Soviet Union and China

Essential Idea The Soviet Union and China face internal and external challenges as Communism crumbles and world pressure increases.

Gorbachev Moves Toward Democracy Brezhnev’s successor: Mikhail Gorbachev How is he different: Youngest Soviet leader since Stalin Decided to pursue new ideas

Glasnost What it is: Gorbachev’s policy of openness (1985) Changes: Churches opened Dissidents released from prison Publication of books previously banned Reporters do their work

Gorbachev’s Reforms- Economy Old: Central Planning ◦ Government controls production, wages, and prices ◦ Little motive to improve efficiency New: Perestroika ◦ Local managers given greater control ◦ Small businesses allowed to open ◦ Make the economic system more efficient and productive

Gorbachev’s Reforms- Political System Old: Communism ONLY New: Democratization ◦ Gradual opening of the political system ◦ Voters could choose from a list of candidates for each office (not just those picked by the Communist Party) ◦ Many lesser-known candidates and reformers were chosen

Gorbachev’s Reforms- Foreign Policy Old: Arms Race ◦ Expensive- hurts economy New: Arms Control ◦ Became a top priority ◦ Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty (1987)

Reform Will Lead to Break-up Imbalance: 100 ethnic groups lived in the Soviet Union (Russian majority) Non-Russian majority in the 14 Soviet republics Ethnic tensions brew under the surface

Lithuania The first challenge: Lithuania Action: Declares independence (1990) Reaction: Gorbachev uses force against unarmed civilians Result: Gorbachev’s popularity damaged

End of the Soviet Union Event: failed coup in 1991 Result: Sparked anger at Communist Party and accelerated the break up of the Soviet Union ◦ Gorbachev resigns ◦ Soviet parliament stops all party activities ◦ Republics begin to declare independence  By December, all 15 will have done so

Commonwealth of Independent States What: Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Who: Former Soviet Republics except Baltic republics and Georgia Significance: Death of the Soviet Union News Report: End of the Soviet Union

Boris Yeltsin Problems: Russian economy War in Chechnya Outcomes: “Shock-Therapy”- abrupt shift to free- market economics ◦ 800% inflation, thousands out of work Brief cease-fire, but fighting resumed

Vladimir Putin Named acting president upon Yeltsin’s resignation in 1999 Economic problems- continue Chechnya- continues

Vladimir Putin Acting President Won election Reelected *Constitutionally mandated term limits* Prime Minister President Domestically- high approval ratings Current issues: Annexation of Crimea in 2014 Involvement with Syria

Central Europe After the Soviet Union Transcaucasian RepublicsCentral Asian Republics Caucasian Mountains between Black Sea and Caspian Sea: Armenia Azerbaijan Georgia East of the Caspian Sea: Uzbekistan Turkmenistan Tajikistan Kazakhstan Kyrgystan

Problems Economics- Some of the poorest states int the world ◦ Dependence on Soviet Union, thus difficulty standing alone ◦ Soviet economic policies (ex: dependence on a single crop) Ethnic and Religious Strife- ◦ Long simmering ethnic rivalries erupted into fighting in absences of strong Soviet control

China Background: ◦ Mao’s policies stifled economic growth ◦ Lack of modern technology damaged efforts to increase agricultural and industrial output ◦ No role in world affairs  Split with Soviet Union  Anger at U.S. support of Tiawan ◦ 1970s- China enters a moderate period under the leadership of premier Zhou Enlai

New Era of Chinese-American Relations Begins with: China inviting an American table tennis team to tour China- first visit by an American group since 1949 Led to: U.S. endorsing UN membership for China President Nixon’s state visit U.S.-China diplomatic relations

Economic Reform Four Modernizations: call for progress in agriculture, industry, defense, and science and technology ◦ Introduced by Mao’s successor Deng Xiaoping ◦ Produced striking changes to Chinese life

Tiananmen Square Problems: ◦ Students learn about democracy (study abroad, westernization), want it Reaction: ◦ Students lead uprising ◦ 100,000 gather in Tiananmen Square ◦ Win popular support

Tiananmen Square Government Response: martial law ◦ June Thousands of heavily armed soldiers stormed Tiananmen Square with tanks ◦ Hundreds killed, thousands wounded Tank Man

Hong Kong Hong Kong: Thriving business center and British colony Transfer: (1997) China promises to respect Hong Kong’s economic system and political liberties for 50 years What happened: Control of mainland China over Hong Kong tightened

China Enters the New Millennium China’s Challenges ◦ Poor human rights record ◦ Occupation of Tibet ◦ Relations with the U.S. ◦ “Economically open, politically closed” = TENSION