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End of Soviet Control over Eastern Europe, link to sites.google.com -…
End of Soviet Control over Eastern Europe
Economic Problems
Under brezhnev, the soviets spent a lot on foreign policy
this is how parity with the USA was achieved
25% of GDP went to military (compared to 4-6% for US)
war in Afghanistan was very costly
supporting cuba, vietnam and eastern europe
the command economy was falling behind on modern technology and industrial output was declining
grain was imported from north america
fall in gas and oil prices
argued that gorbachev was forced to take action due to a failing economic system
The USSR could not afford to compete with the US in the Arms Race as their economy was no longer compatible with the US
This led the USSR focus more on the neglected citizens
This led to negotiations with the US to stop the Arms Race
political Leaders
Gorbachev
Perestroika (economic reforms, privatizing companies) and glasnost (the government would be more open for ideas from the people)
more democratisation, more people involved in the party
he wanted a more productive soviet system
this would mean a reduction in military spending
abandon arms race, and attempt negotiation with the USA
Reagan
Reagan victory school
military and ideological pressure from the US
Soviets forced to abandon expansionism and repression
reagan military buildup blocked soviet military options and challenged their economy
furthermore, reagan insisted on the western technological superioirty, star wars initiative
Reagan by 1983 realized the way to make peace with the Soviets is with diplomacy and open to the idea of disarmament of weapons, in contrary to his predecessors whom believed in Mutual Assured Destruction and nuclear parity
Reagan and Gorbachev
They both signed a treaty for the removal of intermediate range nuclear missiles from Europe
Social
deterioration of living standards
inefficient state controlled industries
few consumer goods, as well as food clothes and housing
people closer to the west could see western tv
growing disillusionment with the communists
corruption, and leaders more interested in own priviledges
leaders had no itnerest in reform and out of touch with population
repressive police network
gorbachev showed unwillingness to use force to control satellite states
commitment to warsaw pact was cut
resulted in revolution
Events in Eastern Europe
Solidarity movement in Poland
Solidarity won elections, without soviet support, the polish communsit aprty colllapsed
Honecker in East Germany
While regime was unpopular, honecker was specifically hated, and government felt pressure to remove him
as hungary now had open borer with austria, many germans used this to flee east germany
while honecker wanted to use force, gorbachev offered no support and berlin wall was destroyed by east and west berliners
reform in hungary came from within the communist party itself
reformers, encouraged by new soviet policy, took over the government
velvet revolution in czechoslovakia, little violence, clear show of people power
romania revolution was far more violent
nicolae ceasescus regime most repressive in eastern euopre
at a rally, people started protesting, army intervened and over 100 died
ceausescu fleeing, caught by army and executed
link to sites.google.com