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The fall of the soviet union
- 1. The Fall ofthe SovietThe Fall of the Soviet UnionUnion
- 3. History’s Important?History’s Important? RussianRevolution inRussian Revolution in 19171917 Established aEstablished a communist state;communist state; became totalitarianbecame totalitarian Tried to createTried to create unified, central stateunified, central state where national andwhere national and ethic differences wereethic differences were eliminatedeliminated
- 4. Historical Problems inRussiaHistorical Problems in Russia Non-Russian ethnicNon-Russian ethnic groups resistedgroups resisted assimilationassimilation Economic planningEconomic planning failed to meet thefailed to meet the needs of the Stateneeds of the State (arms race with US)(arms race with US) Communism neverCommunism never took root and losttook root and lost influenceinfluence
- 5. Underlying CausesUnderlying Causes Yearsof Soviet militaryYears of Soviet military buildup at the expense ofbuildup at the expense of domestic developmentdomestic development economic growtheconomic growth stalled/stagnant economystalled/stagnant economy Failed attempts at reformFailed attempts at reform war in Afghanistanwar in Afghanistan general feeling ofgeneral feeling of discontent, especially indiscontent, especially in the Baltic republics andthe Baltic republics and Eastern Europe (i.e.Eastern Europe (i.e. Chernobyl)Chernobyl)
- 6. Mikhail GorbachevMikhail Gorbachev March11, 1985March 11, 1985 Inherited manyInherited many problems; recognizedproblems; recognized need for change (theneed for change (the economy neededeconomy needed fundamental reforms)fundamental reforms) Introduced two-tieredIntroduced two-tiered policy of reform topolicy of reform to meet the needs of themeet the needs of the Russian stateRussian state
- 7. Policy #1:Policy #1:GlasnostGlasnost Freedom of speechFreedom of speech and free electionsand free elections 1989 elections -1989 elections - reformist politiciansreformist politicians swept into powerswept into power unwittingly unleashedunwittingly unleashed emotions and politicalemotions and political feelings that had beenfeelings that had been pent up for decadespent up for decades Pandora’s BoxPandora’s Box
- 8. Policy #2:Policy #2:PerestroikaPerestroika Economic reform andEconomic reform and rebuilding (completerebuilding (complete economic restructuring)economic restructuring) did not have thedid not have the immediate resultsimmediate results Gorbachev had hoped forGorbachev had hoped for and had publiclyand had publicly predictedpredicted Unsuccessful –Unsuccessful – bureaucratic corruptionbureaucratic corruption People used free speechPeople used free speech to criticize Gorbachevto criticize Gorbachev
- 9. Fall of theUSSRFall of the USSR Disintegration beganDisintegration began on the peripherieson the peripheries Baltic nationalistBaltic nationalist movements;movements; demanded autonomydemanded autonomy challenge tochallenge to glasnostglasnost Non-Russian minorityNon-Russian minority groups agitated forgroups agitated for independence duringindependence during this periodthis period
- 10. Gorbachev’s ResponseGorbachev’s Response decisionto not usedecision to not use military force to put downmilitary force to put down revolutions in Easternrevolutions in Eastern EuropeEurope allowing revolutions toallowing revolutions to run their course wouldrun their course would spell disaster for thespell disaster for the Soviet UnionSoviet Union Ultimately eroded theUltimately eroded the power of the Soviet Unionpower of the Soviet Union during 1989 and 1990.during 1989 and 1990.
- 11. August CoupAugust Coup August1991 – “hard-line”August 1991 – “hard-line” Communists take over ofCommunists take over of governmentgovernment last-ditch effort to savelast-ditch effort to save USSRUSSR country went into ancountry went into an uproar; massive protestsuproar; massive protests soldiers themselvessoldiers themselves rebelled – “can’t fire onrebelled – “can’t fire on our countrymen”our countrymen” Coup collapsed after 3Coup collapsed after 3 daysdays
- 12. Results of AugustCoupResults of August Coup Gorbachev was unable toGorbachev was unable to reestablish real controlreestablish real control negotiated the transition ofnegotiated the transition of power made inevitable by thepower made inevitable by the will of the people.will of the people. December 1, 1991 all non-December 1, 1991 all non- Russian republics declaredRussian republics declared independence (populationindependence (population wanted democracy)wanted democracy) political movements which hadpolitical movements which had emerged since theemerged since the implementation ofimplementation of glasnostglasnost resulted in immediate fallresulted in immediate fall
- 13. Collapse of theSoviet UnionCollapse of the Soviet Union a new entity was formeda new entity was formed “Commonwealth of“Commonwealth of Independent Republics"Independent Republics" Russia and 15 independentRussia and 15 independent former USSR countriesformer USSR countries complete politicalcomplete political independence, linked to otherindependence, linked to other Commonwealth countries byCommonwealth countries by economic, and military tieseconomic, and military ties the Soviet Union, with itsthe Soviet Union, with its centralized political andcentralized political and economic system, had ceasedeconomic system, had ceased to existto exist December, 1991December, 1991
- 14. How does Americafit in?How does America fit in? Russia built up a militaryRussia built up a military arsenal surpassing that of thearsenal surpassing that of the United StatesUnited States enormous military expenses, inenormous military expenses, in combination with collectivizedcombination with collectivized agriculture and inefficientagriculture and inefficient manufacturing were a heavymanufacturing were a heavy burden on the economyburden on the economy Reagan AdministrationReagan Administration persuaded Saudi Arabia topersuaded Saudi Arabia to increase oil productionincrease oil production resulted in a three times dropresulted in a three times drop of oil prices in 1985; oil wasof oil prices in 1985; oil was the main source of Sovietthe main source of Soviet export revenuesexport revenues
- 15. President Ronald ReaganPresidentRonald Reagan recognized the change inrecognized the change in the direction of Sovietthe direction of Soviet leadershipleadership shifted to diplomacy toshifted to diplomacy to pursue substantial armspursue substantial arms agreementsagreements four summit conferencesfour summit conferences between 1985 and 1988between 1985 and 1988 believed that he couldbelieved that he could persuade the Soviets topersuade the Soviets to allow for more democracyallow for more democracy and free speech, thisand free speech, this would lead to reform andwould lead to reform and the end of Communismthe end of Communism
- 16. Berlin WallBerlin Wall June12, 1987, ReaganJune 12, 1987, Reagan challenged Gorbachev:challenged Gorbachev: ““General SecretaryGeneral Secretary Gorbachev, if you seekGorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seekpeace, if you seek prosperity for the Sovietprosperity for the Soviet Union and EasternUnion and Eastern Europe, if you seekEurope, if you seek liberalization: Come hereliberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr.to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open thisGorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, teargate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”down this wall!”
- 17. Response in theWestResponse in the West victory for freedomvictory for freedom triumph of democracytriumph of democracy over totalitarianism,over totalitarianism, superiority of capitalismsuperiority of capitalism over socialismover socialism Rejoicing - formidableRejoicing - formidable enemy was brought to itsenemy was brought to its kneesknees Relief – end of Cold WarRelief – end of Cold War which had hovered overwhich had hovered over the two superpowersthe two superpowers
- 18. Results of theFallResults of the Fall transformed the entiretransformed the entire world political situationworld political situation reformulation of political,reformulation of political, economic and militaryeconomic and military alliancesalliances America sole military andAmerica sole military and world hegemonic powerworld hegemonic power End of Cold War andEnd of Cold War and MAD threatMAD threat