1. Notebook Entry: Collapse of Communism 2. What caused the collapse of the Soviet Union? EQ: Evaluate the extent to which the Cold War fits our model for conflict. causation, leaders, issues, rivalry, racism, militarism, nationalism, alliance systems Tonight s Homework: Read & Outline p. 885-889 Mikhail Gorbachev Young, energetic, & politically skilled At 54 he began leading the Communist Party he had not blindly followed Stalin Mild reforms were expected Head of state of the Soviet Union (1988-1991) General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1985-1991) New Ideas Second Russian Revolution 1
What is going to change? Towards what? Clues? Gorbachev s Reforms: Glasnost Openness Free flow of ideas and information Churches opened Previously banned books published Reporters investigated social problems and criticized the government Perestroika Economic restructuring Mitigate complaints Inefficient central planning Local managers gained greater authority over farms and factories Small private business allowed Keep communism, but make it more productive and efficient Demokratizatsiya - democratization Opening of political system Multi-candidate (not multiparty) elections Uskoreniye Acceleration of social and economic development Khozraschyot - economic accounting Simulate capitalist concept of profit Foreign policy Arms reduction Urge Eastern Europe to follow Hailed for his New Thinking by the West Each people determines the future of its own country and chooses its own form of society. There must be no interference from outside, no matter what the pretext. -Mikhail Gorbachev 2
The economic reforms urged by Gorbachev were called market socialism. He proposed that the central planning system be altered so that government ministries would no longer closely regulate economic enterprises, and so that regional managers would play a more important role. He also advised that wages be reformed to reflect more realistically the demands of a market economy. - Perestroika from The Collapse of Communism in the Soviet Union Based on this document identify one economic change recommended by Mikhail Gorbavhev. Poland: Solidarity Labor union that defeated Communists in free elections Lech Walesa Union Leader, national hero President of Poland (1990-95) We hold our heads high, despite the price we have paid, because freedom is priceless. 3
Berlin Wall: East German government closed borders entirely 1989: Huge demonstrations broke out People demanded right to travel freely and free elections Police refused to break up protests Communist leader resigned New leader opened the Berlin Wall in an attempt to save communism Evidence of corrupt leaders uncovered E. German Communist Party ceased to exist Reunification October 3, 1990 E. Germany had to be rebuilt By the mid-90s the economy began to slowly improve Germany returned to prominent role in global community 4
Boris Yeltsin: Slow change cost Gorbachev Yeltsin elected All 15 Soviet republics declared independence Yeltsin led the large Russian Republic shock therapy shift to free-market economy On the back: 1) To what extent did Gorbachev s Complete reforms lead to the collapse Documents of 1 & 2 communism? 2) Can you connect this to our model for conflict? causation, leaders, issues, rivalry, racism, militarism, nationalism, alliance systems 5