Impact of Nationalist Resurgence 2

Nationalism in the Eastern Bloc

Greater autonomy

renegotiating the relationship

reaction of communist hardliners

Greater autonomy

Gorbachev believed the best way to reform the politics of the USSR was to give more autonomy to the individual Republics.

Renegotiating the relationship

From 1990 to 1991, Gorbachev tried to negotiate a treaty to decentralise the Soviet Union.

Mid-July 1991: Eight of the leaders of the republics had agreed on the Union of Sovereign States treaty.

reaction from communist hardliners

Hardline communists were not happy with the treaty. They thought it would cause the collapse of their government.