Mikhail Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Union in 1985 and sought to reform the Soviet system through his policies of perestroika, glasnost, uskorenie, and demokratizatsiya. This involved restructuring the political and economic system, increasing transparency, accelerating reforms, and democratizing. He faced opposition from conservatives and Boris Yeltsin. Glasnost allowed for greater freedom of expression and criticism, but also increased unrest in Soviet republics and satellite states. Reforms began to spread through Eastern Europe in 1989, with Solidarity gaining power in Poland and Hungary liberalizing under Soviet non-intervention.
The document summarizes the collapse of the Soviet Union and the legacy it left behind. It discusses the power struggle that emerged between Gorbachev and Yeltsin in 1991. It describes the failed coup attempt in August 1991 and the dissolution of the USSR by the end of that year. The summary also outlines some of the major issues that arose in the aftermath, including control of the former Soviet Union's nuclear arsenal, ethnic tensions between groups, and conflicts like the war in Chechnya. Political changes in Russia in the 1990s under Yeltsin are also summarized.
The document summarizes political and economic developments in the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries between 1964-1981. Key events include:
- Khrushchev was ousted in 1964 and replaced by Brezhnev and Kosygin in the USSR. They faced economic and social problems domestically.
- Czechoslovakia experienced liberal reforms under Dubcek during the Prague Spring of 1968, but this was crushed by a Soviet invasion.
- In Poland in 1980, labor strikes erupted and the independent labor union Solidarity was formed led by Lech Wałęsa, though it was later suppressed by the government.
The fall of communism in Eastern Europe led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. Mikhail Gorbachev's policies of glasnost and perestroika weakened Soviet control over Eastern Europe and republics sought independence. Ethnic tensions and violence erupted in Yugoslavia as Serbia's Slobodan Milosevic attempted to dominate the republics. Wars broke out in Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo as Milosevic carried out ethnic cleansing campaigns against non-Serbs. By 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed and Russia emerged as the dominant successor state led by Boris Yeltsin and later Vladimir Putin.
The fall of the Soviet Union was caused by several economic and political factors over many years. Mikhail Gorbachev attempted reforms with glasnost and perestroika in the 1980s, but these had unintended consequences like increased nationalism that contributed to the USSR's dissolution. An August 1991 coup failed to stop growing independence movements. By December 1991, the Soviet Union had dissolved and was replaced by the Commonwealth of Independent States.
The document summarizes the fall of the Soviet Union in 3 main points:
1) The Soviet Union collapsed suddenly in 1991, dissolving into 15 independent countries, after years of economic struggles and reforms under Gorbachev weakened the centralized communist system.
2) The Soviet war in Afghanistan from 1979-1988 drained Soviet resources and unpopular, contributing to reforms and nationalist sentiments.
3) Life was difficult under Stalin's repressive communist rule but improved after his death, though the centralized command economy ultimately failed as the USSR dissolved.
The document provides a history of the Soviet Union from its origins after the Russian Revolution through its dissolution in 1991. It describes the establishment of communist rule under Lenin and the Bolsheviks, the early civil war period, Lenin's New Economic Policy and Stalin's rise to power. It then discusses Stalin's industrialization policies, purges, rule as a dictator, and leadership during World War II. Later sections cover Khrushchev's reforms, the rule of subsequent leaders, and Gorbachev's perestroika and glasnost reforms which ultimately led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union under Yeltsin and the establishment of the Russian Federation under Putin.
The Soviet Union faced many economic and political problems in the 1980s under Mikhail Gorbachev's leadership. Gorbachev introduced reforms like perestroika to restructure the Soviet economy and political system, reducing the Communist Party's power. However, tensions rose as ethnic groups demanded independence. By 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved as Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus declared its end and Gorbachev resigned.
The New Economic Policy (NEP) was introduced in 1921 by Lenin to transition away from war communism by allowing small businesses and private farming. Major industries remained under government control. The NEP improved the economy and benefited wealthy farmers. After Lenin's death in 1924, a power struggle emerged between Stalin and Trotsky for control of the Soviet Union. Stalin used his position as General Secretary to gain power by putting his supporters in key positions. He exiled Trotsky in 1929 and had him murdered. Stalin established a totalitarian state through policies like collectivization of agriculture and five-year plans, which rapidly industrialized the Soviet Union but had negative social impacts.
The document summarizes the collapse of the Soviet Union and the legacy it left behind. It discusses the power struggle that emerged between Gorbachev and Yeltsin in 1991. It describes the failed coup attempt in August 1991 and the dissolution of the USSR by the end of that year. The summary also outlines some of the major issues that arose in the aftermath, including control of the former Soviet Union's nuclear arsenal, ethnic tensions between groups, and conflicts like the war in Chechnya. Political changes in Russia in the 1990s under Yeltsin are also summarized.
The document summarizes political and economic developments in the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries between 1964-1981. Key events include:
- Khrushchev was ousted in 1964 and replaced by Brezhnev and Kosygin in the USSR. They faced economic and social problems domestically.
- Czechoslovakia experienced liberal reforms under Dubcek during the Prague Spring of 1968, but this was crushed by a Soviet invasion.
- In Poland in 1980, labor strikes erupted and the independent labor union Solidarity was formed led by Lech Wałęsa, though it was later suppressed by the government.
