DOC-20240528-WA0000..pdf the collapse of

soviet union

1. The Collapse of the The Collapse of the
Soviet UnionSoviet Union
And the world watched And the world watched
with wonder …with wonder …

2. Eastern
Bloc
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
15 Republics: Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania,
Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine,
Uzbekistan
7 Satellite
Countries:
Bulgaria,
Czech
Republic, East
Germany,
Hungary,
Poland,
Romania,
Slovakia

4. Was the Collapse Due to Force? NoWas the Collapse Due to Force? No
The Cold War cost more than The Cold War cost more than
$11 trillion. But the collapse $11 trillion. But the collapse
of the Soviet Union and its of the Soviet Union and its
satellites was not a result of satellites was not a result of
force. force.
No NATO tank fired a shot. No NATO tank fired a shot.
No bomb fell on the No bomb fell on the
Kremlin. Kremlin.

5. A Home-Grown InsurgencyA Home-Grown Insurgency
Instead, a massive, home-Instead, a massive, home-
grown insurgency, led by a grown insurgency, led by a
number of different number of different
participants, contributed to participants, contributed to
the collapse:the collapse:
WorkersWorkers
Dissident intellectualsDissident intellectuals
Advocates of national Advocates of national
self-determinationself-determination
ReformersReformers

6. Polish Trade Union: SolidarityPolish Trade Union: Solidarity
The downfall began in The downfall began in
1980 when striking Polish 1980 when striking Polish
workers organized workers organized
Solidarity, an Solidarity, an
independent trade union independent trade union
of nearly 10 million of nearly 10 million
members. members.

7. Support from Catholic ChurchSupport from Catholic Church
Solidarity, which had Solidarity, which had
strong support from the strong support from the
powerful Polish Catholic powerful Polish Catholic
Church, demonstrated Church, demonstrated
how a working-class how a working-class
movement could offer an movement could offer an
entire nation moral and entire nation moral and
political leadership.political leadership.

8. Solidarity’s Chairman: Lech WalesaSolidarity’s Chairman: Lech Walesa
The Polish military drove The Polish military drove
Solidarity underground in Solidarity underground in
1981. However, in 1983, 1981. However, in 1983,
Solidarity’s chairman, Lech Solidarity’s chairman, Lech
Walesa, won the Nobel Walesa, won the Nobel
peace prize. In 1990, he peace prize. In 1990, he
would be the first freely would be the first freely
elected president of the elected president of the
Polish nation in more than Polish nation in more than
sixty years.sixty years.

9. The Gorbachev Revolution The Gorbachev Revolution
Mikhail Gorbachev, who Mikhail Gorbachev, who
came to power in 1985 came to power in 1985
as the General Secretary as the General Secretary
of the Communist Party of the Communist Party
of the Soviet Union of the Soviet Union
(CPSU), recognized that (CPSU), recognized that
the Soviet Union could the Soviet Union could
not remain politically and not remain politically and
economically isolated and economically isolated and
that the Soviet system that the Soviet system
had to be changed if it had to be changed if it
was to survive. was to survive.

10. Gorbachev's Five-Point PlanGorbachev's Five-Point Plan
The key pieces to Gorbachev's plan for the survival The key pieces to Gorbachev's plan for the survival
of the Soviet Union were a series of reforms:of the Soviet Union were a series of reforms:
1.1.Glasnost Glasnost (openness) – greater freedom of (openness) – greater freedom of
expression expression
2.2.PerestroikaPerestroika (restructuring) – decentralization (restructuring) – decentralization
of the Soviet economy with gradual market of the Soviet economy with gradual market
reforms reforms
3.3.Renunciation of the Brezhnev Doctrine Renunciation of the Brezhnev Doctrine (armed (armed
intervention where socialism was threatened) intervention where socialism was threatened)
and the pursuit of arms control agreements and the pursuit of arms control agreements
4.4.Reform of the KGBReform of the KGB (secret service) (secret service)
5.5.Reform of the Communist Party Reform of the Communist Party

