G

Ethnic Conflicts AND the Breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991

Pan-Africanism

  • Emerged in the early 20th century, re-emerging in the 1960s and 1970s.
  • Advocated for Black Nationalism and unity among African peoples.
  • In the US, it inspired the Black Power movement.
  • In Africa, the Organization for African Unity was formed in 1963, followed by the African Union in 2002 to promote political and economic integration.

Pan-Arabism

  • Originated in the early 20th century.
  • Emphasized common history and language for a unified Arab state.
  • Later focused on political cooperation, trade, cultural exchange, economic goals, and military cooperation.
  • The Persian Gulf War highlighted divisions between Arab states.

Bosnia-Herzegovina

  • After WWI, became part of Yugoslavia.
  • Post-Soviet rule, ethnic tensions surfaced.
  • In 1991, Croatia and Slovenia declared independence, followed by Bosnia in 1992.
  • Bosnian Serbs initiated ethnic cleansing against Muslims.
  • NATO intervened in 1995, leading to the Dayton Accord, granting Bosnian Serbs limited territory while recognizing the Muslim-controlled state government.

Rwandan Genocide

  • In 1994, Hutus massacred approximately 800,000 Tutsis in 100 days.
  • Roots trace back to German colonial rule favoring the Tutsi minority.
  • A Hutu coup in 1961 established a Hutu government.
  • Hutu extremists initiated the organized massacre of Tutsis and moderate Hutus after the Rwandan president's plane was shot down.
  • The Tutsi takeover ended the killing; UN peacekeeping forces arrived after significant casualties.

Reforms of Khrushchev

  • Nikita Khrushchev came to power in 1958 and initiated de-Stalinization.
  • Eased censorship, freed political prisoners, and reduced the secret police's power.
  • Enacted economic reforms to increase local control and consumer goods production.

Reforms of Gorbachev and the Breakup of the Soviet Union

  • Mikhail Gorbachev took power in 1985 and introduced reforms.
  • Glasnost ("openness") ended censorship and allowed open discussion.
  • Perestroika ("restructuring") aimed to reform the government and economy.
  • Allowed limited private enterprise, leading to economic turmoil and political unrest.
  • Eastern European countries declared independence.
  • A failed coup against Gorbachev in 1991 weakened his control, leading to his resignation and the end of the Soviet Union.