1. The Cold War Thaws

2. Nikita Khrushchev (1953-1964) Dominant leader after Stalin
“De-Stalinization”
Erase the memory and methods of Stalin

3. The Soviet - Chinese Split
Initially cooperative, but goes sour
China resents being in USSR’s shadow
Mao Zedong
own form of Communism

4. Leonid Brezhnev 1964-1985 Brinkmanship to Détente
1970s – reduce hostility
Détente – policy of lessening Cold War tensions
Started under President Nixon
Under Nixon and Ford relations improve

5. Nixon Visits Communist Nations
1972 – visits Soviet Union
SALT: Strategic Arms Limitation Talks – mutual reduction in arms
st president ever to visit China

6. Tensions increase again!
Collapse of Détente
Soviets invade Afghanistan
1980s President Reagan - anti-communist policies
increased defense spending
put economic and military pressure on the Soviets
Tensions increase again!

7. Mikhail Gorbachev – 1985 – 1991 Reforms in the USSR
Glasnost - open society for discussion and criticism
Examples: churches opened, books published, media could criticize gov’t.
Popular support

8. Mikhail Gorbachev – Domestic Reforms
Perestroika
– Economic policy – to be efficient and productive
Private ownership of businesses
Maintained some communism
Democratization – open the political system and elect new lawmakers
Communist party no longer chose all candidates

9. Gorbachev’s Foreign Policy
Soviets can’t compete with U.S. in costly arms race
Reduced nuclear missiles
Ended occupation of Afghanistan

10. 1980s - Soviet Union in Turmoil
People want democracy
Different nationalities call for freedom
Non-Russian states want
freedom
Ex: Lithuania – 1st challenge

11. August Coup Old Communist officials (hardliners)
Feared loss of power/privilege
Detain Gorbachev & demand resignation
Order tanks into Moscow
People willing to defend freedoms
Hardliners order troops to attack parliament
Refuse and withdraw

12. Boris Yeltsin’s Rise to Power
First elected president of Russia

13. The Coup Sparks an End People resent Communist Party Gorbachev resigns
Soviet parliament stops all Comm. Party activity
By Dec. 1991, all 15 Soviet Republics declare independence
Loose federation of former Soviet territories

14. Boris Yeltsin’s Problems…
Abrupt shift to free-market economy
extreme inflation and economic hardship
Chechnya Rebels
Declare independence – Yeltsin says no
40,000 Russian troops destroy capitol
August 1996 – cease fire
Tension today

15. Vladimir Putin – Russia’s President
Trouble in Chechnya
Economic, Political and Social problems
Economic challenges – very corrupt economy
Social upheaval (homeless children, alcoholism, domestic violence, unemployment, steep population decline, decline in standard of living/life expectancy)