The Decline of the Soviet Union

1970-Present

What exactly is The West?

The Soviet Union

Leonoid Brezhnev

Was the head of the Soviet Union after Khrushchev Who was Khrushchev again?

Leader along with Alexi Kosygin, but during the 1970s, was the head of the S.U. (r. 1964-
1982)

Wanted to keep all Eastern Europe Communist

Brezhnev Doctrine: Soviet legislation that gave the SU a right to intervene if

communism in another Eastern European country was threatened.

The Brezhnev Regime

At the same time that this doctrine was in place, a dtente was formed between the
United States and the Soviet Union.

Dtente: an overall relaxation of tensions, by less use of military force.

SALT I and SALT II (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaties) These treaties lowered
tension between the countries, allowing Brezhnev to feel comfortable with
Western culture to be adopted in the Soviet Union.

Things such as Western art, music, and dress began to emerge.

Dissidents: People that spoke out against the Brezhnev regime, were
still punished.

Economic Policies of Brezhnev

Encouraged the acceleration of industry and production, but to a negative effect.

He emphasized consumer goods such as watches, furniture, and clothing; instead of

emphasizing things that could be exported or sold to other countries. This led to an
overabundance of goods, and a decline in the economy overall.

When taking full advantage of his power, Brezhnev abolished inner councils such as the Regional
Economic Councils, which used to regulated the Soviet economy.

What do you think this did to the economy? Was this a smart move on Brezhnev's
behalf?

Problems that Weakened the Soviet Economy

Large, central government: Left room for many mistakes, sweeping things under the rug,
bureaucracy was not efficient, and created an overall indifference by Brezhnev.
 Farmers and industry workers preferred to work and own private crops: As opposed to large
worker brigades, that would produce a large amount of food.

Due to both of these things, the Soviet bureaucracy became corrupt, and uninvolved in the
issues of the struggling nation. Although he was aware of these things, Brezhnev did not change
the leadership within his government.

The End of the Dtente and an Increase in Tension

In 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, breaking its dtente agreement to lessen
military force.

The Soviets sought to restore a pro-Soviet Union regime in Afghanistan. To the US, this
was an act of expansion.

In response to the invasion, President Jimmy Carter pulled the U.S. out of the
1980 Olympics that were stationed in Moscow and placed an embargo on the
grain that was sold to the Soviet Union.

Ronald Reagan and the Soviet Union

Reagan Cold War Policies

During the Reagan Administration, there was an increase in spending on a military buildup and
the beginning of an arms race.

Reagan gave military aid to Afghan rebels, who were known as the Mujaheeden, or the holy
warriors in hopes of fighting off communism in Afghanistan

In the end, the Soviet Union did not win, and instead the military action in Afghanistan
led to the weakening of ties between the Soviet army and its government.

Mikhail Gorbachev, The Reformer

As a member of the Communist Party, Gorbachev saw the need for change within the Soviet
Union.

Reform policy:

Perestroika: a restructuring policy that worked to reform the economic turmoil that the
Soviet Union was living under, until Gorbachev realized that the economy would not fix
without the political influence being fixed as well.

What exactly did perestroika look like?

Limited free enterprise Some could own and operate private businesses

Glasnot openness; or the encouragement of constructive criticism of the

Soviet government

How do you think this changed the dynamic of citizen-leader

relationships in Soviet Russia?
 Political Policies that Gorbachev Remedied

Established a new parliament (elected members) The Congress of Peoples Deputies

Democratized the S.U. by making himself the first Soviet President

Under Glasnost, people were allowed to bring issues they had with the government forward,
and discuss ways for improvement

End of the Soviet Union

Due to the extreme change in control from the control of Brezhnev, to the openness of
Gorbachev, intense cultural and ethnic tensions rose.

Within the Union, there were 92 ethnic groups and 112 different languages

Russian conservatives (mostly nationalists) were not fans of Gorbachev.

Gorbachev stopped funding the Communist governments of Eastern Europe

In 1987, Gorbachev signed the INF Treaty along with the United States

Beginning of Nationalist movements, countries such as: Georgia, Moldova, and

Azerbaijan, called for independence

The official end of the S.U. occurred in 1991, when Gorbachev was arrested by
conservative leaders and the republics began to push for independence.

How did Gorbachev contribute to the ending of the Soviet Union?

Boris Yetlsin (1991-2000)

When Gorbachev was arrested, Boris along with thousands of other Russians, resisted and put
Boris into power instead.

By December of 1991, the conservative republics were not only pushing for independence. They
wanted to vote on it.

The vote concluded and the decision to dissolve was made. Eventually, leaders of Russia,
Ukraine, and Belarus stated that the Soviet Union no longer existed.

As president of Russia, Boris introduced the free market economy to Russia.

But to no accord, because of an increase in crime, which led to economic hardships and
social chaos.

Putins Russia (2000-Present)

Former KGB officer, who wanted to tighten the rein on government power.

In order to stimulate the Russian economy, Putin introduced the free sale and purchase of land
and significant tax cuts.

This has led to an overall economic surplus and growing economy.

 This is almost entirely due to the growth in oil and gas exports