Political reforms

• Problems of political reform:

  Lenin and Stalin system: centralised party and state control over regional USSR parties, party obeyed politburo.

  Khrushchev: Reforms threated CP control in Hungary and Poland

  Brezhnev: No meaningful reform, No attempts democratise government. BUT suppressed political dissidents.

  Andropov: Continued Brezhnev policy suppression, allowed Increased political freedoms in party socially and economically. Wanted deal with Long term probs (econ decline and corruption). Promoted those willing question system to senior positions such as Gorbachev.
• What were Gorbachev's objectives as general secretary?

  1. Revitalise soviet union
  2. End stagnation of Brezhnev period
  3. End corruption
  4. Return to Lenin mode through participation in local soviets.
  5. Increase party debate|
  6. Increase freedoms expression intellectuals
• What were Gorbachev's main political reforms?

  1. 1986-88 Glasnost
  2. 1988-90 Democratisation
• What was the aim of Glasnost?


  To help the economy recover by ending economic distortion.
• When was the 27th Party congress?

  February/March 1986
• What was the significance of 27th Party congress?

  1. First time priorities set since 1961
  2. Committed party to all round improvement of socialism including 'Genuine Democracy'
  3. Symbol Gorbachev wanted to break from the past.
• Who did Gorbachev put in charge of soviet media?

  Yakolev
• Name the newspapers Yakolev employed people to edit

  Moskovskie and Ogonek
• Why did Gorbachev liberate the media?

  To help create an alliance between communist reformers and Russian intellectuals through freedom of expression. Hoped intellectuals could criticise party and generate new ideas.
• What did Yakolev do in regard to the media?

  1. Published banned books, plays and films by anti-communist intellectuals Ex. Repentance made in 1984, released 1986 whih was critical of stalin's terror.
• How did Gorbachev show he wanted intellectuals in the party?

  1. Gorbachev released dissidents from prison
  2. Invited Sakharov to Moscow from exile in Gorky to support political reform.
• How and when was glasnost extended?

  When: 1987 and 1988

  
  

  How:

  • 1988 Tspiko and Yakolev criticised Marx and Lenin
  • 1988 citizens allowed to listen foreign radio and read newspapers
  • 1988 19th party congress - senior officials admitted scale of problems in USSR in education, healthcare,
• Consequences of glasnost:

  • Gorbachev criticised reforming too slowly and too little.
  • Criticisms foundations whole soviet system due Stalin's terror
  • Republics beginning to demand independence
  • Destabilised party rule by allowing criticism of Communist party
• When was Chernobyl

  April 1986
• When was Glasnost? 


  1986-1988
• What was the significance of Chernobyl for soviet union?


  Became symbol of problems in soviet union. As caused by fundamental failings in soviet system: Reactor's design was flawed, authorities hid design flaws from operators, power plant cheaply constructed, problems were covered up, refusal to acknowledge scale of problem by officials.
• Why did hardliners oppose Gorbachev's reforms ?

  Believed would end power of party and privileges of members.
• What were the two party factions by 1988?

  Moderates: Such as Ligachev who had supported Andropov, accepted need tackle corruption and promote limited economic reform BUT believed gorbachev's reforms were undermining party power.

  Radicals: Yeltsin and Yakolev, Believed exposing party to criticism gave power to soviet people was essential in revitalising communism.
• When was democratisation?

  1988 - 1990
• what was democratisation?

  Gorbachev introduced multi-candidate elections to the supreme soviet. From 1989 citizens could vote from a choice of communist party candidates.
• what congress led to democratisation and when was it?

  19th party congress in 1988
• How did multi candidate elections limit party power?

  Following 1920 the communist party appointed its own candidates, thus ensuring control over soviets and elections, Multi-candidate election stripped party of its power to appoint candidates.

  =shift of power from party to people.
• What were the 1988 democratisation reforms?

  • In multi candidate elections 1500 of the people's deputies would be elected
  • The remaining 750 would be appointed by communist party and officials.
  • BUT Not allowed to vote for other parties.
• How did Gorbachev's reforms in the supreme soviet weaken the party?

  • Rather than meeting once a year, met 2x for 3 month sessions every year.
  • Supreme soviet was partially independent from communist party's leadership for first time.
• How many seats did the communists win in the congress of people's deputies?

  80%
• What was yeltsin's vote share in moscow?

  89%
• What was the inter regional deputies group (IRDG) and when was it formed?

  1989

  • It embraced radical anti-communist agenda including introduction of private property and greater autonomy for the republics. = step towards democracy as became official organised opposition group.
• Consequences of the 1989 election

  Good:

  • Weakened position of moderates.

  Unintended:

  • nationalist used the elections to campaign for independence Ex. violence in Georgia
  • Yeltsin was popular and potential rival to gorbachev, Idea to replace USSR with confederation of independent states was popular with nationalists and threat to stability of soviet union.
• When and what were republic elections?

  1990

  • Elections in republics
• Results of republic elections:

  • in Moscow 'Democratic russia' won 85% seats
  • Lenningrad 'Democratic elections 90' won 80% seats
• Negative consequences of democratisation 1988-90

  • Weakened party by allowing choice between factions in Communist party
  • Supreme soviet independent from communist party
  • High ranking communist officials in central committee defeated
  • yeltsin won 89% moscow = potential rival gorb
  • 1989 formation IRDG which embraced radical anti communist ideas.
  • weakened party and Increased nationalist unrest Ex. In georgia campaigns for independence
  • Republic also want anti communism: 'Dem Rus' won 85% Moscow and 'Dem Elect. 90' won 80% lenningrad
• Why was democratisation negative for Gorbachev in terms of government 


  It didnt produce a strong government, was problem for gorbachev as he needed strong central authority to push his reforms and maintain order.
• When was Gorbachev appointed president of soviet union?

  March 1990
• Why did Gorbachv's appointment as president in march 1990 create long term problems?

  • He was elected by congress of people's deputies where he had support so lacked legitimacy compared to popular Yeltsin.
  • Gorbachev used his emergency powers to censor press or use soviet troops to restore order = Criticism by radicals for abandoning reform and creating new dictatorship.
  • People resigning from governement claiming gorbachev had abandoned democarcy Ex. Shevardnadze
• How did Gorbachev's appointment as president in march 1990 solve short term problems?

  • Role was more important and independent of the party and supreme soviet
  • Allowed use of emergency powers such as censorship of press to retain power ex. In republics in lithuania
• How were gorbachev's political reforms the reason for the fall

  • Glasnost and democratisation didn't achieve goals to revitalise party and economy.
  • Openness destroyed party authority and allowed criticism of government.
  • Democratisation weakened party authority
  • Gorbachev was no longer trusted. After stressing democracy in 1988-90 used presidential powers to push agenda and quell rebellions. He also never gained a mandate himself.
  • By the end people had lost faith in the communist party and the soviet union.