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What factors were responsible for the end of the USSR's control over…
What factors were responsible for the end of the USSR's control over Eastern Europe in the 1980s?
Politcal
Ronald Reagan: Elected in 1980 as he had a strong anti-communist stance. "Peace through strength"
The Soviets thought that this was the US considering them to be nuclear threats.
First term was characterized by expansion of arms. Deployment of 7-- new nuclear weapins and defence budget of $1.4 trillion.
USSR was convinced that nuclear attack was imminent. Meeting help with Warsaw Pact countries to alert of US policy change.
Increased tensions between the two countries.
On the 1st of September 1983 the Soviets shot a Korean Airlines Flight. It killed everyone. This destroyed the USSR's reputation, especially when the government refused to accept the responsibility.
Able Archer 83
2 November 1983: NATO launched military exercises. The Soviets thought that this was a preparation for an actual strike against the USSR.
Reagan became more aware of the issues a simple misunderstanding could cause. He became more open to negotiations and sought a different route to disarmament.
Relations between the two countries reached a new low.
December 1983 the Soviets walk out of disarmament talks in Geneva.
Mikhail Gorbachev (March 1985)
began to work on reforming the Communist system, making it more open and efficient
Main policies:
perestroika
(reconstructing)
demokratizatsiya
(democratisation)
glasnot
(openness)
prepared to listen and act on the economic dissatisfaction, and demand for political change
the openness meant that with the decline in Russian military strength, people in communist countries in Eastern Europe felt free to express their feelings
during the second half of 1989, it became clear that the people wanted more than just reforms to the Soviet system
most eastern Europeans wanted freedom, democracy, and an end to the communist governments that had controlled their countries for 40 years
without fear of repression by the secret police forces or Soviet tanks, people became increasingly vocal in their calls for fundamental change
had a series of meetings with US presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush
visited Washington in 1987 and was widely popular with the US public
Reagan and Gorbachev signed a treaty agreeing to remove all their intermediate-range nuclear missiles from Europe
the dismantling of Soviet 22-20 missiles and US cruise and Pershing missiles was concrete evidence that the Cold War was coming to an end
Gorbachev agreed to the withdrawal of Soviet forces from eastern Europe, as non-communist governments came to power
In 1990, Gorbachev agreed to the reunification of Germany
and agreed to the prospect of the country joining NATO
Social
The people were dissatisfied with the economic issues that were growing in the USSR and Eastern Europe
Agricultural workers were under the poverty line and had little incentive to work harder or produce better goods.
In the late 80s an increase in nationalist movements occurred.
Deterioration of living standards and the comparison between Western living and Eastern living.
Communist party was exposed. Leaders were seen as interested in preserving their own privileges.
There was an increased desire for political reform
people and workers began to strike, and oppose the governments
while many groups were shut down due to the control of governments, some, such as Solidarity showed that the communist governments were not unattackable
Economic
Khrushchev had attempted to develop the Soviet economy, in an attempt to surpass the west
the focus had been placed on heavy industry
there was a shortage of consumer commodities such as food and clothing
The difference between the economic conditions between the east and the west became more apparent
the cars in west Berlin were drastically different from those in the east, and showed how the two lived differently
new technologies were being developed in the west that were expressing the continued division with the east
people living in the east, were beginning to see the difference between them and the west, and disparities became more obvious and well known
The Arms Race
the Soviet's arms race with the west was taking up resources that the USSR did not have
In 1983, Reagan announced the "Star Wars" Programme, which raised costs to even higher levels, and meant that the USSR could no longer compete with the west
This led Gorbachev to abandon the arms race and attempt a negotiated reduction in arms with the USA.
The Soviet Economy
The USSR had spent more resources on foreign policy rather than internal affairs. It spent 25% of its GDP on the military by the mid 80s
Brezhnev era: period of stagnation and decline in the USSR
The only realistic option would have been for funds to shift towards the domestic needs that were being neglected
a young leader would be needed to consider this
when Brezhnev died in '82, Andropov took over, and proposed a return to the east-west détente
however, Andropov died before this could be carried out, and his successor Chernenko was older, and died soon after
Gorbachev was prepared to listen, and act upon the growing economic dissatisfaction
Other
USSR ceases to exists on the 25 of December 1991
After the resignation of Mikhail Gorbachev
the revolution that had brought Lenin to power in 1917, had been reversed
the admission of most of the former Communist countries to the European Union in May 2004 marked a symbolic end to the division of the continent that had been such a lasting legacy of the Second World War
The collapse of Communist power was symbolized by the destruction of the Berlin Wall in November 1989.
in August 1991, while on holiday in Crimea, a group of generals and hardline communists arrested Gorbachev and attempted to seize power
the coup failed, thanks to the people of Moscow