'New thinking' & its practicalities

Question 1

What did the first major reform under Gorbachev target?

Answer 1

Alcohol
-Prices rose on alcohol and times for selling restricted

Question 2

What was the key to Gorbachev’s economic reforms?

Answer 2

Perestroika
-Designed to improve performance of economy

Question 3

What happened to planning under Gorbachev?

Answer 3

Planning decentralised and some degree of self-management permitted
-Allowed managers to implement economic changes without having to wait for Soviet planning agency for local level decisions

Question 4

What did ending state price controls as part of perestroika do?

Answer 4

Prevented citizens purchasing necessities below their actual cost due to govt subsidies

Question 5

What did perestroika mean?

Answer 5

‘Restructuring’ - major social, political and economic reforms

Question 6

What did glasnost mean?

Answer 6

‘Openness’ - allowed citizens more freedom to discuss political problems

Question 7

What did the USSR begin to make regular reports on to the public in 1986?

Answer 7

Chernobyl disaster

Question 8

When did Gorbachev announce glasnost?

Answer 8

1988