The Collapse of Communism and the post-Cold War world
The collapse of Communism
Solidarity - 1980
USSR withdrawal from Afghanistan - 1989
Policies of Mikhail Gorbachev - 1985
The collapse of the USSR - 1990
Invasion of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein
Operation Desert Storm
UN action in Kosovo
Aims of the UN in the 1990s
Glasnost
Military reduction
Perestroika
Changing economic policies to all more competition between businesses,big shift away from communism
Involved restoring faith in the government and ending corruption, encourage a greater level of open political debate
Cut spending in military, was not in a position to go against America in outspending them so gave up
Outcome
the policies brought a new attitude to the USSR's relations with the outside world
Outcome
Considered a disaster for the Country
A communist government set up by the Soviets was not trusted by the people of Afghanistan. It became clear that victory was hopeless.Soviet army suffering due to disease and tactics of the Mujahidin
Gov announced 100% price rises in food and a shipyard went on strike, led by Lech Walesa. Made a list of demands and eventually they accepted them. The workers created the Solidarity Trade Union which became a mass movement. The Gov then imposed martial law but again gave up and solidarity ran the country
Represented the first major challenge to the communist rule
Countries
East Germany - Sept 1989
Poland - June 1989
Czechoslovakia - Nov 1989
Hungary - Dec 1989
Romania - Dec 1989
Outcome
Demonstrated the weakness of the communist alliance in Europe
lots of riots throughout the USSR but Gorbachev couldn't crack down to much because of his new policies. He knew if the riots continued then the USSR would fall
May 1990 Boris Yeltsin became president and called for the USSR to be split up into seperate countries
To uphold international laws
To maintain peace and secutriy
To uphold and rpotect human rights around the world
To promote social progress and better standards of living around the world
2nd August 1990
50,000 troops invaded Kuwait and within 2 days Kuwait had been defeated
Invasion ordered by Saddam Hussein and had a reputation for being a brutal and arrogant leader
US-led coalition of over 30 countries which involved massivew air strikes and naval action against Iraqi troops and the government
By the 20th Feb all Iraqi forces had been defeated or left
Yugoslavia split into 6 countries which were very culturally and ethnically divided
Kosovo wanted to be a separate country and not be a part of Serbia but Serbia was against it. This led to ethnic cleansing and a series of massacres