The Beginning of the end of the Soviet State

1. The Beginning of the end of the Soviet State “We can’t go on living like this.” - Mikhail Gorbachev

2. Introduction • Cold War created realities out of perceptions • Realities not always present • Cold War became stagnant- status quo: you won’t harm us, we won’t harm you • 1980s- material items procured by U.S. & USSR took on new enormities: missiles, conventional armies, intelligence & propaganda • These powers lost influence to individuals in 1980s • Margaret Thatcher • Ronald Reagan • Pope John Paul II • Lech Walesa • Mikhail Gorbachev • Deng Xiaoping These actors in the world stage were visionaries in who understood the disparity gap between Capitalism and Marxist-Leninism

3. Détente Set the Stage • Détente talks did not free the world from nuclear crisis, but cooperation limited their penchant for threats • Communication, openness, collaboration paved way for a new dialogue and new realities • If Cold War froze WWII, detente froze Cold War • Survival was not assured, but destruction was primary purpose of détente • As technology diffused and learning increased, Marxist-Leninist countries no longer able to hide authoritative measures • People/individuals recognized the power of ideas, words and actions • Difficult for authoritative powers to sell their limitations on thought and expression when other parts of the world seemed to prosper under open conditions

4. Signs of Discontent- Brezhnev’s Soviet Union • 1970: East Germany invited Chancellor Brandt to Erfurt- Brandt is cheered from his balcony • 1970: striking workers in Gdansk & Gydnia (high food prices) quelled by force- dozens of workers killed • Soviet response: increased consumer-good production and import goods from the West…and did not invoke Brezhnev Doctrine • 1970s: USSR exported large sums of oil, falsifying its wealth; allowed USSR to increase military spending • Soviets increased oil prices to Eastern Europe damaging standard of living- oil profits stagnated Soviet production incentives, relied on oil exports • End of 1970s: Soviet GDP was one-sixth of America’s • Soviets invaded Afghanistan to international alienation

5. Problems of Brezhnev’s Soviet Union Regime attacked political dissidents: sent to labor camps, imprisoned, sent to insane asylums KGB encouraged/ordered to invade individual privacy Literary academia and science intellectuals attacked, threatened Economy: “period of stagnation” Focused on quantity, not quality (outdated theory of productions) Economy centralized in Moscow- did not allow for regional differences in pricing/production Soviet Union did not deliver material well-being promised by Communism Growing # of political and economic problems undermined the ‘superiority’ of the Communist state Standard of living was depleted by early 1980s

7. The Individuals Come to the Forefront Détente failed; big gov’t unable to move Cold War forward Brezhnev’s leadership: ineffective, undermined Soviet image Committed to defend human rights- Helsinki 1975- did not provide own people w/ rights though Assumed U.S. struggles in Vietnam & Angola meant class-struggle/Marxism took hold in 3rd world country They were convinced the 3rd world revolutions were ideological based (they were nationalist movements & power corruption) Involved themselves w/ Ethiopia to show solidarity w/ Castro, but gained nothing else from it If gov’t couldn’t fix the ills of the Soviet state, maybe individuals would….

9. Deng Xiaping (China’s Leader- 1978-1994) Agreed that Mao revived China to greatness Agreed at Communist Party’s monopoly in Chinese politics Agreed that détente w/ U.S. was means of countering Soviet aims Disagreed w/ Mao’s controlled, centralized economy On market economy: “It doesn’t matter if the cat is white or black, so long as it catches mice.” Deng proved that lives of Chinese could improve only through open markets (capitalism) 1978-1994- Per capita income tripled; GDP quadrupled Soviet economy actually declined in early 1980s- held firm to outdated economic ideology

12. Margaret Thatcher, UK P.M. – 1979-1990 Challenged social welfare state in W. Europe Targeted high taxes, nationalized industries & gov’t intrusion Thatcher encouraged privatization, deregulation and entrepreneurship gained popular support Caused a blow to Marxism- if Capitalism was an exploiter of people why did so many cheer Thatcher’s reforms? Did not adhere to détente- “We can argue about Soviet motives… but the fact is that the Russians have the weapons…It is simple prudence for the West to respond.”- Thatcher Harsh rhetoric reminiscent of Churchill- didn’t mince words about Soviets- Thatcher called them ‘beasts’

