The Fall of the Soviet Union

1. The Fall of the Soviet Union

2. Historical Problems in Russia • Non-Russian ethnic groups resisted assimilation • Economic planning failed to meet the needs of the State (arms race with US) • Communism never took root and lost influence

3. Underlying Causes • Years of Soviet military buildup at the expense of domestic development • economic growth stalled/stagnant economy • Failed attempts at reform • war in Afghanistan • general feeling of discontent, especially in the Baltic republics and Eastern Europe (i.e. Chernobyl)

4. Mikhail Gorbachev • March 11, 1985 • Inherited many problems; recognized need for change (the economy needed fundamental reforms) • Introduced two-tiered policy of reform to meet the needs of the Russian state

5. Policy #1: Glasnost • Freedom of speech and free elections • 1989 elections - reformist politicians swept into power • unwittingly unleashed emotions and political feelings that had been pent up for decades • Pandora’s Box

6. Policy #2: Perestroika • Economic reform and rebuilding (complete economic restructuring) • did not have the immediate results Gorbachev had hoped for and had publicly predicted • Unsuccessful – bureaucratic corruption • People used free speech to criticize Gorbachev

7. Fall of the USSR • Disintegration began on the peripheries • Baltic nationalist movements; demanded autonomy

8. Gorbachev’s Response • decision to not use military force to put down revolutions in Eastern Europe • allowing revolutions to run their course would spell disaster for the Soviet Union • Ultimately eroded the power of the Soviet Union during 1989 and 1990.

9. August Coup • August 1991 – “hard-line” Communists take over of government • last-ditch effort to save USSR • country went into an uproar; massive protests • soldiers themselves rebelled – “can’t fire on our countrymen” • Coup collapsed after 3 days

10. Results of August Coup • Gorbachev was unable to reestablish real control • negotiated the transition of power made inevitable by the will of the people. • December 1, 1991 all non-Russian republics declared independence (population wanted democracy) • political movements which had emerged since the implementation of glasnost resulted in immediate fall

11. Collapse of the Soviet Union - December, 1991 • a new entity was formed “Commonwealth of Independent Republics" – 15 countries • political independence • the Soviet Union, with its centralized political and economic system, had ceased to exist

12. How does America fit in? • Russia built up a military arsenal surpassing that of the United States – enormous expense • Collectivized agriculture and inefficient manufacturing – burden on economy • Reagan Administration persuaded Saudi Arabia to increase oil production • resulted in a three times drop of oil prices in 1985; oil was the main source of Soviet export revenues

13. Berlin Wall • June 12, 1987, Reagan challenged Gorbachev: • “General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

14. Response in the West • victory for freedom • triumph of democracy over totalitarianism, • superiority of capitalism over socialism • Rejoicing - formidable enemy was brought to its knees • Relief – end of Cold War which had hovered over the two superpowers

15. Results of the Fall • transformed the entire world political situation • reformulation of political, economic and military alliances • America sole military and world hegemonic power • End of Cold War and MAD threat

16. Review of Russian Leaders

17. Alexander Kerensky

18. 1917-1924

19. disputed -1953

20. 1955-1964

21. 1964-1982

22. 1982-1985 Yuri Andropov Konstantin Chernenko

23. 1985-1991