11. The Objective: SurvivalThe Objective: Survival
Gorbachev knew that the Soviet Union would have Gorbachev knew that the Soviet Union would have
to change if it was to survive.to change if it was to survive.
Central planningCentral planning in a modern industrial economy in a modern industrial economy
brought many inefficiencies. brought many inefficiencies.
The The factory management systemfactory management system provided little provided little
incentive to make technological improvements incentive to make technological improvements
and every incentive to hide factory capacities to and every incentive to hide factory capacities to
ensure low quotas ensure low quotas
The The socialist farm systemsocialist farm system was inefficient – there was inefficient – there
were poor worker incentives and storage and were poor worker incentives and storage and
transportation problems. transportation problems.
The Soviet State could no longer afford the The Soviet State could no longer afford the high high
defense spendingdefense spending that accompanied the Cold that accompanied the Cold
War.War.

12. Insistent Calls for ChangeInsistent Calls for Change
He believed that his He believed that his
reforms were necessary reforms were necessary
and used his leadership and used his leadership
and power to attempt to and power to attempt to
implement them. implement them.
The policy of The policy of glasnostglasnost
(openness) made it (openness) made it
possible for people to possible for people to
more freely criticize the more freely criticize the
government's policies. government's policies.
When people realized it When people realized it
was safe to speak out, the was safe to speak out, the
calls for change became calls for change became
more insistent. more insistent.

13. Reforms Were Too SlowReforms Were Too Slow
The gradual market reforms The gradual market reforms
and decentralization of the and decentralization of the
economy (economy (perestroikaperestroika) were ) were
too slow and failed to keep too slow and failed to keep
pace with the crisis and his pace with the crisis and his
people's demands. people's demands.
The Soviet Union was The Soviet Union was
suffering a deterioration of suffering a deterioration of
economic and social economic and social
conditions and a fall in the conditions and a fall in the
GNP. GNP.

14. Party Reforms a FailureParty Reforms a Failure
His attempts to reform His attempts to reform
the the Communist PartyCommunist Party
were a failure. Change were a failure. Change
was too slow to keep pace was too slow to keep pace
with events and he was with events and he was
continually hampered by continually hampered by
his need to give in to the his need to give in to the
hard-liners in order to hard-liners in order to
retain power. As retain power. As
communism collapsed in communism collapsed in
Eastern Europe, reform of Eastern Europe, reform of
communism in the Soviet communism in the Soviet
Union became unlikely. Union became unlikely.

15. Release from Soviet DominationRelease from Soviet Domination
The renunciation of the The renunciation of the
Brezhnev DoctrineBrezhnev Doctrine (armed (armed
intervention in support of intervention in support of
socialism) released the socialism) released the
Eastern European states Eastern European states
from Soviet domination. from Soviet domination.
The communist rulers of The communist rulers of
these states could not these states could not
survive without the support survive without the support
of the Soviet Union. of the Soviet Union.
The Brezhnev Doctrine was articulated in 1968 when the Soviet army
occupied Czechoslovakia to end the Prague Spring, an attempt by
Alexander Dubcek to build “socialism with a human face.”

17. Reagan’s Brandenburg Gate SpeechReagan’s Brandenburg Gate Speech
President Ronald Reagan called upon President Ronald Reagan called upon
Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall: Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall:
""In the Communist world, we see failure, In the Communist world, we see failure,
technological backwardness, declining technological backwardness, declining
standards... Even today, the Soviet Union standards... Even today, the Soviet Union
cannot feed itself. The inescapable conclusion cannot feed itself. The inescapable conclusion
is that freedom is the victor. General is that freedom is the victor. General
Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace,Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace,
if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union,
if you seek liberalization: Come here to this if you seek liberalization: Come here to this
gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate!
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

18. President Reagan giving a speech at the Berlin Wall,
Brandenburg Gate, Federal Republic of Germany. June 12, 1987

19. Wave of DemonstrationsWave of Demonstrations
Beginning in September Beginning in September
1989, a wave of huge 1989, a wave of huge
demonstrations shook demonstrations shook
Communist regimes across Communist regimes across
eastern Europe. A massive eastern Europe. A massive
tide of East German tide of East German
emigrants surged through emigrants surged through
Czechoslovakia and Hungary Czechoslovakia and Hungary
to the West, undermining the to the West, undermining the
authority of the Communist authority of the Communist
hard-liners who still clung to hard-liners who still clung to
power in the German power in the German
Democratic Republic (GDR). Democratic Republic (GDR).

