The End of the Cold War Soviets in Decline

Soviet Union Declines Severe Economic Problems Collectivized agriculture was incredibly unproductive Supply shortages and low-quality consumer goods Inefficient command economy (consumer needs go unmet)

Soviet Union Declines Military Budget Arms race put a strain on Soviet economy War in Afghanistan damages moral and economy

Soviet Union Declines Soviet War with Afghanistan During the Cold War, both sides competed for alliances Soviets attempted to modernize Afghanistan, but instead many Afghanis felt their traditions were threatened. Americans helped the Afghanis, whose mountain guerilla tactics resisted the Soviets Known as the Soviet Vietnam

Soviet Union Declines Government reform under Mikhail Gorbachev (1980s) Glasnost, or openness – ended censorship Perestroika, or restructuring – introduced some market economy Signals an end to Communism and the Cold War

Soviet Union Declines Empire Crumbles Soviet reform actually damaged the economy more Soviet Satellites broke away from the USSR USSR falls in 1991 Redrew the world map – Russia is the largest country of the old Soviet Union

Eastern European Nations Reform Berlin Wall fell in 1989 and soon Germany reunited Poland, Hungary, Romania end Communist rule Czechoslovakia ended Communism and then partitioned, or split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia (Self-Determination)

Communism Declines Around the World China introduced some free market economy, and their economy boomed Communist North Korea became isolated United States emerged from the Cold War as the world’s sole superpower

Modern World Predict/Discuss: How do you think the Cold War has led to modern-day conflict?