modern

Brehznev Doctrine

A 1968 USSR foreign policy that justified the soviet military intervention in any eastern bloc country where socialist rule was threatened. It was mainly justification for the events of the Prague Spring and invasion of Hungary.

Brehznev era

era of stagnation: economic slowdown, bureaucratic rigidity, political conservatism. brehznev outwardly portrayed it as a period of stability and maturity for socialism

Detente

the process of easing strained relations between countries, primarily through diplomatic efforts.

Warsaw Pact

a military alliance established on May 14, 1955, among the Soviet Union and seven Eastern European countries as response to West Germany's entry into NATO. to provide collective defense and maintain Soviet control over its satellite states until its dissolution in 1991.

Glasnost

a policy of the Soviet government allowing freer discussion of social problems

Perestroika

A policy initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev that involved restructuring of the social and economic status quo in communist Russia towards a market based economy and society

Afghanistan War

1979-1989. Soviet war to preserve communist rule in Afghanistan, opposed by US-funded mujahideen. The "Vietnam of the USSR"

Kremlin

Citadel of Moscow, housing the offices of the Russian government

Ronald Reagan (1981-1989)

contributed to the fall of the Soviet Union by increasing military spending and applying pressure through the Strategic Defense Initiative, which strained the Soviet economy. diplomatic efforts with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev also played a significant role in easing tensions and negotiating arms reductions

Reagenomics

economic policies implemented by Ronald Reagan, focusing on tax cuts, deregulation, and reduced government spending to stimulate economic growth. These policies aimed to encourage investment and job creation, often associated with supply-side economics.

Chernobyl

soviet owned nuclear power plant in Ukraine that had an explosion on 26 april 1986 that became a symbol of soviet secrecy, technological failure and bureaucratic incompetence

Mikhail Gorbachev

Head of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. His liberalization effort improved relations with the West, but he lost power after his reforms led to the collapse of Communist governments in eastern Europe.

Boris Yeltsin

President of the Russian Republic in 1991. Helped end the USSR and force Gorbachev to resign.

Satellite State

A political term that refers to a country which is formally independent, but under heavy influence or control by another country.

Peace Through Strength

Reagan's policy of combating communism by building up the military, including aggressive development of new weapons systems.

Star Wars

President Reagan's proposed weapons system to destroy Soviet missiles from space.

hardliner

a member of a group, typically a political group, who adheres uncompromisingly to a set of ideas or policies.

August coup (1991)

1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt by members of the Soviet Union's government to take control of the country from Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev.

Gorbachev's Resignation

December 25, 1991.

december 26 1991

USSR is formally dissolved

Gorbachev's 'New Thinking'

Policy agenda introduced in 1985 encompassing glasnost, perestroika, and a common home to reform the USSR.

Law on State Enterprises (1987)

Handed control of state businesses to managers and workers collectives once state quotas were supplied.

Law on Cooperatives (1988)

Permitted private ownership and profit-making in services, manufacturing, and trade sectors.

INF Treaty (1987)

Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty signed by Reagan and Gorbachev, eliminating an entire class of nuclear weapons.

March 1991 Referendum

National referendum where over 80 percent voted in favor of preserving a renewed federation of the USSR.