Gorbachev and Yeltsin's responsibility

Gorbachev’s responsibility for the fall

Gorbachev’s reforms

Relaxing control

Gorbachev’s errors

Economic and Political reform

Gorbachev’s tactics

Comparison with China

Gorbachev’s reforms

Gorbachev introduced the terms ‘pluralism’ and ‘markets’ into the language of Soviet politics. He added the word ‘socialist’ in front of them to suggest a union between Communism and elements of the free market.

‘Perestroika’ meant ‘restructuring’. Gorbachev used the word to characterise his reforms.

Relaxing control

Gorbachev stated publicly that he would not use violence to hold together the Soviet Union or the Eastern Bloc countries.

Previous leaders had used violence frequently to deal with opposition. This approach weakened the Party’s grip on the country.

Instead, Gorbachev placed more of an emphasis on respecting the rights of individuals.

He did not want to repeat the terror Stalin had used, which had been revealed through the policy of glasnost.

Economic and political reform

When economic and political reform were combined, this made the problem even worse.

Gorbachev constantly changed his approach and tried to introduce too many reforms too quickly.

He did not replace the Communist Party with a new power base, and this also fueled the collapse.

Gorbachev’s tactics

Gorbachev was not able to win support from the Communist Party for his ideas. Internal resistance meant that his new ideas would never take hold in the country at large.

Gorbachev tried to introduce democracy but refused to stand for election himself to be President.

Comparisons with china

China embraced free market solutions more quickly and with less reservation. The Chinese economy kept growing during the reform years. Gorbachev’s reforms were slower, and the Communists lost authority because they could not show people that their reforms were effective in improving living standards. China did not allow any political freedom.

Yeltsin’s responsibility for the collapse

Yeltsins role

Resignation

nationalism

power

Role

Yeltsin had initially supported Gorbachev. But, as an electable and popular politician himself, he wanted Gorbachev to go further.

Yeltsin was popular for addressing the corruption and privileges of the Communist Party in a public way. He was able to win 89% of the votes in Moscow in 1989.

Resignation

Yeltsin actually resigned from the Communist Party in July 1990. This led to a fall in the Communist Party’s popularity, but not in his own. General party membership dropped by three million people that year.

Yeltsin went as far as positioning himself as a direct rival to Gorbachev. He proposed a non-Communist government

Nationalism

Unlike Gorbachev, Yeltsin was a supporter of nationalist movements. This was the case for both Russian nationalists and those in the other republics.

In 1990 Yeltsin went to a number of different republics around the USSR. He told the leaders of those regions to take a much sovereignty (power) from Moscow as they could.

When the republics declared independence, Yeltsin supported them.

power

Unlike Gorbachev, Yeltsin was a supporter of nationalist movements. This was the case for both Russian nationalists and those in the other republics.

In 1990 Yeltsin went to a number of different republics around the USSR. He told the leaders of those regions to take a much sovereignty (power) from Moscow as they could.

When the republics declared independence, Yeltsin supported them.