The Fall of the Soviet The Fall of the Soviet UnionUnion

Historical Problems in RussiaHistorical Problems in Russia

Non-Russian ethnic Non-Russian ethnic groups resisted groups resisted assimilationassimilationEconomic planning Economic planning failed to meet the failed to meet the needs of the State needs of the State (arms race with US)(arms race with US)Communism never Communism never took root and lost took root and lost influenceinfluence

Underlying CausesUnderlying CausesYears of Soviet military Years of Soviet military buildup at the expense of buildup at the expense of domestic development domestic development economic growth economic growth stalled/stagnant economystalled/stagnant economyFailed attempts at reformFailed attempts at reformwar in Afghanistan war in Afghanistan general feeling of general feeling of discontent, especially in discontent, especially in the Baltic republics and the Baltic republics and Eastern Europe (i.e. Eastern Europe (i.e. Chernobyl))

Mikhail Gorbachev Mikhail Gorbachev

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

Policy #1: Policy #1: GlasnostGlasnostFreedom of speech Freedom of speech and free elections and free elections 1989 elections - 1989 elections - reformist politicians reformist politicians swept into powerswept into powerunwittingly unleashed unwittingly unleashed emotions and political emotions and political feelings that had been feelings that had been pent up for decadespent up for decadesPandora’s BoxPandora’s Box

Policy #2: Perestroika Economic reform and Economic reform and rebuilding (complete rebuilding (complete economic restructuring)economic restructuring)did not have the did not have the immediate results immediate results Gorbachev had hoped for Gorbachev had hoped for and had publicly and had publicly predictedpredictedUnsuccessful – Unsuccessful – bureaucratic corruptionbureaucratic corruptionPeople used free speech People used free speech to criticize Gorbachevto criticize Gorbachev

Fall of the USSRFall of the USSR

Disintegration began on the peripheriesDisintegration began on the peripheriesBaltic nationalist movements; demanded Baltic nationalist movements; demanded autonomyautonomy

Gorbachev’s ResponseGorbachev’s Responsedecision to not use decision to not use military force to put down military force to put down revolutions in Eastern revolutions in Eastern EuropeEuropeallowing revolutions to allowing revolutions to run their course would run their course would spell disaster for the spell disaster for the Soviet UnionSoviet UnionUltimately eroded the Ultimately eroded the power of the Soviet Union power of the Soviet Union during 1989 and 1990. during 1989 and 1990.

August CoupAugust CoupAugust 1991 – “hard-line” August 1991 – “hard-line” Communists take over of Communists take over of governmentgovernmentlast-ditch effort to save last-ditch effort to save USSRUSSRcountry went into an country went into an uproar; massive protestsuproar; massive protestssoldiers themselves soldiers themselves rebelled – “can’t fire on rebelled – “can’t fire on our countrymen”our countrymen”Coup collapsed after 3 Coup collapsed after 3 daysdays

Results of August CoupResults of August Coup

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

Collapse of the Soviet Union - Collapse of the Soviet Union - December, 1991December, 1991

a new entity was formed “Commonwealth a new entity was formed “Commonwealth of Independent Republics" – 15 countriesof Independent Republics" – 15 countriespolitical independencepolitical independencethe Soviet Union, with its centralized the Soviet Union, with its centralized political and economic system, had political and economic system, had ceased to existceased to exist

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

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

Response in the WestResponse in the Westvictory for freedomvictory for freedomtriumph of democracy triumph of democracy over totalitarianism, over totalitarianism, superiority of capitalism superiority of capitalism over socialism over socialism Rejoicing - formidable Rejoicing - formidable enemy was brought to its enemy was brought to its kneeskneesRelief – end of Cold War Relief – end of Cold War which had hovered over which had hovered over the two superpowersthe two superpowers

Results of the FallResults of the Fall

transformed the entire world political situationtransformed the entire world political situationreformulation of political, economic and military reformulation of political, economic and military alliances alliances America sole military and world hegemonic America sole military and world hegemonic powerpowerEnd of Cold War and MAD threatEnd of Cold War and MAD threat

Review of Russian LeadersReview of Russian Leaders

Alexander KerenskyAlexander Kerensky

1917-19241917-1924

disputed -1953disputed -1953

1955-19641955-1964

1964-19821964-1982

1982-19851982-1985

Yuri Andropov Konstantin Chernenko

1985-19911985-1991