The End of the Cold War

Gerontocracy in USSR Gerontocracy – government ruled by old people Brezhnev did not try to make many reforms within the USSR. Others had tried and lost their power as a result. Brezhnev dies in 1982 Andropov (already in his late 70’s and in poor health) then takes over. He tries to make changes, but dies within a year

Gerontocracy Cherenkov takes over after Andropov (again really old and in poor health) and does not do anything to rock the boat Gorbachev comes into power in 1985 and needs to concentrate his power. Old Brehznevites were dying and retiring and being replaced by new leadership Gorbachev stresses discipline, cracks down on vodka consumption and slacking off

Gorbachev’s Reforms 1986 He tries reforms: Perestroika – restructuring the economy, freed it from the rigid state control. “Law of Enterprises” allowed business to seek their own resources and pay workers differentially. Glasnost – openness to social reforms, broke down the closed society. 1988 censorship abolished, debate on Soviet history allowed, persecution of Orthodox Church ends Some look at reforms with hope, others feel it is getting out of control

Ending East-West Confrontation Both Gorbachev and Reagan want to decrease nuclear weapons, even as Reagan increases military spending. Finding a compromise is hard Reykjavik Summit 1986 – Reagan proposes “Zero Option” eliminating all INF and strategic missiles. Gorbachev insists the USA gets rid of SDI initiative. Reagan refuses and no agreements are reached. It is seen as a failure, but opens them up for further discussion

SDI… Strategic Defense Initiative (also known as “Star Wars” It was a defense system that would detect missiles and destroy them from space. It was very expensive and never worked, technology did not support it. This went against the ABM Treaty that was signed previously and if it would have worked, would have tipped the balance of power in US favor

Nuclear disarmament December 1987 USA & USSR agree to INF Treaty that dismantled medium range missles. 1988 Gorbachev announces a reduction in Soviet armed forces, withdrawing 10,000 from Eastern Europe Gorbachev needed to reduce military spending to attempt to keep their economy afloat

Letting go… December 1988 Gorbachev announced that every country had the right to choose its own government and that USSR would no longer interfere in their affairs. The Brezhnev doctrine was dead. (Brezhnev Doctrine – The fate of socialist countries are intertwined and any internal struggles in one socialist country will require the intervention of other socialist countries to keep the system in power)

The collapse of Eastern Europe

HUNGARY May 1989 – Communist reformers open border with Austria (non-Communist) Announced 1956 Uprising was not “counter-revolutionary” and rehabilitates Imre Nagy and publically reburies him Announces free elections in October Hungarian National Assembly abolished the leading role of Communist Party in society Legalized non-communist parties and drop “People’s Republic” from its name

POLAND Solidarity Union demands democratic reforms June 1988 partially free elections are held winning 160 seats out of 161, choosing a non-communist government Mazowiecki becomes Prime Minister, went to Moscow and was treated well New government immediately begins changing to a capitalist economy

East Germany Leader, Erich Honecker, ran a hard-line government, censoring Gorbachev’s speeches about reforms August & September 1989, many E. Germans flee to Hungary on the pretext of vacationing…vacationing without ever going back home October, crowds gather demanding end to communism. Honecker orders soldiers to fire, Egon Krenz suppresses the order

Krenz forces Honecker to retire and promises reform Krenz forces Honecker to retire and promises reform. He open the border with Czechoslovakia, many E. Germans cross over November 3rd, ministers in charge of the police resign, public demands the entire cabinet resign. On TV a spokesperson says travel to the West would be opened…thousands of East Berliners rush to the checkpoints at the Berlin Wall The guards had received no orders to open the gates, they are unsure what to do…

Shortly after 11 p.m. the barriers are raised and people swarm into West Berlin and begin breaking the wall with hammers A week later the State Security Police is disbanded The Volkskammer (East German Parliament) denounced the role of Communism in society and plan for free elections in May 1990 Dec. 3rd 1988 Krenz government collapses and elections are pushed up to March Honecker is arrested and the communist Party is sacked by mobs

Czechoslovakia By 1988 all independent voices in the gov. had been purged Crowds demonstrate on the anniversary of the 1968 Soviet invasion and crushing of “Prague Spring” they are attacked by police which set off strikes & protest around the country organized by the Civic Forum headed by Vaclav Havel

In response to the protests, the cabinet resigns and communists promise a special congress to discuss the future. Havel says it is a trick Crowds demand multi-party elections Gov. abandons the communist party’s leading role in society and opens their border with Austria Free elections are scheduled for Dec. 28th, Havel is elected president Independence becomes known as “Velvet Revolution”

Bulgaria 1984 Communist leader Zhivkov decided to “Bulgarize” the Turks who lived there. They were forced to adopt Bulgarian names and practice Islam, those who resisted were expelled 1989 Zhivkov was forced to resign, crowds call for democracy The gov. abandons the communist party’s leading role in society and announced multiparty elections & ends persecution of Turks

RUMANIA Ceausescu led a Stalinist-State in the grips of the Rumanian Secret Police Gov. tries to evict a Protestant Pastor and people form a human chain around the church he was hiding in Soldiers who refused to fire on them were shot themselves, riots erupted. Ceausescu addressed a crowd in Bucharest and was shouted down and forced to flee

Ceausescu and his wife are arrested , tried and executed on December 24th 1989, is televised and broadcast throughout the country The police continue fighting until they are wiped out or surrender A conspiracy of reform communists formed the National Salvation Front and win fraudulent elections…they kept many of Ceausescu’s policies