Gorbachev and the Collapse of the USSR

Question 1

How did Gorbachev’s lack of vision contriubute to the fall of the USSR? (2)

Answer 1

-he wasn’t sure of how to solve the economic problems in the USSR
-he implemented uncoordinated policies that failed to produce the results he wanted

Question 2

How did Gorbachev’s naivety contriubute to the fall of the USSR? (2)

Answer 2

-most of his policies had unintended results- he was critiscised for making naive assumptions about their likely impact
-e.g. didn’t consider the fact that glasnost could lead to attacks on the central position of the party + himself

Question 3

How did Gorbachev’s lack of a solid powerbase contriubute to the fall of the USSR?

Answer 3

-he attacked his own powerbase (the communist party) without adequate replacement which left him as the leader exposed

Question 4

How did Gorbachev’s handling of foreign policy contriubute to the fall of the USSR?

Answer 4

-he didn’t anticipate that ending the Brezhnev doctrine would lead to rapid collapse of Communist govs in eastern europe

Question 5

How did Gorbachev’s inconsistency contriubute to the fall of the USSR?

Answer 5

-he gave mixed messages in speeches and seemingly kept swapping sids bewteeen conservative and reformist views

Question 6

How did Gorbachev’s indecision contriubute to the fall of the USSR? (2)

Answer 6

-at key moments Gorbachev was hesistant and postponed making crucial decisions
-e.g. after Chernobyl he hesitated for several days before making announcements

Question 7

How did Gorbachev’s choice to renounce violence contriubute to the fall of the USSR? (2)

Answer 7

-soviet leaders traditioanlly relied on violence to deal with opposition
-gorbachev reduced emphasis on violence which weakened the party’s ability to hold the union together

Question 8

How did Gorbachev’s committment to individual rights contriubute to the fall of the USSR? (3)

Answer 8

-soviet leaders traditionally believed that rights like free speech were part of capitalist ideology
-gorbachev argued that the government needed to respect individual rights
-this weakened power of party to repress opposition

Question 9

What tactical mistakes did Gorbachev make? (2)

Answer 9

-he embraced democracy but refused to stand for election which weakened his own position
-after surviving the coup, he failed to abandon the communist party so he lost public support

Question 10

What international factors contributed to problems within the USSR at the time of Gorbachev’s rule? (3)

Answer 10

-global reduction in oil prices impacted russia’s economy so gorbachev had to carry out reforms in an unfavourable time
-war in afghanistan
-major earthquake in armenia in 1988 added pressure on gov.