Fall of USSR

• Why did the soviets help afghanistan

  In order to support the afghan government fight against anti communist muslims (muhajideen)
• Outcome of the Soviet Afghan conflict


  The soviets withdraw because theyre poor, muslim forces and the us win meaning no communism
• Perestroika


  "reform" the plan implemented by Gorbachev in order to reform the USSR to make it better because it was struggling
• Some issues that the USSR had

  • Stagnation: The soviets economy sucked
  • Political repression: tight political control & suppression
  • International isloation: increasingly isolated bc too agressive
• Key principles of perestroika

  • increase market based reforms, promote private enterprise
  • Introduce a democracy with free elections and local govs.
• Glasnost


  "transparency"
• What did glasnost include?

  political openess: greater freedom of speech

  economic restructuring: transitioning towards a market based economy

  international cooperation: improving relations w the west
• Why'd the USSR fall?

  People lost faith in communism...

  • Soviets werent able to keep up technologically