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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.
