What explains the fall of the USSR 1985-91?

-How important were the economic weakness in bringing about the fall of the USSR? -How significant were the failures of Gorbachev's political reforms? -What impact did the resurgence of nationalism play in the collapse of the USSR? -How far were Gorbachev and Yeltsin responsible for the collapse of the USSR in 1991?

When did Gorbachev become general secretary?

When did Gorbachev become general secretary?

1985

The soviet economy was in a state of decline

What and when was the campaign against alcohol?

Was a campaign to attack alcoholism, as well as improve the health of the soviet Union, in 1985. Help improve productivity in the workforce. Mid 1980s alcohol made up for 15% of all household spending. Measures the government implemented were:

• Legal drinking age raised to 21

• Number of alchol-selling retails reduced

• Cost of vodka tripled

Gained some benefits, however, the tax revenue gained from alcohol fell significantly. Illegal moonshine liquor was produced and consumed, rising the drinking statistics again.

The date and focuses of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan

• 1986-90

• Focus on investment would be towards science and research, engineering

What were the weaknesses of the Twelfth Five-Year-Plan?

• Investment in the Soviet Union was heavily skewed towards construction projects, sucking in for more investment then intended.

• Soviet industry was known for using equipment that was out of date and easily breakable

• Slow to use new technology

• Agriculture taking a lot of investment while not improving

• Focus on quantity rather than quality

What does perestroika mean / when was it introduced initially?

• January 1987

• Means restructuring. Gorbachev aimed to introduce market mechanism and allow private enterprise leading a revival of the economy.

What were the key reforms of perestroika?

The encouragement of joint venture, January 1987

• Allowed for foreign firms to establish businesses in the soviet union- Moscow got its first Mcdonalds in 1990

The law on state enterprise, June 1987

• Loosening of state control over wages and prices- weakened the authority of Gosplan

Co-operatives were legalised in 1988

• Allowed small-scale private enterprises to be established

• Resulted in the opening of many restaurants, cafes and small shops

What was the impact of Perestroika?

• Not enough food to feed the population

• Higher price on food as it was diverted from state to co-operative shops

• Uncertainty over supplies leading to a wave of hoarding, had to introduce food rationing

• Urban wages rose by 9% in 1988 + 13% in 1989

• By 1990 nearly 3,000 foreign ventures in the USSR- mainly small-scale co-operations

• Reforms often undermined by officials

• Fall in oil prices as oil and gas accounted for 54% of soviet exports in 1984

Glasnost

1986. Policy of openness that encouraged the population to put forward new ideas and show initiative.

What were the complaints of the party?

1. Poor housing

2. Investigations into Soviet history revealed Stalin’s extent of terror and famine in the 1930s

3. The myth of the great patriotic war was busted as the reckless waste of lives were revealed

4. Environmental issues, expose of the damaging impact on the Aral sea by the government irrigation schemes.

Gorbachev’s attempted reforms of the party Defining the functions of the Party and state

Gorbachev sought to seperete party and state. Attempting to do this at the nineteenth party conference of the communist party in June 1988. Largely to do with the result of the nomenklatura system.

Gorbachev’s attempted reforms of the party Shifting power from the Party to the Soviets

Allocating more finance to the soviets in order to give them the resources to support their role. Deputies of the Soviets were elected for five years instead of 2, gave them greater security in their post.

Gorbachev’s attempted reforms of the party Streamlining the Party

Departments of the central committee party were reduced from 20 to 9 and 6 new commissions were created. Accompanied by similar measures to streamline the state. November 1985 Gorbachev had created ‘super ministries’ to coordinate economic planning. 5 ministries were merged to create one ‘Super ministry’ for agriculture.

Gorbachev’s attempted reforms of the party A clampdown on corruption

Leading casualty was Brezhnev’s son-in-law, sentenced to 12 years in prison. Attacks on corrupt party officials were popular with the public, caused resentment within the party.

Gorbachev’s attempted reforms of the party Moves towards democratisation and its impact

• Early 1987 gorbachev discussed secret ballots for multiple candidates.

