Cold War - D (second half - EE, end of USSR, consequences) Flashcards
(37 cards)
causes for the collaps of soviet influence on EE
- gorbachevs decision to reform USSR, sinatra doctrine 1989
- cost of intervention - lack of success of intervention in afghanistan + its economic impact, subsidies to EE cost billions each year
- gorbachevs decision to prioritize internal and domestic issues, rahter than external influence
causes of fall of communism in poland
- economic unrest -> consumerist tendencies led to dissatisfaction within system which couldnt meet demand for goods
- december 1981 - Jaruzelsi imposed martial law to end solidarity, but eventually embarked on some perestroika style reforms
- decision to raise food prices by 150% in 1988 led to nationwide strikes against regime (solidarity had 8 million members)
course of fall of communism in Poland
- strikes in gdansk 1988 - forced gov to recognise solidarity movement due to soviet non intervention (sinatra doctrine)
- 1989 round table agreements recognised solidarity + formed new constitution which enabled solidarity to compete for some seats in both houses –> creation of solidarity government
- eventually, solidarity replaced communist government
factors which led to fall of communism in poland
- economic failure
- gorbachev - influenced jaruzelski to undertake reforms + empowerment of protesters against government enabled due to non intervention
- solidarity movement = people
causes of fall of communism in Hungary
- economic reforms permitted
- growing opposition to Kadar due to external debt, price rises and desire for change
course of fall of communism in Hungary
- desire for change = reform in communist party
- 1988 kadar replaced with a reforming communist –> introduction of multi party system
- free elections agreed in 1990 -> led to dismantlement of border between Hungary and Austria
factors for the fall of communism in hungary
- economic situation = dissatisfaction
- popular opposition to leadership
- leaders embarking on reforms = influence of Gorbachev
causes for fall of communism in bulgaria
- zhikov followed glasnost and perestroika reforms
- could no longer rely on USSR subsidies for their debt = worsening economic situation –> popular protests against regime
course of fall of communism in Bulgaria
- increased opposition of communist party led to reformsers replacing leadership
- free elections negotiated for 1990 = fall
factors for the fall of communsm in bulgara
- leaders - gorbachevs reform + zhikovs reforms allowed opposition to government
- economic situation led to dissatisfaction - protests against party
causes for fall of communism in DDR
- calls for freedom of movement
- visible disparity of living standads + economic failure
- reliance on exporation led to lack of consumer goods
course of fall of communism in DDR
- honecker refused to impliment gorbachev style reforms and isolated DDR from new thinking
- Hungary’s decision to open border promoted new exodus - unpopular
- Gorbachevs visit led to 70,000 demonstraters in leipiz
- politbeauro forced Honecker to resigne, and new leadership offered travel concessions, eventually led to free elections in 1990
factors leading to the fall of communism in DDR
- economic issues - heavy borrowing and export = bad living standards and unhappines
- leaders - honeckers refusal to reform = widespread demonstrations against regime
- gorbachev - inspired protesters, non intervention policy allowed dissent and was a causal factor
- people - widespread protesting put pressure on gov to change leadership and reform
causes for fall of communism in czechoslovakia
- opposition centered around charter 77 and Havel - protesting human rights violations then imprisonment of Haval
- protests from 1898 encoraged by gorbachevs stance
course of fall of communism in czechoslovakia
- popular protests from 1989
- fall of berlin wall brought renewed protests
- violence against student protest = 100,000s took to streets and party relinquished power due to loss of control
- borders with austria and germany were dismantled
- charter 77 formed civic forum = coalition government
factors for fall of communism in czechoslovakia
- charter 77 + popular opposition // enhanced by Gorbachev’s non intervention policy
- policies of normalization alianated intellectuals, economic failures alienated workers = two pronged oppositon to gov
causes for fall of communism in Romania
- most economically impoverished country in bloc
- ceausescu had responded to debt with austerity -> introduction of rationing whilst his own family enjoyed afluent lifestyle
- palace built in 1984 for which 7km of buildings were cleared and 100,000 employed
- regime was led by nepotistic sychophants - led to the use of repression to deal with opposition eg execution of protesters
course of the fall of communism in Romania
- demonstrations inspired by reforms in other countries - brutally surpressed and 100 killed
- ceausescu adressed the nation but he fled, army sided with protestors
- captured and executed ceausescu and new leader was elected, abolition of one party systm
factors for the fal of communism in Romania
- leaders - ceausescu was corrupt and unpopular, faced protest
- widespread demonstrations in opposition forced the toppling of his regime
military obstacles for re-uniting germany
- threat of militaristic germany in the center of europe was concering to east and west
- fear of ‘4th reich’ in west, and fear of strong germany in NATO from USSR
political obsticles to the reunification of germany
- danger of nationalist resurgence
- question of nature of government
- threat of soviet influence over politics of whole germany
- led to political opposition to rapid reunification from some SDP members
economic obsticles to reunification
- integration of two different economies
- how to aid DDR whilst maintaining development in FDR
social obstacles to reunification
- social differences + nostalgia for DDR
- how to bring separated people together without animosity
10 point plan
- called for gradual unification of germany (5 years, still faster than what 70% of population expected)
- first medical and currency, then free elections and free market, setting up common and federal institutions, then joint policies, european integration, then finally regaining unity in self determination