Gorbachev's New Thinking

• "We can't go on living like this!"

  determined to reform communism and introduce a series of policies to improve the Soviet Union drastically. also wants to strengthen its foreign relations, including with the US
• explain the economic problems in the USSR

  during Brezhnev's era, huge sums were spent on the arms race against the US. investment in the soviet economy was low and there was barely any industrial growth. standards of living were far lower here than in the west
• Gorbachev's solution


  Perestroika- reconstruction. reform the economy so that it includes some practices and aspects of capitalism
• problems with gov and leadership in the soviet union

  USSR suffered from poor leadership for many years and a run of leaders w/ poor health and a brief rule. they couldn't compete with the popularity and charisma of Reagan
• Gorbachev's solution


  Glasnost- openness and transparency. less corruption in gov, allow opposition to gov. increased freedom of speech
• what was the martial law

  announced in 1981 in the soviet union. army rule (NOT POLICE)
• problems with relations with the satellite states

  Solidarity trade union gaining popularity/support in Poland- soviet troops stationed along Polish border, ready to invade. other satellite states/ EE countries began showing signs of resistance/opposition to soviet comm rule- only controlled by use of secret police e.g. Stasi in EG
• Gorbachev's solution


  drop Brezhnev doctrine. USSR will no longer get involved in domestic affairs of other comm countries
• financial cost of arms race and how to solve this issue

  war in afghanistan costing $8 bill a year. cost of the arms race e.g. trying to keep up w/ SDI. the USSR will reduce spending on arms and defence, withdraw from afghanistan
• how does this change Reagan's approach to the soviets

  adopts a more open approach to the US' relationship w/ the soviet union. not threatened by them anymore with Gorbachev's more reasonable leadership style
• name all the meetings/ agreements than followed because of the shift in the 2 mindsets

  Geneva Summit nov 1985. Reykjavik Summit oct 1986. Washington Summit dec 1987. Moscow Summit 1988. Malta Summit 1989
• the geneva summit 1985


  no formal agreements. Reagan and Gorbachev establish a good working relationship. mutual desire to improve relations between their countries
• the reykjavik summit 1986


  [Gorbachev's desire to reduce the world stockpile of nuclear arms strengthens when Chernobyl nuclear power plant explodes in Ukraine 1986] much of the USSR affected by the nuclear fallout- proposes phasing out nuclear weapons if US drops SDI program. not agreed but improvement in relations
• the washington summit 1987


  Gorbachev turns to a disarmament proposal. wants to reduce spending on weapons. formal treaty signed!! - Intermediate-Range Nuclear Force Treaty- (both countries to abolish all land-based missiles w/ a range of 500-5,500 km)
• the moscow summit 1988


  detail to do w/ INF treaty resolved. Gorbachev travels to the US later that year- makes a speech @ United Nations- announces reduction in Warsaw Pact troops and the USSR's withdrawal from Afghanistan
• the malta summit 1989


  Gorbachev meets new US president George Bush. no new agreements but marks official end of the cold war. Gorbachev assures Bush he will "never start a hot war against the USA"