1. Presentation for POL 328
Dr. Kevin Lasher

2. Gorbachev’s Policies x x x Perestroika Glasnost New thinking
Democratization x x

3. Democratization
Gorbachev wants to create a reformist, liberal CPSU which will follow and support his policies
Slowly (1987, 1988?) he begins to realize that perestroika cannot proceed without fundamental changes in the structure of the CPSU
He views semi-competitive elections with a real legislature as the means to reform or replace the CPSU
Two-track policy: reform the party and go beyond the party (never quite chooses between them)

4. Democratization
Seems to be laying the groundwork for a multiparty system with Gorbachev heading a majority social democratic party(with some opposition parties)
That is Gorbachev’s explanation today
Difficult to see exactly how he was going to get there as long as he remained in CPSU
Democratization is considerable improvisation

5. Democratization Last of Gorbachev’s major reforms
Most damaging, democratization and decentralization lead to disintegration of USSR
Democratization brings impressive changes for a while, then political system begins to collapse
Gorbachev has truly unleashed forces he cannot control

6. Democratization
Summer 1988 convinces CPSU to create a new legislature with semi-competitive elections
At last minute pushes forward a resolution calling for such elections in March 1989
CPSU supports plan and some members say “what have we done?”

7. Democratization
Congress of People’s Deputies is a new legislature with real powers with delegates to be chosen in semi-competitive elections (replaces old rubber-stamp Supreme Soviet)

8. Democratization New Supreme Soviet in session eight months per year
Congress of
Peoples’ Deputies
(2250 delegates)
Supreme Soviet
(542 deegates)
CPD meets twice a year
New Supreme Soviet in session eight months per year

9. Congress of People’s Deputies
750 seats chosen by CPSU, Komsomol, trade unions, other groups
750 seats from national districts*
750 seats from republics/regions*
* Chosen in semi-competitive elections

10. Congress of People’s Deputies
Boris Yeltsin (former Politburo) chosen as delegate from Moscow
Andrei Sakharov and other former dissidents win seats
Top communists lose elections in certain cases
88% of delegates are CPSU members
12% of delegates are NOT CPSU members

11. Congress of People’s Deputies
Conservative, moderate and liberal members of CPSU (also some who will not remain in CPSU for long)
Functioning legislature based on partially democratic elections

12. Congress of People’s Deputies
First session of CPD in May 1989 is electrifying with 100 million Soviet citizens watching two week event
Gorbachev “the improviser and juggler”

13. Congress of People’s Deputies
Gorbachev is praised and criticized by delegates
Gorbachev is elected Chairman of CPD without opposition

14. Congress of People’s Deputies
Inter-Regional Group (400 delegates) is the beginning of alternative party to CPSU

15. Congress of People’s Deputies
Former dissident Andrei Sakharov speaks often during two-week session (praising and criticizing Gorbachev)

16. Republic Legislatures
Congress of People’s Deputies are elected in each of fifteen republics in 1990
More democratic in certain republics
Nationalists do very well in Baltic republics, Georgia and elsewhere
In time Republic Legislatures will “do battle” with Moscow with declarations of sovereignty and movements toward independence

17. Republic Legislatures
Boris Yeltsin is elected chairman of Russian Congress of People’s Deputies in 1990
Gorbachev tries to prevent Yeltsin’s election
Yeltsin will use his leadership of Russia as a means to challenge Gorbachev and the continuation of USSR
Yeltsin embraces sovereignty for Russia and market reforms

18. Repeal of Article VI
Guiding role of CPSU is struck from Soviet Constitution by CPD in March 1990
Makes way for multi-party system in future
Multiple parties are forming as USSR is disintegrating
Gorbachev says that he was afraid what conservatives would try to do if he left his post as General Secretary

19. Old Article VI
“The leading and guiding force of the Soviet society and the nucleus of its political system, of all state organizations and public organizations, is the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. … The Communist Party, armed with Marxism-Leninism, determines the general perspectives of the development of society and the course of the home and foreign policy of the USSR, directs the great constructive work of the Soviet people, and imparts a planned, systematic and theoretically substantiated character to their struggle for the victory of communism.”

20. New Article VI
“The Communist Party of the Soviet Union, other political parties as well as labor, youth and other public organizations and mass movements, through their representatives elected to the Congress of People’s Deputies and in other forms participate in the policy-making of the Soviet state, in the management of state and public affairs.”

21. Executive Presidency
Spring 1990 Gorbachev is elected as President by CPD (500 negatives)
Trying to construct a powerful, executive presidency – free from CPSU control
Trying to create presidential institutions to replace Politburo
Still remains General Secretary of CPSU
Unwilling to leave CPSU but creating a non-CPSU presidency
Elected by CPD not by a vote of the Soviet people
Gorbachev probably could have won such an election, but perhaps not

22. Executive Presidency
Continues as General Secretary where he is subject to more and more criticism and opposition
Also trying to construct an Executive Presidency free of party control
One foot in “both camps”
Cannot make the final break with CPSU

23. Summer 1990
All fifteen republics have issued “declarations of sovereignty”
First step toward full-blown independence
War of Laws between Moscow/Federal Government and Russia and many other republics

24. Gorbachev vs. Yeltsin
Yeltsin, Chairman/President of Russia, quits CPSU in July 1990
Yeltsin elected (again) as President of Russia, in a free and contested election in July 1991

25. Gorbachev vs. Yeltsin Gorbachev, appointed President of declining USSR
Yeltsin elected “President” (Governor) of emerging Russia
Gorbachev fading, Yeltsin rising

26. Fall 1990
Under pressure, Gorbachev rejects Shatalin economic plan and brings more conservatives into leadership positions
Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze resigns while warning of “a coming dictatorship”
Gorbachev tries to reign in parts of glasnost
Gorbachev “turns to the right” under pressure from conservatives amid growing chaos (and possible threats to oust him)

27. January 1991 Three Baltic republics declare independence
Brief military crackdown in Lithuania and Latvia leaves 20 people dead
Gorbachev denies he ordered the attacks on citizens
True independence for Baltic republics all but inevitable at this point

28. Spring/Summer 1991
Gorbachev returns to the left and begins negotiations with Yeltsin and other republic leaders for new union treaty
Referendum to retain federal system supported by 76% of voters in nine participating republics

29. Spring/Summer 1991
New union treaty between nine republics (no Baltics, Georgia, Armenia, Moldova) will result in a transformed USSR with considerable power to republics and a central government in charge of defense, foreign policy and little else
Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics
Economic reforms are frozen and economy is imploding

30. Spring/Summer 1991
Gorbachev prepares to sign new union treaty on August 20 when ….

31. Conservative Coup
Conservatives within CPSU launch coup to remove Gorbachev and roll-back reforms

32. To Be Continued