Soviet Economy and Politics under Gorbachev IB History: Communism in Crisis

About the Unit... In the unit we will compare how the two largest communist countries in the history of the world, the Soviet Union and China, dealt with problems that challenged both communism and thus their existence. Topics Introduction Soviet Economy and Politics Soviet Economy and Politics under Gorbachev Gorbachev, Cold War, and Eastern Europe China and Struggle for power after 1976 Chinese Economy and Politics under Deng Xiaoping Communism from Crisis to Collapse

Economy under Gorbachev When Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Union in 1985 the economic problems were so serious that even his aggressive reforms couldn’t repair it. In an attempt to make sure his reforms would go through Gorbachev promoted only his allies within the Communist party. He first attempted to increase economic productivity by pressuring managers and combating alcoholism and corruption, but this attempt failed. He then implemented a more aggressive reform called “Perestroika” (Russian: Reconstruction) where he would inject capitalist practices into the economy by reducing government ownership of businesses and giving managers more freedom to make decisions. He also allowed some private ownership of businesses in the agricultural and service sectors of the economy, but the private owners lacked the experience to operate a successful business. When the reforms were not effective more aggressive plans were suggested including a shift toward capitalism, but it was unpopular with conservative communists. With no improvement the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.

Politics under Gorbachev Gorbachev also attempted aggressive reforms to try and improve the Soviet government and politics but they were not enough to prevent the collapse of the Soviet Union Gorbachev implemented to reforms aimed at improving the political situation in the Soviet Union: Glasnost (Russian: Openness) and Demokratazisya (Russian: Democracy). Glasnost attempted to create more openness or transparency about how the Soviet government operated, but the nuclear disaster at the Chernobyl power plant wasn’t handled openly and undermined this effort. Demokratazisya attempted to create more democratic practices in the Soviet government including semi-free elections were held and attempt to separate the Communist Party from the Soviet government, but conservative communist disapproved and opposed. By 1989 the different parts of the Soviet Union began to advocate for independence, and Lithuania was the first to leave the Soviet Union. An attempt to form a looser union between all the parts of the Soviet Union was attempted but was unsuccessful. In 1991 Boris Yeltsin became President of Russia and began negotiating exit plans with other parts of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 when Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus declared independence and formed a new alliance called the “Commonwealth of Independent States.”

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Summary When Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Union in 1985 the economic problems were so serious that even his aggressive reforms couldn’t repair it. Gorbachev also attempted aggressive reforms to try and improve the Soviet government and politics but they were not enough to prevent the collapse of the Soviet Union