Presentation for POL 328 Dr. Kevin Lasher

Gorbachev’s Policies x x x Perestroika Glasnost New thinking Democratization x x

Democratization Gorbachev wants to create a reformist, liberal CPSU which will follow and support his policies Slowly (1987, 1988?) he begins to realize that perestroika cannot proceed without fundamental changes in the structure of the CPSU He views semi-competitive elections with a real legislature as the means to reform or replace the CPSU Two-track policy: reform the party and go beyond the party (never quite chooses between them)

Democratization Seems to be laying the groundwork for a multiparty system with Gorbachev heading a majority social democratic party(with some opposition parties) That is Gorbachev’s explanation today Difficult to see exactly how he was going to get there as long as he remained in CPSU Democratization is considerable improvisation

Democratization Last of Gorbachev’s major reforms Most damaging, democratization and decentralization lead to disintegration of USSR Democratization brings impressive changes for a while, then political system begins to collapse Gorbachev has truly unleashed forces he cannot control

Democratization Summer 1988 convinces CPSU to create a new legislature with semi-competitive elections At last minute pushes forward a resolution calling for such elections in March 1989 CPSU supports plan and some members say “what have we done?”

Democratization Congress of People’s Deputies is a new legislature with real powers with delegates to be chosen in semi-competitive elections (replaces old rubber-stamp Supreme Soviet)

Democratization New Supreme Soviet in session eight months per year Congress of Peoples’ Deputies (2250 delegates) Supreme Soviet (542 deegates) CPD meets twice a year New Supreme Soviet in session eight months per year

Congress of People’s Deputies 750 seats chosen by CPSU, Komsomol, trade unions, other groups 750 seats from national districts* 750 seats from republics/regions* * Chosen in semi-competitive elections

Congress of People’s Deputies Boris Yeltsin (former Politburo) chosen as delegate from Moscow Andrei Sakharov and other former dissidents win seats Top communists lose elections in certain cases 88% of delegates are CPSU members 12% of delegates are NOT CPSU members

Congress of People’s Deputies Conservative, moderate and liberal members of CPSU (also some who will not remain in CPSU for long) Functioning legislature based on partially democratic elections

Congress of People’s Deputies First session of CPD in May 1989 is electrifying with 100 million Soviet citizens watching two week event Gorbachev “the improviser and juggler”

Congress of People’s Deputies Gorbachev is praised and criticized by delegates Gorbachev is elected Chairman of CPD without opposition

Congress of People’s Deputies Inter-Regional Group (400 delegates) is the beginning of alternative party to CPSU

Congress of People’s Deputies Former dissident Andrei Sakharov speaks often during two-week session (praising and criticizing Gorbachev)

Republic Legislatures Congress of People’s Deputies are elected in each of fifteen republics in 1990 More democratic in certain republics Nationalists do very well in Baltic republics, Georgia and elsewhere In time Republic Legislatures will “do battle” with Moscow with declarations of sovereignty and movements toward independence

Republic Legislatures Boris Yeltsin is elected chairman of Russian Congress of People’s Deputies in 1990 Gorbachev tries to prevent Yeltsin’s election Yeltsin will use his leadership of Russia as a means to challenge Gorbachev and the continuation of USSR Yeltsin embraces sovereignty for Russia and market reforms

Repeal of Article VI Guiding role of CPSU is struck from Soviet Constitution by CPD in March 1990 Makes way for multi-party system in future Multiple parties are forming as USSR is disintegrating Gorbachev says that he was afraid what conservatives would try to do if he left his post as General Secretary

Old Article VI “The leading and guiding force of the Soviet society and the nucleus of its political system, of all state organizations and public organizations, is the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. … The Communist Party, armed with Marxism-Leninism, determines the general perspectives of the development of society and the course of the home and foreign policy of the USSR, directs the great constructive work of the Soviet people, and imparts a planned, systematic and theoretically substantiated character to their struggle for the victory of communism.”

New Article VI “The Communist Party of the Soviet Union, other political parties as well as labor, youth and other public organizations and mass movements, through their representatives elected to the Congress of People’s Deputies and in other forms participate in the policy-making of the Soviet state, in the management of state and public affairs.”

Executive Presidency Spring 1990 Gorbachev is elected as President by CPD (500 negatives) Trying to construct a powerful, executive presidency – free from CPSU control Trying to create presidential institutions to replace Politburo Still remains General Secretary of CPSU Unwilling to leave CPSU but creating a non-CPSU presidency Elected by CPD not by a vote of the Soviet people Gorbachev probably could have won such an election, but perhaps not

Executive Presidency Continues as General Secretary where he is subject to more and more criticism and opposition Also trying to construct an Executive Presidency free of party control One foot in “both camps” Cannot make the final break with CPSU

Summer 1990 All fifteen republics have issued “declarations of sovereignty” First step toward full-blown independence War of Laws between Moscow/Federal Government and Russia and many other republics

Gorbachev vs. Yeltsin Yeltsin, Chairman/President of Russia, quits CPSU in July 1990 Yeltsin elected (again) as President of Russia, in a free and contested election in July 1991

Gorbachev vs. Yeltsin Gorbachev, appointed President of declining USSR Yeltsin elected “President” (Governor) of emerging Russia Gorbachev fading, Yeltsin rising

Fall 1990 Under pressure, Gorbachev rejects Shatalin economic plan and brings more conservatives into leadership positions Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze resigns while warning of “a coming dictatorship” Gorbachev tries to reign in parts of glasnost Gorbachev “turns to the right” under pressure from conservatives amid growing chaos (and possible threats to oust him)

January 1991 Three Baltic republics declare independence Brief military crackdown in Lithuania and Latvia leaves 20 people dead Gorbachev denies he ordered the attacks on citizens True independence for Baltic republics all but inevitable at this point

Spring/Summer 1991 Gorbachev returns to the left and begins negotiations with Yeltsin and other republic leaders for new union treaty Referendum to retain federal system supported by 76% of voters in nine participating republics

Spring/Summer 1991 New union treaty between nine republics (no Baltics, Georgia, Armenia, Moldova) will result in a transformed USSR with considerable power to republics and a central government in charge of defense, foreign policy and little else Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics Economic reforms are frozen and economy is imploding

Spring/Summer 1991 Gorbachev prepares to sign new union treaty on August 20 when ….

Conservative Coup Conservatives within CPSU launch coup to remove Gorbachev and roll-back reforms

To Be Continued