Gorbachev's failures and the collapse of the USSR

Gorbachev’s fundamental mistakes

some historians argue that G made fundamental mistakes that led to the collapse of the USSR they argue that

• Gs fundamental mistake was thinking that reform could fix the USSR

• G failed to anticipate the effects of Glasnost or the extent to which revelations about the past would undermine claims of the communist party

• he failed to see the fragility of commitment to the USSR in this sense he believed the communist party’s own propaganda that communism had created a new soviet people who no longer felt the pull of nationalism

• G’s reforms created the crisis that destroyed the USSR without them the USSR could have continued for decades

Gorbachev’s policy mistakes

some historians argue that G made key policy mistakes that led to the collapse of the USSR

• his initial policy of uskoreniye was designed to restructure industry and increase output restructuring would disrupt production thus lowering output in the short tern increasing production would make it impossible to restructure these competing objectives are one reason why the policy failed

• he continually introduced new reforms his constant changes of direction meant policies never had the time they needed to succeed

• G attempted economic and political reform at the same time and therefore weakened the entire soviet system

• G continually weakened the power of the party but did not establish a new power base with the authority to hold the USSR together

Gorbachev’s tactical mistakes

some historians argue that G’s tactical mistakes caused that collapse of the USSR they argue that

• G failed to win over the communist party the party was the only institution that was strong enough to introduce reform. However in practice the party resisted reform and therefore hampered Gorbachev’s programme

• having embraced democracy he refused to stand for election weakening his own position

• having survived the coup he failed to abandon the communist party and therefore he lost public support

contrast with china

some historians contrast Gs failed reforms with china’s successful ones. at the beginning of 1980 china was a communist country similar to the USSR Chinese leaders introduced reform an the communist party still retained power they argue

• Chinese embraced market reform more quickly and comprehensively than G as a result the economy continued to grow during the process of reform by contrast Gs reforms were slow and inconsistent G mistakenly tried to integrate markets into a command economy this approach failed creating an economic crisis which led to widespread dissatisfaction among the people

• communist leaders in china introduced economic reform without political reform the lack of political freedom meant that china was still politically stable throughout the reform process from this perspective the USSR collapsed because G tried to introduce economical and political reforms at the same time therefore when perestroika led to economic chaos the soviet people were able to protest and vote for new leaders which lead to the break up of the USSR

conclusion

G’s mistakes and his inability go foresee the consequences of his policies undermined the authority of the communist party and his own position therefore by 1991 it was impossible for either G or the communist party to hold the union together