The collapse of the USSR Flashcards
How did GorbaCHAV attempt to give the SSRs more autonomy?
Streamlined local decision making by allocating more finance to the Soviets in order to give them the resources needed to support their role. Deputy Soviets were to be elected every 5 years rather then two to guarantee their job security.
Although ultimately it one of the key factors in undermining the Soviet Union how did Russian Nationalism differ from nationalism in the other republics?
Although this nationalist movement was anti-Communist it was not a separatist movement to some extent it would want to preserve the union as it represented a greater Russian Empire.
How Gorbachev’s economic reforms help contribute towards the collapse of the USSR?
The attempted transition from a Command Economy to a Market Economy left many Soviet Citizens worse off as the Social Contract was no longer as important.
Overall the economy remained in Limbo neither a functioning command economy nor yet a market economy.
How did Gorbachev’s inconsistencies in his speeches make him unpopular.
He gave mixed messages sometimes praising Stalin’s strong leadership while also denouncing his many crimes.
What was the August Coup of 1991.
Communist conservatives made one last effort to preserve the territory of the Soviet Union whilst under the rule of the communist party. While Gorbachev was on holiday in Crimea the conservatives formed an emergency council and Gorbachev was put under house arrest.
What concessions did Gorbachev’s new Union Treaty contain?
Allowed more autonomous control, local schools were now able to teach their native languages.
What did the central Asian republics stand to gain from remaining within the Union?
On their own their economies were not very strong however within the union they gained economic investment.
Why was the Nationalist movements within the central Asian republics not as strong as the other movements?
There was a stronger loyalty to local tribal groupings with wider national identities seeming superficial and false.
Why did the Soviets intervene in Afghanistan?
To reinstall the pro-Soviet Socialist government that had been overthrown by Islamic extremists ☪️
Define Gorbachev’s policy of perestroika.
Perestroika roughly translating to restructuring, of which was focused upon the Soviet system of government and the state run command economy. Gorbachev’s aim was to reform into a western liberal economy.
What were the main features of economic perestroika ?
. The encouragement of joint ventures.
The government allowed the establishment of foreign firms, most famously the opening of a McDonald’s in Moscow in 1990. A propaganda for the west showing the the east had lost the Cold War.🇺🇸🇬🇧🇫🇷🇪🇺🇩🇪
A second feature of the liberalisation if the Soviet economy included…..
The law on state enterprises, June 1987.
This allowed the weakening of state control over wages and prices, thus significantly weakening the authority of Gosplan, this law also gave factory 🏭 owners the right to produce what they wished to once they had fulfilled the state quotas.
A third feature of the liberalisation feature f the Soviet economy included……..
The legalisation of co-operatives in 1988 this allowed the establishment of small scale private enterprises. These businesses could set their own prices free of Gosplan. The result was that small cafes and restaurants began to flourish. The term co-operatives appealed to the more-left wing conservative elements of the party putting to bed any concerns of Gorbachev dismantling communism.
