1. The 1970s and the Fall of Communism

2. Eastern Europe 1970s—end of economic boom and emergence of Détente Willy Brandt and Ostpolitik

3. Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe International Causes SDI—Ronald Wilson Reagan Oil Crisis Decline in living standards (failed agriculture, declining life expectancy, alcoholism, pollution) Political change: “several paths to socialism” + Anti politics.”

5. Advent of Mikhail Gorbachev Young lawyer, in contrast to dinosaurs, replaced G. in 1985. Glasnost Perestroika Renounced Brezhnev Doctrine Renews Détente Withdrawal from Afghanistan (1987-1989)

7. Revolutions in Eastern Europe Poland Longest Record of Resistance Karol Wojtyla made Pope John Paul II (October 16, 1978) June 1979 visit to Poland—Sermon in Cracow 1979 Workers Riot 1980—Solidarity and Lech Walesa 1981—Jaruzelski declared martial Law declared—women place flowers in Wenceslas Square in shape of cross to defy the regime. 1987—Renewed strikes after price increases 1989—Polish Round Table Agreement

8. Walesa, JPII, and Jaruzelski

9. Hungary Like Poland, a desire for nationalism and to throw off USSR’s yoke. Unlike Poland, revolt came from Communist Party itself. Janos Kadar, leader from 1956-1988. 1988--Younger Communists, inspired by Gorbachev, kicked Kadar upstairs and ousted remainder of cabinet. Gang of Four an Karoly Grosz compel reform from above. May, 1989, Austrian border opened; 1956 Rising reclassified as a popular rebellion against Soviet Control. Spring 1989—Opposition Parties allowed. October 1989—Hungarian Communist Party changes name to Hungarian Socialist Party.

10. Grosz, 1930-1996

11. East Germany Emigration to West and “inner emigration” in East produced appearance of conformity. Vocal dissidents were jailed or exiled. Highest level of prosperity in Eastern Bloc. Inability to keep up with tech. revolution, Gorbachev’s reforms, and events in Poland and Hungary sparked drive for reform. Gorbachev’s visit at 40 th Anniversary of DDR (Oct. 1989) sparked protests for removal of government of Erich Hoenecker. Politburo member Egon Krenz squelched order to shoot down demonstrators and, along with allies, forced Hoenecker to resign on Oct. 18, 1989. East Germans don’t trust top-down reform. Krenz allows immigration from east to west Germany via Czech. on 11.4.89. 10,000 per day do this. Demonstrations for Democracy in East Berlin. Nov. 9, 1989—Wall comes tumbling down. Movement for reunification.

12. Hoenecker and Krenz

13. Velvet Revolution Gustav Hasek’s Communist state seemed secure: economic incentives and force. Discontent with siting of Soviet Missiles in Czech. In 1983. Student unrest—especially in November 1989—called on Govt. to resign—let to Nov. 17, 1989 massacre, which radicalized common people. Protest was too large to crush; Politburo resigned on Nov. 23, 1989, and Hasek resigned on December 9. Vaclav Havel made President. “Velvet” Revolution—no violence. Division of “country” in 1992.

14. Other Revolutions Similar patterns Bulgaria—Communist Todor Zhivkov resigned Nov. 9, 1989; Islam legally tolerated, and Free Elections. Ouster of cruel dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu on December 21, 1989. Surrender of monopoly of power by communist party in Yugoslavia, Jan. 1990, and ethnic violence since 1989, led to dismemberment of “country” created by Tr. of Versailles.

15. Romanian orphanages, a product of Ceauşescu’s rule, are one mark of the human costs of Cold War and communism as practiced in the Soviet Bloc.

16. Nicolae Ceauşescu, just moments after execution, December 25, 1989—merry @#$% Xmas you asshole!