1. Gorbachev, Glasnost and Perestroika
Communism in Crisis ( )

2. Big Picture Gorbachev unilaterally ended the Cold war
The soviet system could no longer sustain itself and compete with the USA
The Soviet system had become too entrenched in conservative authoritarianism to make the necessary reforms

3. Ideological Differences in Communism
Marxist-Leninism- Socialism can only be achieved by “giving history a push”
Stalinism- control based on fear and extreme cult of personality
Maoism- As Stalinism but with emphasis on the peasantry
Gorbachev considered himself a Leninist. He believe Stalin had corrupted communism in the USSR.
He had been influenced by Khrushchev’s reformist approach to governing and the “Secret Speech”

4. Historiography
Brown- “Gorbachev always had an idealized view of Lenin who in reality was scarcely less ruthless than Stalin, although unlike Stalin, he did not employ the weapon of terror against members of his own party…what he was doing was in line with Lenin’s thought before it had been distorted by Stalin.”
Volkogonov- “…It was probably his attempt to combine his liberal reforms with Leninism that led to their failure.”

5. Reformers vs. Conservatives And HArdliners
Gorbachev’s Ideas:
Perestroika- restructuring or reform of the economy and even the entire Soviet system
Glasnost- openness
Uskorenie- Acceleration
Opposition to Reform:
The party would prove to be the major obstacle to reform. Many of the members of the Central Committee had been appointed by Brezhnev.
They were old, conservative and opposed to Change.
The party was not the dynamic force for change it had been in 1917.

6. The Legacy of Chernobyl
Local authorities did not reveal the full extent of the disaster to Moscow
Emergency services responding to the disaster were poorly equipped
Attempts to evacuate the local population were slow and inadequate
Gorbachev’s attempts to be more open with information only succeeded after the party had realized the scope of the problem- particularly the uproar from Western European countries.

7. Economic issues Economic growth slowing
Essential goods subsidized by the state
Labour shortages and low productivity
Lack of quality consumer goods
Grain imports
Inadequate storage and transportation
“The Black Economy”
Alcoholism
Obsolete technology
Failure to invest in new industries

8. Perestroika Perestroika I had a very limited impact because:
The Nomenklatura and collective farm managers opposed reforms if it affected their privileges
The Soviet system had developed an unwieldy bureaucracy that slowed down the pace of reform
Many did not understand his reforms- Some believe uskorenie meant completing a Five Year Plan in four. Others were too used to a command economy and could not respond to free market forces.

9. Political Changes
In order to introduce economic reforms, Gorbachev introduced political reforms.
Perestroika II (1987-9):
Local Soviet members would be elected by the people (not the party) and there would be a choice of candidates
Direct elections for important Soviet posts
Members of the Supreme Soviet would be elected by the people- some candidates were non-party candidates (e.g. Andrei Sakharov)
State enterprises moved away from state control and began to trade with other and make private profits.

11. Impact of Reforms in the USSR
Elements of capitalism + Democracy in what had previously been exclusively Communist and Authoritarian (and even totalitarian)
Some wanted more change (political and economic)- Soviet Republics began to ask for independence (Georgia declared sovereignty in November 1989)
Some did not know how to adapt to limited freedoms and market forces- there was actually a shortage of goods in shops
Strike/Industrial action began to occur along the lines of Solidarity in Poland.
Elections were won by nationalists, rather than reformers- increased demands for independence
Introduction of democracy led to the growth of parties opposed to Communism
Political instability led to decreased productivity
Problems with capitalism- how do you deal with inflation, unemployment and shortages when you haven’t had to before?

12. Foreign Policy Pressure from Reagan: Gorbachev- Reagan diplomacy:
Strategic Defense Initiative
Breakdown of SALT II
Increased defense spending following shooting down of Korean Airliner in (NATO ‘Able Archer’ Exercises)
“Evil Empire”
Gorbachev- Reagan diplomacy:
Friendship- “A Man We can do business with”
Nuclear Weapon Agreements
Gorbachev became a World Statesmen

13. Questions for Discussion- Why did the USSR collapse?
Was the Soviet model of Communism fundamentally flawed?
Was the Soviet Union between 1976 and 1989 any different from the Russian Empire in the early 1900’s?
Was the Soviet system simply inferior to the US system?
How significant was the war in Afghanistan?
How significant was the role of Ronald Reagan?

14. Collapse of the USSR
Economic Problems + Failure of Political System to address these issue early enough + Arms Race and Afghanistan + Introduction of Democratic and Capitalist Elements + Gorbachev