The End of the Soviet Union and Eastern European Transformation

Flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to the end of the Soviet Union and the transformations in Eastern Europe during and after the Cold War.

Perestroika

The policy advocated by Gorbachev in the 1980s that called for economic restructuring and reform in the Soviet Union.

Glasnost

The policy of openness introduced by Gorbachev that allowed for greater freedom of expression and public discussion of political issues.

Mikhail Gorbachev

Leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991, known for his reforms which aimed to revitalize the Soviet economy and political structure.

Boris Yeltsin

Elected president of the Russian Republic in 1991; played a key role in the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Lithuania's independence

Proclaimed on March 11, 1990, marking one of the first actions toward the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

The August Coup of 1991

An attempted coup by hard-line Communist Party members against Gorbachev, which ultimately failed and accelerated the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

A regional organization formed following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, comprising several former Soviet Republics.

Shock therapy

A set of economic reforms implemented in post-communist countries that aimed for rapid transition to a market economy.

Czechoslovakia's split

The peaceful division of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia on January 1, 1993.

Berlin Wall

A barrier that divided East and West Berlin, symbolizing the Cold War, which fell on November 9, 1989, leading to German reunification.

Hungary's democratic transition

Political reform that led to the establishment of a democratic republic following the fall of communism in 1989.

Romanian Revolution of 1989

A series of protests and confrontations that led to the overthrow of the Ceaușescu regime in Romania.

Chechnya

A republic within Russia that sought independence and experienced conflict during Yeltsin’s presidency.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization; a military alliance that saw the inclusion of Eastern European countries after the Cold War.

European Union (EU)

A political and economic union of European countries that some Eastern European states sought to join after communism.

Ethnic tensions

Conflicts and disputes arising between different ethnic groups, exacerbated by Gorbachev's reforms.

Solidarity Movement

A labor and political movement in Poland that helped to end communist rule there and led to the first free elections in Eastern Europe.