Collapse of control in Eastern Europe
Mikhail Gorbachev 1985-1991
1985 new leader of USSR
Energised USSR’s politics
Realist (economy, arms race & Afghanistan)
Policies
Glasnost (openness, freedom of choice), honesty amongs communist politicians
Perestroika (restructuring) - was an attempt to modernise and rebuild the Soviet state.
The policy therefore
Allowed private ownership
Reduced control over imports and exports
Allowing trade with non-eastern bloc countries
Allowing foreign investment in Russian
business
Allowing an increase in the production and
trade in consumer goods.
Extra policies
End war in Afganistan
Dialogue with USA
President Ronald Reagan: 1981-89
Background: Détente or "relaxation of tension” characterised US Soviet relations in the late 60s and 70s.
Increased US defense budget A LOT
– By $32.6 billion in his first 2 weeks!
State of Eastern Europe
No meat, no makeup, no toilet paper, no tampons, no heating.
Corruption
The Trabant
Produced between 1957 and 1990 during which period it hardly changed!
2 cylinder motor
Waiting list could
be up to 10 years.
USSR: the changing attitude towards Eastern Europe
March 1985, Warsaw Pact construes met Gorbachev who explained that the USSR would no longer protect and fund the governments
December 1988, Gorbachev announced that Russia’s communist ideology should play a smaller role in foreign affairs e.g. The USSR would no longer trade with Communist States over Capitalist States.
December 1988, Gorbachev announced to the United Nations that the USSR would be withdrawing a significant part of its Soviet forces from Eastern Europe.
The fall of the Eastern Bloc 1989-90
Gorbachev encouraged Eastern European states to embrace glasnost and perestroika.
Poland
1988 sees strikes throughout the country & by June 1989
the communist government is defeated in free elections.
Hungary
Although in May 1989
Hungary opens its borders with Austria, the Communist government is not defeated until early 1990.
East Germany
In September 1989 thousands of East Germans escape through Hungary to West Germany and by November the Berlin Wall comes down. In 1991 Germany reunited
Czechoslovakia
Following huge Demonstations from against communism, the government resigns in November 1989 and a non-communist becomes President in December
Romania
(The most brutal government in Eastern Europe) Following huge Demonstrations from December 1989 and a very violent response from the sector police, democratic elections are eventually held in 1990
Bulgaria
Early 1990 democratic elections are held and renamed Communist Party wins
End of Warsaw Pact
The pact had united the communist states of Eastern Europe against the capitalist states in the West.
As the states rejected communism, the pact became null and void.
Military co-operation between Eastern European states ended early 1990