• June 1988 Gorbachev announced principle of multiplecandidate elections would be extended to national level, attempt to seperate the party from the state

• Resulted in weakening the power of the communist party

Impact of Gorbachev’s failure to reform the party Increasing divisions within the party

Failure to bring substantial reform of the party alienated both ‘liberals’ and ‘conservatives’ in the party

Impact of Gorbachev’s failure to reform the party Alienating reformers

More radical reformers (Yeltsin) there was an increasing realisation that the party would not carry through the reforms they felt were needed and desired. Led to disagreements between Yeltsin and Gorbachev.

Impact of Gorbachev’s failure to reform the party Alienating conservatives

March 1988 hard-line communists attempted to strike back and gain some control over events. While Gorbachev was away a letter was published in the news-paper by an unknown communist, complaining about the constant undermining of the work of Stalin and glasnost.

Impact of Gorbachev’s failure to reform the party Development of factions

Occurence of arguments between liberals and conservatives in the party. Factions within the party were prohibited, informal groupings started to emerge. Reformers formed an inter-religion group and conservatives formed Soyuz.

Impact of Gorbachev’s failure to reform the party Abolition of Article 6

Article 6 of the soviet constitute stated that the communist party held the position of “The leading and guiding force of soviet society and the nucleus of its political system, of all state organisations and public organisations”. Sarkhorov was a leading critic who called for the end of article 6. Gorbachev repealed it on March 1990 and ended the party’s monopoly on power.

What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?

Soviet foreign policy that stated any threat to “socialist rule” in any satelite state was a threat to them, therefore, it justified the intervention of fellow socialist states.

How did the country gain independence from the USSR Poland?

Communist government yielded to pressure from the independent workers’ organisations, solidarity, 1986, and decided to allow it and any other political groups to stand in elections. The general elections saw solidarity beat communism.

How did the country gain independence from the USSR Hungary?

1988 the hardliner leader of the communist party, Janos Kadar was sacked. Government was now dominated by reformers, decided to allow other parties to contest elections.

How did the country gain independence from the USSR East Germany?

Gorbachev’s visit to East Berlin, october 1989, encouraged the people for reform. Mass demonstrations on the streets for reforms 9th November the Berlin wall, was dismantled by the ‘people power’.

How did the country gain independence from the USSR Czechoslovakia

November 1989 the communist regime was forced to make concessions in response to public demonstrations calling for reforms. Civic forum emerged, aiming to get rid of communism.

How did the country gain independence from the USSR Romania?

Discontented population- lack of food and lack of consumer goods. Demonstrations against communism started at the end of 1989, support for the regime collapsed.

Why did nationalist sentiment grow within the USSR?

• Environment concerns

• Insecurity of local party leaders

• Culture and language

What were the limits of Nationalism?

• Limited experience of independence

• The soviet Union had allowed a degree of autonomous control

• Received economic investment

• Loyalty to tribal and local groupings

• Ethnic russians

What were Gorbachev’s failings?

• Lack of vision

• Expectations

• Foreign Policy- ending Brezhnev doctrine

• Insensitive handling of national minorities

• Naivety- Glasnost

• Inconsistency

• Indecision

What were Gorbachev’s successes?

• Gorbachev was intelligent and had personal charm, helped him attain broad support in his reforms

• Avoided using force to impose his will

How did Yeltsin challenge Gorbachev?

• Establish firm links with other reformers and critics of Gorbachev

• Gorbachev brought back elections allowing Yeltsin to win the vote in Moscow

• Yeltsin elected chairman of the Congress May 1990

• He encouraged the nationalist movements

Union Treaty of 1991

Both Yeltsin and Gorbachev signed the novo-Ogarevo Agreement

The August Coup of 1991

• Gorbachev on holiday, a state emergency committee formed to take over the running of the country. Series of repressive measures took place.

• Lasted 4 days, poorly planned

• Yeltsin stand against the plotters increased his image of freedom and reform