the collapse of communism

The collapse of Communism in the Eastern European soviet satellite states; the end of the Brezhnev Doctrine and significance of events of 1989

The Brezhnev doctrine when Gorbachev came into power, and what effect this had in eastern europe?

the doctrine lasted in the 80s but when Gorbachev came into power in 1985 change was clearly lurking in the states

the states had the same problem as the USSR,bad economy and lack of consumer goods

Gorbachev wanted to lessen the load they had become as they spent so much money in the satellite states

why was the Brezhnev doctrine important for the standing of the eastern European communism?

the Brezhnev doctrine had really upheld communism, they may have feared an invasion from Moscow but the matter of the fact was that Moscow would support them against internal dissidence which upheld their authority

what were the 2 changes that the European states could not make

leave the warsaw pact

challenge the communist authority

how did the changing circumstances in Eastern Europe affect this

before the soviet govt was willing to crush the internal uprising

* Hungary 1956
* czecholoslovakia 1968
* Poland 1981

but this was no longer the case which meant that the communist countries in each state were up for criticism because no one was helping them uphold their authority in the country

poland

1981- solidarity is crushed

1986- the polish leader assumes that the solidarity popularity had decreased and believed that he need to make up with them anyways so he forgave all the political prisoners

1986- however there was also an economic crash

1988 Feb - to deal with the economy, food prices were raised

* this led to strikes and demands for change, the polish people said they were using glasnost
* the polish govt had no support from Moscow to deal with dissenters

Poland 1989

February 1989- they agreed to meet with the union leaders to come to agreements

3 things were agreed upon, 1. legalisation of non-govt trade unions


2. creation of the position president
3. formate of a senate which meant that 35% of the govt would be elected

June 1989 elections, solidarity won 92/100 seats they were allowed, the people wanted solidarity

7th August 1989- Walesa demanded a govt led by the solidarity and the soviets agreed, there was still lots of communism in the party

Hungary?

Janos Kadar was the leader and he was part of the 1956 suppression in Hungary so it was clear that he was not going to extend any reform programs

But WORSENING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, led to general dissatisfaction which led even dedicated communists for alternative routes to save the country

1988, Kadar resigned and Nemeth made a deal with the Germans bank (1 million Deutsch Mark) which led to him becoming the president

Nemeth after his economic reforms created political ones

the govt adopted basic freedoms, civil rights and electoral reforms, they were ready for a multi-party system

April 1989; soviets agreed to withdraw all its forces by 1989

June 1989; it was agreed that free elections in 1990

September 1989; they opened their border with Austria and allow east germans to travel through into west Germany which led to a crisis in east Germany in 1989 November

by 1990, they were done with communism

East Germany a history?

they had been the most loyal satellite state

they had been getting benefits from ostpolitik

1984, the two german states had decided on cultural exchanges and the removal of land mines suggesting a commitment by both

it seemed that in 1988, no one foresaw the changes that would come because it seemed like the eastern regime was accepted as late as 1988

Honecker was the last of the Brezhnev age line so.. he was dedicated to communism

how did Hungary have an effect on east germany?

2 May 1989; the Hungarian removed its fence between its border with the east germans, travel between the 2 countries was technically illegal

September 1989; 60,000 east germans had gone to Hungary, the senate of Hungary said they would not punish anyone that would came over

due to lots of international pressure, the east german govt had to temporarily allow for travel to west Germany as long as they promised to return

what did this lead to?

October 1989; the eastern germans protested for lack of reforms inspired by their other eastern states

18th October 1989; Honecker was forced to resign and replaced by Krenz who adopted perestroika and glasnost

November 1989? Krenz visited Gorbachev and was not given financial aid

growth had dropped to 2.8%, the east german govt had little to offer its citizens so they had to become more lac by relaxing travel was 5th November but this was not seen as enough and they had lost control over the govt for a second and the politburo was forced to reign

9th November; another travel law was proposed which authorised foreign travel without advance notice and free transit into west Germany

they thought this would lead to increased popularity but it caused the country to collapse

December, the coalition was made in replacement of the communist govt

3 oct 1990; two Germany are back together after 41 years!

Czechoslovakia,

glasnost and perestroika opened up the country to further discussion and open opposition to the regime

communist maintained power until the very end of the collapse in 1989

people were arrested for demonstrating at the soviet invasion

communism was maintained in the country because unlike other countries their economy was going strong so people did not really have any complaints

key dates Czechoslovakia?

1989 January; a demonstration, for a student suicide, 13 members were arrested and jailed for organising this commemoration. Rather than suppress the political movement it led to even more opposition

there had been issues with the country as well

* the respiratory hospitals
* the lakes were contaminated

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July 1989; a limited economic reform but it was not enough, people were loving what happened in Poland

the civic forum?

laws for free elections, social justice, clean environment, educated people and a return to Europe and prosperity

Havel?

28th December he became the president and the political change was complete

end of brezhnev doctrine?

people can only live with communism if they want to, not because they are forced to do it

significance of the events of 1989

in 1985 Gorbachev wanted to reform communism but it seemed fairly clear that he was determined to keep the socialist’s sphere intact

he made it possible for the change in 189 by admitting that he would never use force