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Reasons why cold war ended (SHORT TERM) (Internal Factors (Impact of…
Reasons why cold war ended
(SHORT TERM)
Internal Factors
Impact of Perestroika on Soviet economy
means
"restructuring"
was a programme of economic and political reforms
wanted to encourage greater interest, productivity and investments
permitted private ownership of small businesses in service, manufacturing, foreign trade
was a failure
small business had to deal with high taxes and dishonest officials
not enough agricultural infrastructures (roads, storage facilities) enterprises not profitable and ppl lost interest
shortage of basic commodities
unemployment
failed to revive economy
led to discontentment and protests
Impact of Gorbachev's Glasnost
means
'openess'
essentially called for greater transparency, freedom of speech and expression
believed changes cld only happen if problems were allowed to be discussed openly
launching of public debates (1986)
relax on censorship
release of dissidents (Andrei Sakharov)
exposed corruption and inefficiency of govt (govt denied existence of problems)
anti-communist radios (Voice of America) made accessible
exposed to better quality of life in US
citizens felt lied to, lost confidence in Communist govt, increasingly seeked independence
1991, the lack of support in Communist regime led to collapse
Impact of political reforms due to Perestroika
called for elections of candidates to local Party positions
Congress of People's Deputies(1989)
candidacy opened to Soviet Women's Committee not just Communist Party
failed to rejuvenate Communist Party leadership
led to mounting crticisms from both conservatives and radicals
CPD paved the way for opposition grps in the govt who felt that Gorbachev's reforms were not fast enough
Interregional Group of Deputies
formed with leader Yeltsin
loss of confidence in Communist Party
undermined Gorbachev's authority
laid foundation for political revolutions in Soviet and E.Eu
The Coup of Aug 1991
Yeltsin elected as Pres of Russia
Gorbachev hoped for survival and reform of revived Soviet Union
but people alr regarded Communist Party as irrelevant
Hardliners were concerned that Gorbachev was conceding too much to the USA and that their power was threatened
launched coup that was unsuccessful due to opposition from Yeltsin
failed coup accelerated collapse of Soviet Union. Russian military officers and pro-democracy protesters sided with Yeltsin
with overwhelming support, Yeltsin suspended the Communist Party of Soviet Union, only force holding SU tgt
Yeltsin rallied 3 main Soviet republics (Russia, Ukraine,Belarus) to dissolve SU
Gorbachev resigned as Pres of SU
disintegration of SU meant an END to COLD WAR
External factors
Impact of Gorbachev's 'New Thinking' into Soviet foreign policy
advocated idea that global problems ought to be solved based on shared moral and ethical principles instead of conflict btwn capitalism & communism
cultivated friendly relations with West
believed E.Eu shld handle their own political affairs
nuclear disarmament talks with Reagan at
Geneva Summit (1985)
laid groundwork for discussions on disarmament e.g.
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty (1987)
milestone as first superpower agreement that led to arms reductions
signified improvement in superpower relations
'De-ideologisation' of Soviet foreign policy
intended to
end ideologically-driven policies
that brought Soviet to conflict with US (intervention in other countries to support communist regimes)
UN speeh (1988)
emphasised country's right to choose political and economic system
called for removal of soviet troops in E.Eu (Hungary, Czech,E.Germany) aka
Sinatra Doctrine
sparked
disintegration of Soviet's sphere of influence
in E.Eu and
signified abandonment of Brezhnev Doctrine
Without Soviet military backing E.Eu communist regimes collapsed one after another under pressure of popular revolutions
[Poland] (1988) trade union Solidarity launched strikes which led to concessions for semi-free democratic govt
loss of E.eu as sphere of influence marked end of cold war division in Eu and undermined Soviet as a superpower
Increased cooperation btwn superpowers
further cooperation pointed to less emphasis on ideological confrontation and greater commitments at arms reduction
[Reunification of Germany]
with support of US and Gorbachev, Germany was reunified gained full sovereignty and became a member of NATO in Oct 1990
willingness to work tgt signaled they were no longer fierce enemies
were willing to accommodate each other