Trajectories from Communism

Nature of USSR rule?

Totalitarian, party monopoly

Who held power in USSR?

Primarily ethnic Russians

What dominated culturally?

Russian language

How were Soviet republics structured?

Formally equal, centrally controlled

What was unique about Russia in USSR?

Lacked separate institutions (absorbed into empire)

Main cause of collapse?

Systemic failure (ideology + economy)

What weakened USSR externally?

Over-extension (e.g. Afghanistan)

What was the “nationalities question”?

Ongoing ethnic tensions

Why did Soviet nationality policy fail?

Linked ethnicity to territory → reinforced divisions

Goal of perestroika?

Reform, not replace system

Why did Gorbachev shift to glasnost?

Reform resistance from bureaucracy

Key unintended effect of reforms?

Empowered educated elites

What happened after 1987?

Rise of nationalism

Main mobilization tool in republics?

Ethnic nationalism

Gorbachev’s mistake on nationalism?

Underestimated ethnic tensions

Why did nationalism radicalize?

Moscow rejected autonomy

Who challenged Gorbachev?

Boris Yeltsin

Yeltsin’s role?

Led opposition, Russian sovereignty push

What drove Russian nationalism?

Economic + political (not ethnic)

Why did Russia abandon empire?

Too costly

What did Gorbachev do by 1990?

Allied with military/KGB

August 1991 putsch effect?

Increased instability

What replaced partocracy?

Ethnocracy

Ethnocracy?

State serves one ethnic group

Why is post-Soviet transition hard?

Democracy + decolonization at same time

Post-Soviet conflicts examples?

Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia, Moldova

Key demographic issue?

Millions outside ethnic homelands

How many Russians outside Russia?

~25 million

Ongoing tensions cause?

Resources + ethnic divisions