Communism in Crisis: 1976 – 1987

1. Communism in Crisis:1976 – 1987 IB Paper One Document Analysis

2. Topics to be covered, China: • the struggle for power following the death of Mao Zedong, Hua Guofeng, the re-emergence of Deng Xiaoping and the defeat of the Gang of Four • China under Deng Xiaoping: economic policies and the Four Modernizations • political changes, and their limits, culminating in Tiananmen Square (1989)

3. Things to remember… • We have access to documents from USSR, which has allowed some objective secondary research in recent years • Accounts from China outside the official view are hard to come by, and largely anecdotal • Question inherent assumptions in prompts and sources (IB really likes this)

4. China The struggle for power following the death of Mao • the militant revolutionary Gang of Four who wanted a return to strict communist ideals • the pragmatists led by Deng Xiaoping, who argued that China needed to allow a bit of capitalist Western programming to make China the world power that it deserved to be… this seemed to be the line that Mao was following just before his death as cited by his work with Nixon in 1972 and his decision to trade with non-communist countries • there was also Hua Guofeng, a moderate who found himself as the potential successor

5. Gang of Four • Led by Jiang Qing • Radical Leftists, drivers of Cultural Revolution • Power in media, urban militia, universities • Cut short mourning period for Zhou Enlai • Qingming Festival turned into a protest, riot, crackdown

6. Gang of Four Bid for Power • Gang of Four viewed Hua as weak and malleable • Losing base of support, planned a coup • Included assassinations of Hua and other party officials • Gang of Four arrested and denounced

7. End of Gang of Four • Years in prison before trial • Denounced as enemies of the people • Show trial • Death sentences and long prison sentences • Blamed for excesses of Cultural Revolution • “10 Lost Years”

8. Pragmatists • Led by Deng Xiaoping • Support in moderates, rightists, military • Deng rehabilitated-restored to the politburo • Blamed Hua for allowing the G of 4 to commit the Cultural Revolution • Implemented the Four Modernizations

9. 10 Year Plan (way better than 5) • Intended to modernize China • Military: • Modernize technology • Science and Technology: • Reform education, send students overseas • Industry: • Heavy industry, SOE’s, limited autonomy • Agriculture: • Mechanize, Household Responsibility System

10. Adding foreign capital • Open Door Policy • Nixon visited in 1972 • Diverisfy • Need managerial and technical training • Special Economic Zones • Special zones for foreign investment to limit exposure to west • Lenient economic policies?

11. Results? • Huge economic growth (11%) • Specialists training abroad had to adjust to outdated systems at home • Consumer choice grew • Pollution and deforestation • Party members still privileged • Resentment growing…

12. Political Reforms • Economic development led to a desire for political change • Democracy Wall became a forum for public dissent • Pro-democracy advocates grew • “5th Modernization” • Wei Jingsheng (show trial, 15 years)

13. More Political Reforms • Deng travelled abroad, seeking new markets and allies • Foreign journalists (like Jan Wong) allowed to report from within China • Intellectuals allowed some criticism • 1986: students encouraged to participate in government • Demonstrate for better conditions and freedoms

14. Lead-up to Tiananmen Square • Hu Yaobang dies (General Secretary) in April • Mourning turned into criticism and calls for social change • Students lead demonstrations in Tiananmen Square • Pro-democracy movement and “Goddess of Democracy” statue

15. Tiananmen Square, June 1989 • Zhao Ziyang (new Gen. Sec) tried to work with protesters • Students intensified protest, hunger strikes • Global attention due to Gorbachev’s visit • Deng ordered military to seize control • 100s killed, riots suppressed • “Tank Man”

16. Reaction? • World supported protestors • Very little official response to repression • Leaders rounded up and arrested • “Most Favored Nation” status renewed in US • Zhao purged • Economic but no political liberalization

17. Topics to be covered: USSR • Domestic and foreign problems of Brezhnev era, economic and political stagnation, Afghanistan • Gorbachev’s aims and policies, perestroika and glasnost • Consequences of 1980s policies for Eastern Europe (Poland and Czechoslovakia), fall of the Berlin Wall

18. USSR: Brezhnev Era Economic Stagnation • Years of poor harvests led to morale and productivity decline • Consumer goods limited and poor quality • Thriving ‘black market’ • 25% GNP spent on military (missile gap)

19. Dissent in USSR • Samizdat • Self-published illegal pamphlets distributed in USSR • Tamizdat • Smuggled illegal pamphlets published abroad • Minorities and non-Russians • Helsinki Accords 1975 to advocate for equal treatment

20. Political Stagnation • Gerontocracy: rule by elderly • Very conservative • No new ideas or leaders  stability of the cadres • “stability” meant stagnation

21. Foreign Policy Challenges • Brezhnev Doctrine – limited sovereignty • Keep communist regimes in place, protect from internal and external threats • Détente: SALT • Arms limitation • Role in Angolan revolution, Ethiopia, Mozambique