20. A tram is blocked by East German demonstrators in the center of the city in October 1989. Their
banner reads: 'Legalization of opposition parties, free democratic elections, free press and
independent unions.'

21. The Wall Came DownThe Wall Came Down
Finally, on the night of Finally, on the night of
November 9, 1989, November 9, 1989,
ordinary Germans ordinary Germans
poured through the poured through the
Berlin Wall. The GDR Berlin Wall. The GDR
quickly disintegrated, quickly disintegrated,
and by the end of 1990, and by the end of 1990,
all of East Germany had all of East Germany had
been incorporated into been incorporated into
the wealthy, powerful the wealthy, powerful
Federal Republic of Federal Republic of
Germany.Germany.

22. The Rise of NationalismThe Rise of Nationalism
With the iron grip of the With the iron grip of the
centralized Soviet state centralized Soviet state
relaxed and the growing relaxed and the growing
failure of the state to failure of the state to
adequately feed and adequately feed and
clothe its people, clothe its people,
nationalism in the nationalism in the
republics surged and republics surged and
separatist movements separatist movements
threatened the very threatened the very
existence of the Soviet existence of the Soviet
Union. Union.
Super Cute Protesters:
Moldova: The hot, angry face of
nationalism - Apr 13, 2009

23. Events in Eastern EuropeEvents in Eastern Europe
Communist governments Communist governments
in Czechoslovakia, in Czechoslovakia,
Hungary, and Bulgaria Hungary, and Bulgaria
either tumbled or either tumbled or
underwent reform.underwent reform.
The Communist The Communist
dictatorship in Romania dictatorship in Romania
fell after a week of fell after a week of
bloody street battles bloody street battles
between ordinary between ordinary
citizens and police, who citizens and police, who
defended the old order defended the old order
to the bitter end. to the bitter end.

24. Radical ChangeRadical Change
Radical change finally Radical change finally
reached the Soviet reached the Soviet
heartland in August heartland in August
1991, when thousands of 1991, when thousands of
Russian citizens poured Russian citizens poured
into the streets to defeat into the streets to defeat
a reactionary coup a reactionary coup
d'état. d'état.

25. Independent RepublicsIndependent Republics
The Communist party The Communist party
quickly collapsed, and quickly collapsed, and
the Soviet Union began the Soviet Union began
the painful and uncertain the painful and uncertain
process of reorganizing process of reorganizing
itself as a loose itself as a loose
confederation of confederation of
independent republics.independent republics.

26. Boris YeltsinBoris Yeltsin
Boris Yeltsin, who Boris Yeltsin, who
headed the Russian headed the Russian
Republic, replaced Republic, replaced
Gorbachev as president Gorbachev as president
of a much- diminished of a much- diminished
state. Gorbachev found state. Gorbachev found
that there was no that there was no
Soviet Union to lead Soviet Union to lead
and retired into private and retired into private
life. life.
Time magazine's July 15, 1996, issue, featured a 10-page
spread about a squad of U.S. political pros who
"clandestinely participated in guiding Yeltsin's campaign.“

27. Nobel Peace PrizeNobel Peace Prize
Gorbachev won the 1989 Gorbachev won the 1989
Nobel Peace Prize. He Nobel Peace Prize. He
brought a peaceful end to brought a peaceful end to
the cold war, and dramatic the cold war, and dramatic
change to his country's change to his country's
economy, though not in economy, though not in
the way he intended.the way he intended.