15. Ronald Reagan Ardent aggressor of U.S. aims against Soviets Encouraged and supported Thatcher rhetoric: “If anyone can remind England of the greatness she knew…when alone and unafraid her people fought the Battle of Britain it will be the Prime Minister…” Of détente Reagan said: “Isn’t that what a farmer has with his turkey- until Thanksgiving day?” To Reagan- détente would only perpetuate the Cold War, not end it Reagan had faith and love for Democratic capitalism: communism was a “…temporary aberration which will one day disappear from the earth because it is contrary to human nature.”

17. Lech Walesa Witnessed the police shootings at Gdansk in 1970 Attempted to organize another worker’s movement- was fired in 1976 August 14, 1980: another riotous crowd formed, demanding higher wages Walesa took part in these demonstrations and organized supporters for weeks after Walesa finally had the support he needed- formed the first trade union ever in Marxist-Leninist state The Solidarity movement (Solidarnosc) was given support by Pope John Paul II

18. Soviet Back to the Wall May 13, 1981- Pope was shot by Mehmet Ali Agca (a Turk w/ ties to Bulgarian intelligence)- Soviet Union not implicated in the assassination attempt, but… Italian state prosecutor’s office determined: “In some secret place…some political figure of great power…mindful of the needs of the Eastern bloc, decided that it was necessary to kill [the] Pope.” Moscow detested a power that threatened their own Feared the influence in Poland would diffuse to USSR Soviets pressed Polish authorities to respond, but lacked the punch to see it through Soviet economy could not support invasion and occupancy if they were to invade Russians believed Polish Army (well-trained) would not fire on their own people Marked end of Brezhnev Doctrine & Marxist-Leninism no longer applied to people outside of Soviet borders- Proletariats in Poland rejecting Soviet ideology Brezhnev threatened intervention- Polish gov’t declared martial law

19. The Gorbachev Era (1985-1991) 1982-1985: two Soviet General Secretaries: Yuri Andropov & Konstantin Chernerko Gorbachev understood the ‘pre-crisis’ that existed Gorbachev feared social upheaval if ‘pre-crisis’ not addressed Perestroika introduced by Gorbachev(restructuring): Perestroika was a gamble (calculated): if society is opened up in the slightest, may lead to deeper desire in society for change Economic revitalization = a more tolerant, open political environment Ultimately, communist state unable to limit the tide of internal failures and the changes set forth by Perestroika

20. Goals of Perestroika Limit central control of economy Expand the # of workers who are promoted to managerial positions Encourage a limited degree of privatized entrepreneurial consumer services Move towards private ownership of agricultural lands Pursue joint ventures w/ foreign investors: improve investment capital and technology Problems: Soviet society: inherently suspicious and fearful of change & the unknown Critics: Conservatives questioned how a society could be ‘half-free,’ half-controlled Critics: To encourage individualism would lead to anarchy, undermine communsim

23. Perestroika Leads to Glasnost Glasnost: liberalization of repressive Soviet Politics Openness was stark difference from controlled limitations of speech & expression Glasnost called for political leaders to respond to public inquiries and criticisms Glasnost encouraged the secrecy that permeated Soviet politics to open for better articulation Soviet press published criticisms of economic slackness due to political corruption, drug abuse & alcoholism Glasnost policies led to public discussions on poverty & homelessness- two things the Soviet state denied existed in the past

24. Effects of Glasnost & Perestroika Both political and economic policies opened criticism of Soviet state Realities of problems existed and came to the public in forms of discussion, debates and TV programs Gorbachev did not seek to undermine Communism or Soviet Union Understood complexities of a changing world, more technologically developed and integrated USSR falling far behind and unable to shield population from outside realities New generation of Soviets reviled Stalin and harsh, centralized authority he perpetuated New Soviet desired new ideas, new creativity, new freedoms w/in the context of Communism Glasnost and Perestroika were the beginning of the end for Communist Russia Gorbachev on Glasnost