pols p2 10/7

Autonomy from the Soviet Union

• Movement for Autonomy

  • The Solidarity movement was led by Lafayette, a key figure advocating for greater autonomy from the Soviet Union and war independence.
  • He subsequently won the presidency, symbolizing a shift in governance that rejected Soviet dominance.

• Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989)

  • A significant event symbolizing the end of the Cold War was the destruction of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
  • The wall represented the division between East Germany and West Germany.
  • Its demolition became a widely celebrated moment, marking a turning point in European politics.

• Collapse of Soviet-Aligned Governments

  • Following the dismantling of the Berlin Wall, pro-Soviet governments in Eastern Europe such as Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania began to fall.
  • During this transitional period, Mikhail Gorbachev, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, permitted these political changes.
  • This was a stark departure from the actions of previous leaders who had intervened militarily (e.g., in Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968).

• Gorbachev's Leadership and Changes

  • Gorbachev allowed Warsaw Pact nations more freedom to determine their political trajectory, contrasting prior Soviet policies that involved force and suppression.
  • Key Soviet republics, particularly the Baltic nations (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), declared independence.
  • Gorbachev's relatively hands-off approach marked a significant change in Soviet domestic and foreign policy.

• Attempts to Maintain Control

  • The Soviet foreign minister expressed concerns that Gorbachev’s inaction could lead to a situation reminiscent of Nikita Khrushchev's era.
  • Attempts were made by conservative factions, including the KGB, to remove Gorbachev from power, culminating in an attempted coup where he was placed under house arrest.
  • During this turbulent time, the presence of CNN illustrated that global observers were closely watching developments in the USSR.

• Yeltsin's Rise to Prominence

  • Boris Yeltsin emerged as a significant public figure during the turmoil surrounding Gorbachev's house arrest.
  • He famously climbed atop a tank to exhort troops not to use military force against civilians, playing a critical role in preventing military intervention.

Political and Economic Context Post-Bolshevik Revolution

• Political Landscape

  • After the Bolshevik Revolution, the political and economic realities in the Soviet Union were marred by oppression under leaders like Joseph Stalin.
  • Historical context is vital to understanding the transition to Yeltsin's leadership and the evolution of Russian politics.

• Transition from Yeltsin to Putin

  • The course of Russian politics saw continuities and changes as Yeltsin handed over power to Vladimir Putin.
  • Gorbachev's reforms were perceived as insufficient, prompting Yeltsin to seek more substantial political and economic changes.

• Expectations for Democracy

  • There were initial hopes that Russia might emerge as a stronghold of democracy and represent a successful end to the Cold War.
  • These expectations stemmed from the perceived triumph of Western liberalism and the development of political systems leaning toward democracy.

• Yeltsin Era Developments

  • Despite a multi-party system and the holding of elections, true democratic governance did not materialize during Yeltsin’s presidency.
  • Political parties proliferated, with elections appearing free and fair on the surface.

• Liberal Democratic Party

  • The Liberal Democratic Party, which secured the majority of votes in the early elections, was led by Vladimir Zhirinovsky.
  • His leadership and party rhetoric presented a stark contradiction to liberal democratic ideals:
  • Belief that the army requires armed conflicts both domestically and internationally for revival.
  • Made anti-Semitic remarks suggesting that visible non-Russian faces on television were undesirable, which sparked widespread disgust.
  • Expressed aggressive sentiments towards territorial disputes with Japan, suggesting military action including nuclear threats.
  • Such statements indicated that the purported democratic advancement may not align with genuinely liberal democratic principles.

• Subsequent Elections

  • In later elections, the Liberal Democratic Party saw a decrease in prominence, while traditional power structures began to reassert themselves in Russian politics.