Russia

Popular Revolution

A revolution directed by the people of a country against the leaders, often due to oppression.

February Revolution 1917

A series of public protests in Petrograd lasting 8 days, leading to the abolition of the Russian monarchy and the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II.

Provisional Government

Formed from Duma members, led by Alexander Karensky, to rule Russia temporarily after Tsar's abdication, sharing power with the Petrograd Soviet.

October Revolution 1917

Led by the Red Guard, Trotsky, and Kronstadt sailors, resulting in the Bolsheviks taking control after storming the Winter Palace.

Bolshevik Decrees

Decrees by Lenin to extend Bolshevik rule, including the Decree on Land abolishing private property and the Decree on Peace attempting to exit WWI.

War Communism

Bolshevik policy taking control of industries, banning private trade, and requisitioning grain, leading to a black market and famine.

New Economic Policy (NEP)

Introduced by Lenin in 1921, allowing some capitalism to improve the economy, leading to the rise of kulaks and Nepmen.

Scissor Crisis

Economic issue where industrial prices rose while agricultural prices fell, causing problems for farmers and potential famine.

Stalin's Economy

Focused on rapid industrialization, collectivization, and a command economy, aiming to catch up with the West.

Collectivization

Stalin's agricultural policy to group farms into state-controlled units, leading to mass starvation, like the Holodomor in Ukraine.

Socialism in One Country

The policy adopted by Stalin focusing on building socialism within the Soviet Union rather than promoting worldwide revolution.

Famine during War Communism

Occurred in 1921-22 due to the policies of War Communism leading to food shortages and starvation.

Liquidization of the Kulak class

Under Stalin, the elimination of wealthy peasants as a class, contrasting Lenin's New Economic Policy.

Purges

Actions under Stalin involving removal from party positions, labor camps, or execution to eliminate perceived threats.

Soviet Constitution of 1936

Introduced rights like voting for all citizens, freedom of speech and religion, and guaranteed employment.

Stalin's Control

Stalin's consolidation of power involved creating subgroups, eliminating opposition, and promoting his ideas through popularity.

Kirov's Death

Kirov's assassination in 1934 marked the beginning of the Great Purges under Stalin.

Cult of Personality

A form of propaganda glorifying a leader, as seen in Stalin's efforts to idolize himself as Lenin's successor.

De-Stalinization

Initiated by Khrushchev, aimed to reverse Stalin's policies and cult of personality, promoting reforms and rehabilitation.

Space Race

The competition between the USA and USSR to achieve significant advancements in space technology, boosting national morale.

Brezhnev's Reforms

Brezhnev counteracted quality production by incentivizing quantity, leading to a focus on safe, profitable goals.

Kosygin

Moved to foreign affairs role in 1968.

Andropov

Former KGB head aimed to increase workplace discipline due to common issues like drunkenness.

Economic Decline

Waste ignored, poor product quality due to quantity incentives, low productivity, and environmental damage.

Command Economy

State-controlled production and pricing continued, lacking innovation incentives and responsiveness to change.

Social Contract

Provided employment and living standards for high-quality work, leading to low productivity and a lack of motivation.

Outdated Technology

Despite past successes, the focus on outdated fields hindered progress, with newer technologies neglected.

Military-Industrial Complex

Brezhnev's foreign policy led to high military expenditure, diverting resources from other sectors.

Gerontocracy

Officials held positions for long periods, leading to an aging workforce and inefficiency.

Stability of Cadres

Discouraged frequent government changes, hindering progress and promoting job security over efficiency.

Art and Culture Control

Leaders used art for propaganda, with Lenin supporting Proletkult and avant-garde, Stalin promoting Socialist Realism, Khrushchev allowing thaws and freezes, and Brezhnev clashing with artists.

Religion

Leaders had varying stances on Orthodox Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, with actions ranging from persecution to tolerance.

Marxism

Belief in working according to ability and receiving according to need, criticizing capitalism for exploiting the poor.

Lenin

Introduced principles in the Soviet constitution like abolishing private land and introducing universal labor duty.

NEP

Policy allowing private construction companies, rent, and continued redistribution after outlawing it.

Ideological Housing

Apartments with collective facilities, exemplified by the Narkomfin apartment house in Moscow.

Stalin

Faced a housing crisis due to urban population growth, leading to poor living conditions in places like Magnitogorsk.

Social Security

Evolved from War Communism's harsh labor policies to Stalin's benefits distribution through factories and farms.

Khrushchev

Prioritized improving living standards, doubling urban housing, and increasing healthcare access.

Women

Varied treatment under different leaders, from enabling female workers to pronatal policies and restrictions on personal freedoms.

Fall of the USSR

Caused by poor leadership, economic weaknesses, nationalist resurgence, and Gorbachev's failed reforms.

Perestroika

Three-stage reform process aiming to modernize the economy, abolish single-party rule, and introduce market forces.

Chernobyl Disaster

A nuclear reactor explosion in April 1986 due to poor management, reflecting larger problems in the Soviet system and covered up by the government.

Nationalism in USSR Pre-1985

Made up of 15 republics with various national and ethnic groups, each with its own government, while the Soviet Communist Party in Moscow held overall power.

Impact of Gorbachev Replacing Corrupt Officials

Local leaders lost jobs to Russians, economic decline blamed on new Russian leadership, and Gorbachev's Politburo included only one non-Russian.

Impact of Glasnost on Nationalism

Exposed Stalin's persecution of ethnic minorities, led to higher living standards in the West, undermined the idea of USSR suiting people in the Republics, and allowed the publication of material demanding national autonomy.

Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe

Gorbachev renounced the Brezhnev Doctrine, adopted the 'Sinatra Doctrine,' and democratic elections took place in Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia in 1989-90.

Azerbaijan

Experienced the Black January in 1990 with ethnic violence, declared independence in August 1991, and Ayaz Mutalibov was elected as the first president.

Georgia

Witnessed the Tbilisi massacre in April 1989, where nationalist protests against the rights of the Abkhazian minority turned violent, leading to casualties, and later declared independence in April 1991.

Ukraine

Declared sovereignty in July 1990, achieved full independence in August 1991 through a plebiscite, and played a role in forming the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in December 1991.

Kazakhstan

Declared independence in December 1991, becoming the final Soviet Socialist Republic to do so, with Nursultan Nazarbayev leading the declaration.

Uzbekistan

Faced a failed coup against Gorbachev in August 1991, quickly moved towards independence, and saw the persistence of communist control under President Karimov, ignoring democracy and suppressing opposition.