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The Soviet Union: From Superpower to Collapse

The Soviet Union: From Superpower to Collapse 1945-1991. The Soviet Union: From Superpower to Collapse. 1945-1991. After Great Patriotic War, Stalin tightened internal controls.

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The Soviet Union: From Superpower to Collapse

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  1. The Soviet Union: From Superpower to Collapse 1945-1991 The Soviet Union: From Superpower to Collapse 1945-1991

  2. After Great Patriotic War, Stalin tightened internal controls. Stalinization of Eastern Europe: 1) one-party Soviet-backed communist rule, 2) collectivization of agriculture, 3) central planning. Five-Year Plans—met goals but few consumer goods and declining productivity. Death in 1953 triggered revolts in Eastern bloc. Stalinization

  3. Collective rule from 1953-1956 “Secret speech” in 1956 at 20th Party Congress—de-Stalinization Economic goals—consumer goods and more productive agriculture. “We will bury you…” Limited freedoms—One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich Technological developments—Sputnik, space race, etc. Khrushchev and de-Stalinization

  4. Economic goals did not meet targets. Foreign policy adventures undermined support in Politburo/Central Committee Poland and Hungary—1956 revolts Ousted in 1964 and gave bad name to reform. The Failure of Reform

  5. Reaffirm traditional institutions—party, bureaucracy, army Continued focus on heavy industry, ignore new technologies Mounting social and economic problems—alcoholism, absenteeism, infant mortality, life expectancy, suicide, low productivity, no consumer goods. Dissent grows from Helsinki Accords. Brezhnev—”No Experiments,” 1964-83

  6. Normalization of relations with U.S. Ostpolitik with Willi Brandt Helsinki Accords end WWII SALT I and ABM treaty Nuclear parity with U.S. and recognition of Soviet sphere 1968—Brezhnev Doctrine (Czechoslovakia) Brezhnev and Detente

  7. Afghanistan invasion and SALT II Grain embargo and Olympics Reagan and “evil empire” Andropov and Chernenko Rise of Gorbachev Cold War Revival & Drift, 1978-85

  8. Perestroika and Glasnost “Socialism with a human face” Release of political prisoners and dissidents (Sakharov) Chernobyl disaster Move toward state (over party) institutions Needs to end Cold War Gorbachev’s Goals, 1985-91

  9. Caught between hardliners and shock reformers Ethnic tensions—Lithuania, 1990 War in Afghanistan Inefficient state-owned enterprises Support in the West Collapse of Soviet empire in Eastern Europe Coup of August 1991 Gorbachev’s Problems

  10. “The old system collapsed before the new system could take hold” CPSU—only “glue” holding USSR together Lack of democratic tradition and infrastructure of private property Extremist groups and revival of nationalism Gorbachev’s Failure

  11. Maverick reformer President of Russia and opposed ’91 coup Commonwealth of Independent States Back-and-forth reform and health War in Chechnya 1993 conflict with Duma Continuing social and economic problems—environmental devastation, mafia, rural poverty, etc. “Cowboy capitalism” Post-Soviet Russia

  12. KGB President, 1999-2008 “Good Tsar” Tames political opposition War in Chechnya (Beslan incident) Reassert Russian power Natural gas and resources as a weapon Putin and Russian Revival?

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