Gorbachev, Cold War, and Eastern Europe IB History: Communism in Crisis

About the Unit... In the unit we will compare how the two largest communist countries in the history of the world, the Soviet Union and China, dealt with problems that challenged both communism and thus their existence. Topics Introduction Soviet Economy and Politics Soviet Economy and Politics under Gorbachev Gorbachev, Cold War, and Eastern Europe China and Struggle for power after 1976 Chinese Economy and Politics under Deng Xiaoping Communism from Crisis to Collapse

Gorbachev and Eastern Europe... When Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Union he took a different approach to his relationship with Eastern Europe by becoming much less involved in their affairs. Gorbachev decided to end the Soviet Union’s involvement in Afghanistan and pushed hard for more arms reduction agreements with the United States. Gorbachev announced publicly that the Brezhnev Doctrine would be discontinued, or that the Soviet Union would no longer use their influence to keep communist governments in power and encouraged reform. Between 1987 and 1989 both Poland and Hungary became the first countries to move away from communism, and soon after all of Eastern Europe followed. However, the people in Eastern Europe wanted revolution rather than reforms and most of the governments dissolved in the face of protests. These revolutions were largely non-violent earning the nickname “Velvet Revolutions” where the communist leaders made no attempt to use the military to stay in power.

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Summary When Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Union he took a different approach to his relationship with Eastern Europe by becoming much less involved in their affairs.