22. Afghanistan 1979 - 1989 • Rebel forces, Mujahideen, oppose PDPA • Mujahideen assassinated PDPA leaders, Soviet advisors…civil war brewing • Invasion to support PDPA, invoking Brezhnev Doctrine • 10 year intervention, 10,000s lives lost • “USSR’s Vietnam” • CIA supported Mujahadeen

23. Entr’acte:Andropov and Chernenko • Brezhnev died 1982 • Continuation of much the same policies • Supported suppression of Polish Solidarity movement • Poor relations with USA (KAL incident) • Gorbachev came to power in 1985

24. Gorbachev, 1985-1989 • 54 = young and vital! • Reformer • Sought to repair an ailing system • No desire to end communism

25. Gorbachev’s Reforms • Decreased alcohol consumption (lost tax revenue) • Perestroika: Economic restructuring • Decentralize planning, end price controls • Glasnost: Political policy • Open to criticism, dissidents rehabilitated • Demokratiztsiya

26. Gorbachev’s Foreign Policy • Satellites states were expensive! • Renounced Brezhnev Doctrine • Withdrew from Afghanistan • Too costly, no clear objective • Met with Reagan several times • improved rapport with USA • INF and START treaties • Reduced stockpiles and cost of maintaining arsenal

27. Consequences in Eastern Europe • Satellites facing same problems • Dissent, economic instability, shortage of consumer goods • Local party officials (apparatchiks) concerned with Gorbachev’s reforms • Fear losing control • Nationalist movements gain momentum

28. Poland - Solidarity • Origins -1970 strike in Gdansk shipyard • Lech Walesa and others strike for better conditions • “consumer socialism” • Rent and food prices controlled • Strikes and riots in 1976 to protest increased food prices • Led to dissent movement and underground newspaper “Robotnik”

29. Poland cont… • Pope John Paul II visited 1980, encouraged dissent on religious grounds • National debt rising, food prices again • 21 demands, including legalize trade unions, pay and working conditions • Allowed to exist for 469 days • Leader imprisoned, martial law

30. Poland Cont… • Created atmosphere of pluralism • Moral revolution • Peaceful focus, anti-political • 1981 October Program challenged Communist Party • Martial Law imposed, Walesa imprisoned…again

31. Poland Cont… • Jaruzelski (Polish PM) imposed control • Allowed media and religious freedom as long as distanced from Solidarity • Weakness of economy difficult to address • “Fondest dream is to locate a roll of toilet paper” • Solidarity legalized and invited to government meetings in Feb 1989 • Sweep elections

32. East Germany – Berlin Wall • GDR loyal hardliners, Stasi feared • “Ostpolitik” mend relations between east and west • Open borders in Hungary and Czechoslovakia led to alarming exodus to west • Dissent and protests abound • Travel laws relaxed, wall opened 9 Nov 1989

33. Czechoslovakia – Velvet Revolution • Resisted de-Stalinization • Economic decline in 1950s led to reforms • Dubcek as leader: “Socialism with a human face” • Prague Spring 1968 • Open debate, relax censorship and travel rules, greater autonomy for Slovakia • Reforms concerned hardliners

34. Czechoslovakia • Potential opposition parties form, people test the limits with criticisms • Leader Vaclav Havel, writer and dissident • Genuine democracy seemed attainable • Neighboring regimes concerned by reforms • Hardliners appeal to Moscow

35. Prague Spring 1968 • Warsaw Pact forces invaded in August • First exercise of “Brezhnev Doctrine” • Failure demonstrates the difficulties of attempting reform from within • Dubcek forced to capitulate at gunpoint in Moscow

36. “Normalization” • Gustav Husak hardliner • Purge party of reformers, censorship restored, etc • Roll-back of reforms • State provided basic standard of living, better than most Soviet bloc states • Charter 77 issued as opposition, gained global publicity

37. Czechoslovakia 1981-1989 • Perestroika and Glasnost exciting ideas in Prague • Even more exciting: rejection of Brezhnev Doctrine Dissidents remain cautious… • Economic decline led to greater dissent • Opportunities for youth limited

38. Velvet Revolution 1989 • Opposition coming from environmental groups, political groups, rock and roll, etc • Religious freedom demands growing (like Poland) • May: borders open, June: Solidarity wins, November: Berlin Wall down • Nov 17 commemoration turned into anti-government riot

39. Velvet Revolution cont… • Riot dealt with violently, leading to more protest and outrage • Civic Forum created by Havel to articulate demands • Communist party can’t hold on – no new ideas • President resigns • Havel new president by the end of 1989

40. Revolutions of 1989 • Attempting economic reforms of communism resulted in revolutions and the end of communism in Europe • Leadership aging/dying • Students did not want to reform communism but instead overcome it • Rather than a show of strength, Brezhnev Doctrine was an articulation of weakness as force was required to prevent countries from leaving sphere of influence