Collapse of the Soviet Union (1989–1991)

List collapse of the Soviet Union

• Nationalism and independence movements

• decline of the CPSU authority

• economic freefall

• rise of Yeltsin

• New Union Treaty

• August coup

• Belavezha Accords

• End of the USSR

Describe nationalism and independence movements

• The Baltic states spearheaded the “Singing Revolution.”

• Lithuania declared independence in March 1990, followed by Latvia and Estonia.

• By 1991, 9 of 15 republics had declared sovereignty.

• Moscow’s use of force (e.g., Vilnius, Jan 1991 — 14 protesters killed) radicalised secession further.

Describe decline of CPSU authority

• Glasnost exposed corruption and Stalinist atrocities,

  • discrediting the Party.

• Membership fell from 19m (1986) to 16.5m (1990).

• In March 1990, the abolition of Article 6 ended the CPSU’s constitutional monopoly,

  • destroying its political legitimacy.

Describe economic freefall

• By 1990, GDP fell by 4%,

• inflation exceeded 300%,

• and shortages of basic goods left shops empty.

• The budget deficit reached ≈20% of GDP.

• Massive strikes, including the miners’ strike of 1989, eroded trust in the system.

Describe rise of Yeltsin

• Former Party insider Boris Yeltsin emerged as a populist reformer.

• He was elected Chairman of the Russian Supreme Soviet (May 1990),

• then President of the Russian Republic (June 1991) with 57% of the vote.

• He championed Russian sovereignty over Union authority,

  • undermining Gorbachev.

Describe New Union Treaty

New Union Treaty (1991):

• Gorbachev proposed transforming the USSR into a looser federation to preserve unity.

• Hardliners in the CPSU and KGB opposed the treaty,

  • fearing disintegration.

Describe August coup

August Coup (19–21 Aug 1991):

• Conservative plotters detained Gorbachev in Crimea and declared emergency rule.

• Mass protests in Moscow, with Yeltsin famously standing on a tank, rallied public resistance.

• The coup collapsed within 3 days,

• discrediting both the conservatives and Gorbachev.

Describe Belavezha Accords

Belavezha Accords (8 Dec 1991):

• Leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus signed accords

• declaring the USSR dissolved

• replaced by the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Describe end of the USSR

End of the USSR (25 Dec 1991):

• Gorbachev resigned as President,

• and the red flag was lowered over the Kremlin for the last time,

• formally ending the Soviet Union.

Evaluate the collapse of the Soviet Union 

The USSR collapsed due to a convergence of nationalist movements, economic breakdown, and political delegitimisation.

Gorbachev’s reforms unintentionally accelerated disintegration, while Yeltsin’s rise ensured Russia led the dissolution.

The failed August Coup destroyed any chance of preserving the Union, making December 1991 the symbolic and political end of Soviet communism.