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