THE END…Gorbachev and the Fall of

Communism

Mikhail Gorbachev•Gorbachev was a different

leader than previous Soviet leaders

•At heart, he was not a ruthless dictator

•He was reluctant to use force to control people

•When the populations of E. Europe realized this, they became bolder and stronger

The Economic Failure of Communism•Communism failed

to serve the needs of its people (ironic)

•Food shortages, low pay, poor or no consumer goods

•Given the chance, these people chose to end communism

The Role of Technology•It was clear to the citizens of E. Europe that W.

Europe was doing much better

•Their expectations began to rise; they began to demand better

= 80’s Twitter

Chernobyl Disaster: April 1986

•The meltdown of the Chernobyl nuclear power facility embarrassed Gorbachev and further inspired him to bring change

•Suggested Soviet technological incompetence

Glasnost (1986): “Openness”•allowed open criticism of the state,

encouraging debate

•newspapers became less censored

•The academic world was allowed (in fact ordered) to correct Soviet history

•Gorbachev denounced Stalin

•“Socialism has not yet arrived in the Soviet Union”

•He denounced the narrowness of Stalin’s command economy, praised Lenin’s New Economic Policy

•He reaffirmed his commitment to one ideology (communism)

•He admitted Soviets were wrong in Hungary (’56) and Czechoslovakia (’68)

•He announced his intention to renew détente with the USA, and he emphasized “common human values” with Americans

Nationalism: Poland and Solidarity•Solidarity: Trade Union formed by Lech Walesa in 1980 (declared illegal)

•In 1989, amid strikes, protests, and a faltering economy, the Polish Communist Party agreed to free elections

•Solidarity, now a political party, won a landslide victory

•Lech Walesa = new president, breaks from USSR

Nationalism: East Germany and the Wall•Wall becomes useless as Hungary becomes democratic & opens

borders (East Germany -> Hungary -> Austria)

•Nov 9, 1989 the wall was opened, free elections were promised, and arrangements were made for the reunification of the two Germanys

Nationalism: Czechoslovakia and the Velvet Revolution•Vaclav Havel and

Alexander Dubcek

•Overwhelmed by the protest movement, the communist party decided to go peacefully

•Havel became president of the new democratic Czechoslovakia in December 1989

Boris Yeltsin•1990-1991 power struggle between Gorbachev and Yeltsin

•Yeltsin: abandon Gorbachev, abandon Soviet states?

•Economic conditions for Russians were worse than ever, and people blamed Gorbachev

•Yeltsin promised democratic and economic reform – promised conversion to the free market

The End of the USSR•While Gorby was relaxing at his dacha, 8 hardcore party officials attempt to seize power

•Yeltsin stopped them

•Gorbachev lost face and resigned

•Yeltsin simply took the reigns

•USSR ended on…. Dec 25, 1991

Why did Communism Fail in the USSR?•Economic Stagnation – the system was no longer productive

•The Party's inability to adapt or reform – officials were stubbornly committed to something that wasn't working anymore

•Military Spending – nearly bankrupted the nation•USSR spent 20% of GNP on military, USA 6%

•Political Corruption – officials lined their own pockets at the expense of the nation