1. Aim: What were the causes and effects of the fall of the Soviet Union?

2. Mikhael Gorbachev ’ s attempts to solve the problems of the Soviet Union Pulls out of Afghanistan and reduces military spending Gives up military control of Eastern Europe Announces “ Perestroika ” and “ Glasnost ” –Perestroika – encouraging a free market, not a command, economy –Glasnost – openness and political freedom; non-communist political parties allowed

3. Eastern European nations turn West Communist governments resign, usually peacefully Eastern European nations leave the Warsaw Bloc, open borders with Western Europe Berlin Wall falls, Germany re-united http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4434331027793809225&q=berlin+wall+video&ei=-bg4SAuU- OICi87U4gM&hl=en http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-181898405138602708&q=berlin%20wall%20video&hl=en

4. Soviet Union splits up; Communist government collapses Dissension within Communist Party about Gorbachev ’ s path leads to attempted coup Soviet government falls Soviet Union splits into many different nations, by nationality group http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=- 8953962851459266994&q=soviet+union+leaders&ei=HLs4SNfZKpm05AKXgqXfAw

5. Break-up of the Soviet Union

7. The Soviet Bloc ’ s demise Most Eastern European nations (including Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) join NATO and the European Union Central Asian states – “ stans ” – stay allied to Russia - “ Commonwealth of Independent States ” - but also look east and south Which way to turn? Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia

8. Expansion of NATO

9. Ukraine, Georgia seek NATO membership

10. Russian ethnicity in former Soviet states (Pink)

11. Oil and Gas Pipelines in Eurasia

12. Central Asia - China Pipeline

13. Proposed Russia - China pipeline

14. Boris Yeltsin and the Fall of Russia 1990s: Privatization of the “ means of production ” : State property handed over to those with political connections Boris Yeltsin presided over a decade of –democratization –economic collapse –removal of communist “ safety net ”

15. Vladimir Putin and the Rise of Russia Vladimir Putin: President 2000-08 –Stability for Russian economy w/ help from high oil prices –Return of authoritarian government, Russian nationalism –Attempts to recreate sphere of influence in Commonwealth of Independent States (the “ stans ” ) –Disputes with Ukraine and Georgia when they “ look West ”

16. How does Putin ’ s Russia compare with Czarist Russia?