Gorbachev’s “New Thinking”

• Gorbachev and situation of USSR


  • Gorbachev became leader of the USSR in 1985. He knew that a new relationship was needed with the USA for the USSR to survive. He acknowledged the weaknesses in the Soviet economy when compared to the USA. Americans enjoyed a high standard of living; in the USSR there were severe shortages – some housewives queued for up to 5 hours for bread.Corruption in the higher ranks of the Communist Party were clear; production levels in industry and agriculture were very low. People were losing faith in communism.
• Gorbachev introduced “new thinking” to both domestic and foreign policy to address the issues – to reform the political and economic life in the Soviet Union. He had not intended to destroy communism, simply to reform it
• 'new thinking' policies


  • Introducing sweeping reforms in the USSR’s Communist Party and Soviet system through policies of perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness)
  • Ending the arm’s race; signing arm’s reduction treaties with USA
  • Abandoning the Brezhnev Doctrine – stopping Soviet interference in eastern European satellite states
• Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), 1987

  • Eliminated nuclear and conventional ground launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500-5000 km. By Treaty’s deadline of 1 June 1991, 2,962 weapons had been destroyed. Under the treaty both sides were able to verify the limitation of weapons made by the other. Viewed as “an impossible vision” by Reagan and of “universal significance for mankind” by Gorbachev, the INF was very important as a first step to disarmament
• • Reform within the USSR
  • i.e. system of perestroika and glasnost. Economy and political system were gradually restructured i.e. allowing a move away from nationalisation and collectivisation; elections for local government. In terms of openness, there were dissidents released and other political prisoners; accounts emerged about the atrocities under Stalin; cultural freedom re films, plays, music that had previously been banned
• • Negotiations with USA

  • Summit Conferences - first held in Geneva in 1985 to discuss arm’s limitation. USA refused to give up the SDI but there was genuine agreement to make the world a “safer place”. In the Geneva Accord, the two countries committed to speed up arm’s talks; work towards the abolition of chemical weapons; be more active on issues of human rights. Second conference held in Reykjavik, Iceland in October 1986 – no agreement as USA refused to discard SDI. Third conference in 1987
• • Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) - consequences
  • USA still remained committed to SDI but Gorbachev realised need to reduce weapons as they could not compete with the USA on nuclear weapons; USA were clear they did not plan to invade the USSR; USSR needed time for economic recovery and Gorbachev knew seeking peace would win his popularity in the west and act as a lever for further talks. By 1991 there had been further treaties to reduce armaments, including in 1991 (START 1)
• • Abandonment of Brezhnev Doctrine – freeing of Eastern Europe from Communism in the Sinatra Doctrine 1989.

  • Eastern Europe free to trade with who they wanted; allowed to change governments; rapid change in Eastern Europe 1989- 91.Warsaw Pact disbanded by 1991.
• • Rapid change in Eastern Europe (consequence of Sinatra Doctrine)
  • No longer Soviet held; able to hold democratic elections, trade freely and move throughout the east and west. Germany – huge symbolism in the dismantling of the wall in November 1989 and the reunification in October 1990
• • Collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991 = end of the Cold War

  • Gorbachev was ousted from power in the Soviet Union in August 1991 for the destruction of the Communist Party by the Gang of Eight.
  • While re-established three days later, his authority had been damaged.
  • Boris Yeltsin took up the leadership.
  • Following planned constitutional reform for Soviet republics, they demanded total independence 1990- 91 eg Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania. Soviet Union formally dissolved on 25th December 1991.
• Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), 1987


  • Eliminated nuclear and conventional ground launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500-5000 km.
  • By Treaty’s deadline of 1 June 1991, 2,962 weapons had been destroyed. Under the treaty both sides were able to verify the limitation of weapons made by the other.
  • Viewed as “an impossible vision” by Reagan and of “universal significance for mankind” by Gorbachev, the INF was very important as a first step to disarmament
• Sinatra Doctrine of 1988-9 meant Eastern Europe were free to choose their own government.
• effects in Eastern Europe 1989-9

  • 1989 – Poland reform led by the Solidarity Movement. Non-Communist government elected;Hungary opened her border with Austria in May so a hole in the Iron Curtain allowed. Also allowed a way for East Germans to move to West Germany. Free elections held in 1990 – non- communist government elected
  • 1989 – Demonstrations in East Germany – Soviet troops would not support the Communist government, saying they were no longer getting involved in independent country’s internal affairs.

  1989-1990 – New governments elected in Hungary, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Romania
• Germany's reunited

  Demonstrations in East Germany – Soviet troops would not support the Communist government, saying they were no longer getting involved in independent country’s internal affairs.

  
  

  • 1 million protesting in East Germany in November 1989 demanding free elections. 9 November, aware of how many East Germans were already leaving to go to the west, the East German government accepted freedom of movement from East to West Berlin. The Wall was dismantled. By October 1990 – Germany was reunited.