Soviet Union and the Collapse

Khrushchev gained power in 1956 Attacked Stalinism for its treatment of opponents and narrow interpretation of Marxism Some societal opening followed, but significant institutional reform did not occur.

Cuban missile crisis of 1962

Space and arms race with US & Western Europe NATO vs Warsaw Pact

Limited opening for cultural exchanges with the West

Khrushchev fell from power, political and economic patterns remained constant and stagnant into the 1980’s

Soviet Foreign Affairs Rift with China developed during the 1950s because of different views toward Communism Invasion of Afghanistan to help a puppet regime bogged down into guerrilla warfare until the late 1980s. In most cases the Soviets were cautious international players avoiding direct military interventions

By the 1980s the economy was grinding to a halt Forced industrialization had caused extensive environmental disaster throughout eastern Europe Related diseases impaired morale and economic performance (20 million alcoholics)

Industrial production slowed and economic growth stopped, but one-third of national income continued to go to military production

Workers and youths began to react to their strict control and lack of consumer goods High alcoholism increased death rates and lowered production. Infant mortality rates soared

Demands for reforms Younger leaders recognized that the system might collapse due to growing economic crisis beginning in the mid-1980s The initial cause was a deteriorating economy hampered by the costs of rivalry with the United States Efforts at reform were matched by developments in Eastern Europe that ended the Soviet empire

REFORMS AND AGITATION 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev introduced reforms 1.Urged nuclear reductions of nuclear arms 2.War in Afghanistan was ended by Soviet withdrawal

1.Urged the use of limited free enterprise and reduction of bureaucratic controls 2.Retained strong limits on political freedom and centralized planning GLASNOST OPENNESS OR FREEDOM TO COMMENT OR CRITICIZE

1.More private ownership and decentralized control of the economy 2.Foreign investment was encouraged 3.Military expenditure was reduced to free resources for consumer goods PERESTROIKA ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING

1988 New constitution created a parliament and abolished communist monopoly of elections Gorbachev was elected to new and powerful presidency in Gorbachev survives an attempted communist party coup because of popular support POLITICAL RESTRUCTURING

Eastern Europe took advantage of the new political climate to seek independence and internal reform. Soviet troops were withdrawn leaving many communist leaders in Eastern Europe vulnerable to revolts Bulgaria-Free elections 1989 Hungary and Poland noncommunist governments 1988 Solidarity and Lech Walsea Czechoslovakia 1989 SOVIET UNION COLLAPSE

November 9, 1989 Berlin Wall is torn down by student protesters Germany reunites as a single country in 1990 EASTERN BLOC

Romania 1989 Violence erupts in Romania where Communist dictator Ceausescu is overthrown EASTERN BLOC

Communists remain in control in Bulgaria Yugoslavia dissolves and ethnic clashes break out in 1990 and again in 2003 Serious economic and environmental problems face new governments of Eastern Europe Communist parties in Poland and Hungary briefly win elections in Czechoslovakia peacefully divide into Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1994 EFFECTS OF COLLAPSE ON EASTERN EUROPE

Baltic Republics declare independence Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova demand independence 1991 Soviet Union is replaced by the Russian Commonwealth of Independent States Gorbachev resigns and Boris Yeltsin is elected President of Russia Communist party is dissolved Vladmir Putin was elected acting President after Yeltsin resigned. TRANSFORMATION OF SOVIET UNION TO RUSSIA CIS

Vladmir Putin was elected acting President in 1999 after Yeltsin resigned. He has been president for 2 terms and Premier for one. RUSSIAN CIS