28. The End of the Cold WarThe End of the Cold War
The Cold War was over, The Cold War was over,
brought to a close not by brought to a close not by
the missiles and tanks of the missiles and tanks of
the principal participants, the principal participants,
but by the collective but by the collective
courage and willpower of courage and willpower of
ordinary men and women. ordinary men and women.

29. Ronald Reagan’s RoleRonald Reagan’s Role
In the United States, partisans of In the United States, partisans of
Ronald Reagan claimed much of Ronald Reagan claimed much of
the credit for ending the Cold War. the credit for ending the Cold War.
Reagan's frank denunciation of the Reagan's frank denunciation of the
Soviet Union as an “Soviet Union as an “evil empireevil empire," ,"
along with his administration's along with his administration's
military buildupmilitary buildup, were said to have , were said to have
inspired eastern bloc dissidents at inspired eastern bloc dissidents at
the same time the the same time the arms race arms race
exhausted the productive capacity exhausted the productive capacity
of the Soviet Union and other of the Soviet Union and other
inefficient Communist regimes. inefficient Communist regimes.

30. Nuclear Stockpiles, 1945-2006Nuclear Stockpiles, 1945-2006
Source data from: Robert S. Norris and Hans M. Kristensen, "Global nuclear stockpiles, 1945-2006," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
62, no. 4 (July/August 2006), 64-66. Online at http://thebulletin.metapress.com/content/c4120650912x74k7/fulltext.pdf

31. The National Debt The National Debt
US Pop: 304,998,272
Share of
Debt/Person:
$34,526.04
Daily Increase:
$3.84 billion
$438
billion
deficit

32. Another Side to the StoryAnother Side to the Story
According to U.S. diplomat According to U.S. diplomat
George Kennan, author of "The George Kennan, author of "The
Sources of Soviet Conduct" Sources of Soviet Conduct"
(1947) and architect of the (1947) and architect of the
containment policy, containment policy, the West's the West's
militarized posture helped the militarized posture helped the
Communists to rationalize their Communists to rationalize their
authoritarian ruleauthoritarian rule. The more U.S. . The more U.S.
policies followed a hard line, the policies followed a hard line, the
greater was the tendency in greater was the tendency in
Moscow to tighten the controls Moscow to tighten the controls
and to discourage liberalizing and to discourage liberalizing
tendencies.tendencies.

33. Lech Walesa's
SOLIDARITY
Gorbachev’s
REFORMS
John Paul II’s
CATHOLIC
CHURCH
GlasnostRonald Reagan’s
FOREIGN POLICY
No Brezhnev
Doctrine
Perestroika
Reform
KGB
Reform
Comm Party
EVIL EMPIRE
Speech
MILITARY
BUILDUP
ARMS RACE
East German
NATIONALISM
The Collapse of the Soviet Union
and the End of the Cold War
Ordinary
MEN & WOMEN
WILL POWER
COURAGE
Eastern
Bloc
Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics

34. Remaining Communist CountriesRemaining Communist Countries
At its peak, communism was practiced in dozens of At its peak, communism was practiced in dozens of
countries:countries:
Soviet UnionSoviet Union: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, : Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania,
Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan
Asian CountriesAsian Countries: Afghanistan, Cambodia, Mongolia, and : Afghanistan, Cambodia, Mongolia, and
Yemen Yemen
Soviet Controlled Eastern bloc countriesSoviet Controlled Eastern bloc countries: Bulgaria, Czech : Bulgaria, Czech
Republic, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Republic, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania,
Slovakia. Slovakia.
The BalkansThe Balkans: Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Bulgaria, : Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia.
AfricaAfrica: Angola, Benin, Congo, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, and : Angola, Benin, Congo, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, and
Mozambique.Mozambique.
CurrentlyCurrently only a handful of countries identified as communist only a handful of countries identified as communist
remain: Laos, North Korea, Vietnam, China, and Cuba.remain: Laos, North Korea, Vietnam, China, and Cuba.