The U.S. and the Fall of the Soviet Union

Who are the players?

Mikhail Gorbachev ( ) Young (56) Reformer First leader to be born after the Revolution (Significance?)

Ronald Reagan ( ) Former actor, great public speaker Reinvigorated American morale “It’s morning again in America.”

Weaknesses of the Soviet Union Ideology of Communism (Utopia) Focus on military-industrial complex Over 50% of population was non-Russian ethnic groups (nationalism)

Soviet Reality in 1980s “Severe stagnation with deep-rooted economic and political problems” 1 War in Afghanistan (“Russia’s Vietnam”) 1.

Poor Economic Planning Focus on “heavy industry” rather than “consumer goods” Underestimated the demand for light consumer durables Ex: Arms Race

“Strategic Defense Initiative” (SDI) Space-based system to defend U.S. from attack by strategic ballistic missiles Caused continued Soviet military spending Critics: unrealistic, militarization of space, re-ignite arms race and destabilize MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction)

Gorbachev’s Reforms Glasnost (“openness”) Increased freedom of information Increased transparency of government Perestroika (“restructuring”) Allowed more independent actions from various ministries (decentralized control) Introduced some market-like reforms

Nationalism on the Periphery Baltic region 1987 – Estonia demanded autonomy – followed by Latvia and Lithuania Transcaucasus Armenian population in Azerbaijan sought to join Republic of Armenia (unsuccessful) Poland Solidarity: democratic trade union that went underground and rebelled against Communist leadership

Tear Down This Wall Brandenburg Gate, June 12, 1987 Timing: U.S. missiles in Europe; U.S. record peacetime defense buildup Challenge to Gorbachev (then-General Secretary of Communist Party) to “prove” his desire for increasing freedom in the Eastern bloc

“We welcome change and openness; for we believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace. There is one sign the Soviets can make that would be unmistakable, that would advance dramatically the cause of freedom and peace. General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviety Union and eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

East Germany Summer and fall of 1989: citizens took to the streets, calling for reforms East German refugees found loopholes through satellite countries to West Berlin and refused to return Moscow refused to use military force to support East German leader – led to beginning of political reforms

Fall of Berlin Wall

Collapse of Soviet Union March 1990 – Gorbachev elected first executive President of the Soviet Union August 1991 – military kidnapped Gorbachev on eve of new voluntary union treaty August Days – massive demonstrations, people wanted democracy – Gorbachev restored but popular opinion had swung to Yeltsin 1992 – Commonwealth of Independent Republics

Internal Reasons for the Fall of the Soviet Union  Military-Industrial Complex  Gorbachev’s Reforms  Nationalism

U.S. Role Star Wars – challenge to détente Worked with allies (Saudi Arabia) to increase oil production thus damaging a major source of income for USSR (petroleum) Influence of Western culture Used economic aid as a “carrot” to encourage reform

Cold War Legacy Relief & Uncertainty in the U.S. Unprecedented prosperity in the West NATO Wave of democratization throughout Latin America, Africa, and Eastern Europe U.S. as sole remaining superpower Breakdown of Pax Americana – Cold War was often sole justification behind U.S. hegemony (dominance) Concern about leftover Soviet weapons

“The paradox is that at no other time in history has such a monumental failure been held up as such an irresistible success.” - Tom Lovell Professor of History at Lone Star College