Soviet Union and Modern Russia Lecture Review

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on the Soviet Union and Modern Russia.

Cult of Personality

Devotion and loyalty towards a leader caused by propaganda, media, and mobilization.

Stalin's Cult of Personality

Saw him as 'Father of the Nation / Wise Leader' and propaganda portrayed him as a military genius.

Lenin’s Cult of Personality

Seen as 'Father of Revolution / Great Leader'; propaganda, preserved in Red Square (Moscow), founded Soviet rule.

Nikita Khrushchev

Leader of the Soviet Union after Stalin's death responsible for De-Stalinization, condemning Stalin’s cult and his rule.

De-Stalinization

The policy of Nikita Khrushchev to condemn Stalin's cult and reduce the power of secret police, release prisoners and reform the Soviet system.

Soviet Union's Satellite States

Provided a security zone from Europe, a buffer against invasion, control/influence, and for military strategy.

Perestroika

Political movement in the Soviet Union during the 1980s, started by Mikhail Gorbachev, meaning 'restructuring,' with economic reforms introducing a market economy.

Glasnost

Policy introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev to increase transparency and freedom, including freedom of speech and press, and political openness.

Ethnic Tensions in the Soviet Union

Policies of Russification and suppression of national identities created resentment; Gorbachev’s policies allowed these tensions to resurface.Nationalist movement gained attention more independence. - Estonia, latvia and Lithuania, caucasus states - Georgia, armenia, Azerbaijan. Central gov cannot control tensions.

Mikhail Gorbachev

Soviet leader who created Glasnost and Perestroika.

Consumer Goods in the Soviet Union

Limited availability, low quality, state-controlled production, pricing, and distribution with little variety. High quality for foreign currency or elite parties or go black market.

Boris Yeltsin

Came to power after the August Coup, implemented economic reforms, and transitioned Russia to a market economy.

Last leader of the Soviet Union

Mikhail Gorbachev

Soviet Leader who won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mikhail Gorbachev

Nationalized Business

A business that is taken over by the government.

Dissident

A person who opposes official policy, especially that of an authoritarian state.

Perestroika economic reforms

Introduce market economy, private ownership and decentralized decision making to stimulate productivity and innovation

Perestroika political reforms

reduce comminism and allow for more democratization

Perestroika political reforms

reduce control of communist party and allow for more democratization

Perestroika social reforms

encourage greater opnennes in government and media, allowing for expression and transparency