alienated his own (plus invalidated himself with President of the USSR)
- democratic legitimacy - elections in Russian parliament, Russian presidency and the Congress of peoples deputies
7
Q
Yeltsin and the Coup
A
Turned the coup into a REVOLUTION:
- centre of coup opposition
- used new authority to suspend the CPSU 2 days after! The CPSU held the union together!
- then seized party assets
- coup hero, Gorbachev = damaged
8
Q
Yeltsin and the final fall
A
- after coup meeting with Ukraine and Belarus
- destroy the new union treaty
- form the CIS
- thentook hold of the soviet army and made it into the Russian army
