Gorbachev's policies and the fall of the USSR

• What were Gorbachev's initial goals?

  Economic reform
• What significant change did Gorbachev embrace in the late 1980s?

  Political reform
• In 1990, what did Gorbachev attempt to reform?

  The nature of the union
• What is 'new thinking' in Gorbachev's context?

  A new language of politics undermining the USSR
• What does 'Perestroika' imply?

  Scientific restructuring
• Why did Gorbachev avoid using the word 'reform'?

  It was associated with Khrushchev's failures
• How did Gorbachev advocate change without using the term 'reform'?

  By promoting 'socialist pluralism' and 'socialist markets'
• How did traditional communists view pluralism and markets?

  They rejected them as capitalist concepts
• What strategy did Gorbachev use to suggest compatibility with communism?

  Adding 'socialism' to pluralism and markets
• What was the effect of replacing local leaders with Gorbachev's supporters?

  It weakened the communist party's authority
• How did republics respond to Gorbachev's leadership changes?

  By supporting nationalist leaders
• What characterized the phases of Perestroika?

  Each phase weakened the party and the union
• What was the outcome of the acceleration phase (1985-86)?

  Decline in economic growth
• How did Glasnost affect faith in the communist party?

  It undermined faith in the party and ideology
• What was the impact of democratization on the communist party?

  Allowed alternate candidates, weakening the party
• What did market reform imply about the command economy?

  It was inferior to western capitalism
• How did traditional Soviet leaders deal with opposition?

  By relying on violence
• What change did Gorbachev make regarding violence?

  Reduced emphasis on violence against opposition
• How did Gorbachev view individual rights?

  They needed respect to prevent atrocities
• What were Gorbachev's fundamental mistakes?

  Believing reform could save the USSR
• What did Gorbachev fail to see about the USSR's commitment?

  Its fragility
• What was a key policy mistake related to Usokrenyie?

  It disrupted production, lowering output
• How did Gorbachev's continual introduction of new reforms affect their success?

  Policies lacked time to succeed
• What was the overall effect of Gorbachev's reforms on the system?

  Weakened the whole system
• What tactical mistake did Gorbachev make regarding the communist party?

  Failed to win over the party for reform
• What was Gorbachev's position regarding elections?

  He refused to stand for election
• What happened after Gorbachev failed to abandon the communist party?

  He lost public support
• How did China's approach differ from the USSR's in the 1980s?

  China embraced reforms while maintaining party power
• What was the result of China's quicker market reforms compared to Gorbachev's?

  China's economy continued to grow
• What allowed the Chinese communist party to remain stable?

  Lack of political reform
• Why did the USSR collapse according to the perspective on reforms?

  Due to simultaneous political and economic change
• What were the phases of Perestroika and their impacts?

  • Acceleration (1985-86): Decline in economic growth
  • Glasnost: Undermined faith in the party and ideology
  • Democratization: Allowed alternate candidates, weakening the party
  • Market reform: Destabilized the economy, admitting inferiority of command economy
• What were Gorbachev's fundamental and tactical mistakes?

  Fundamental mistakes:

  • Believing reform could save the USSR
  • Failing to see the fragility of commitment
  • Underestimating the impact of past revelations

  
  

  Tactical mistakes:

  • Failing to win over the communist party
  • Refusing to stand for election
  • Not abandoning the party after the coup