The fall of communism in Eastern Europe led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. Mikhail Gorbachev's policies of glasnost and perestroika weakened Soviet control over Eastern Europe and republics sought independence. Ethnic tensions and violence erupted in Yugoslavia as Serbia's Slobodan Milosevic attempted to dominate the republics. Wars broke out in Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo as Milosevic carried out ethnic cleansing campaigns against non-Serbs. By 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed and Russia emerged as the dominant successor state led by Boris Yeltsin and later Vladimir Putin.
The fall of the Soviet Union was caused by several economic and political factors over many years. Mikhail Gorbachev attempted reforms with glasnost and perestroika in the 1980s, but these had unintended consequences like increased nationalism that contributed to the USSR's dissolution. An August 1991 coup failed to stop growing independence movements. By December 1991, the Soviet Union had dissolved and was replaced by the Commonwealth of Independent States.
The document summarizes the fall of the Soviet Union in 3 main points:
1) The Soviet Union collapsed suddenly in 1991, dissolving into 15 independent countries, after years of economic struggles and reforms under Gorbachev weakened the centralized communist system.
2) The Soviet war in Afghanistan from 1979-1988 drained Soviet resources and unpopular, contributing to reforms and nationalist sentiments.
3) Life was difficult under Stalin's repressive communist rule but improved after his death, though the centralized command economy ultimately failed as the USSR dissolved.
The document provides a history of the Soviet Union from its origins after the Russian Revolution through its dissolution in 1991. It describes the establishment of communist rule under Lenin and the Bolsheviks, the early civil war period, Lenin's New Economic Policy and Stalin's rise to power. It then discusses Stalin's industrialization policies, purges, rule as a dictator, and leadership during World War II. Later sections cover Khrushchev's reforms, the rule of subsequent leaders, and Gorbachev's perestroika and glasnost reforms which ultimately led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union under Yeltsin and the establishment of the Russian Federation under Putin.
The Soviet Union faced many economic and political problems in the 1980s under Mikhail Gorbachev's leadership. Gorbachev introduced reforms like perestroika to restructure the Soviet economy and political system, reducing the Communist Party's power. However, tensions rose as ethnic groups demanded independence. By 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved as Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus declared its end and Gorbachev resigned.
The New Economic Policy (NEP) was introduced in 1921 by Lenin to transition away from war communism by allowing small businesses and private farming. Major industries remained under government control. The NEP improved the economy and benefited wealthy farmers. After Lenin's death in 1924, a power struggle emerged between Stalin and Trotsky for control of the Soviet Union. Stalin used his position as General Secretary to gain power by putting his supporters in key positions. He exiled Trotsky in 1929 and had him murdered. Stalin established a totalitarian state through policies like collectivization of agriculture and five-year plans, which rapidly industrialized the Soviet Union but had negative social impacts.
The collapse of the communist party of the soviet union and the disintegratio...computer2012
The document discusses the rise of Stalinism in the Soviet Union after the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. It argues that Stalinism arose from material conditions including the devastation of World War I and civil war, which necessitated relying on bureaucrats and experts with little sympathy for socialism. This privileged bureaucratic layer became fused with the Communist party apparatus and came to dominate the Soviet state under Stalin's leadership. The document maintains Stalinism did not represent true Marxism or Leninism and was not the inevitable outcome of the Bolshevik revolution.
The Soviet Union faced numerous internal problems that contributed to its collapse, including nationalism and ethnic diversity with over 100 ethnic groups within its borders, worker morale declined as shortages increased standard of living, and Gorbachev's reforms of glasnost and perestroika opened up criticism of the government and decentralization but did not do enough to solve economic issues. An attempted coup by communist hardliners in 1991 failed when people resisted, and soon after the Soviet Union dissolved into 15 independent republics, bringing an end to 74 years of Soviet rule.
The document summarizes the collapse of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It began with the formation of the Solidarity trade union in Poland in 1980 which received support from the Catholic Church and led to reforms. Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in 1985 and implemented reforms of glasnost, perestroika, and renouncing the Brezhnev Doctrine, but the reforms did not go far enough or fast enough. This led to demonstrations across Eastern Europe in 1989 and the fall of communist governments. The Berlin Wall was opened in November 1989, marking the collapse of Soviet control over Eastern Europe.
This document provides an overview of several chapters covering Europe and Eastern Europe from 1914 to the end of the Cold War. It summarizes the key causes of World War I, including militarism, alliances, nationalism, imperialism, and assassination. It then discusses the results of World War I, including the Treaty of Versailles and rise of fascism in Germany and Italy. It also summarizes the Russian Revolution of 1917 and rise of communism in Russia under Lenin and Stalin. Finally, it discusses the causes and key events of World War II, as well as the postwar establishment of the United Nations and division of Europe during the Cold War between Western democracies and the Soviet bloc.
here i have discussed the Yeltsin years, 10 years of economic turmoil after the fall of the soviet union. At various points I have also compared the Russian economic conditions to that of India
The document summarizes the fall of the Soviet Union in December 1991. It provides background that the Soviet Union had a communist government from 1917 to 1991, where the government controlled all aspects of life. It then describes some of the economic difficulties that led to the fall, including the loss of $20 billion per year after Saudi Arabia stopped supporting oil prices. Finally, it states that Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as Soviet leader on December 25, 1991, marking the official fall of the Soviet Union and end of communist rule.
The document summarizes the collapse of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It began with the formation of the Polish trade union Solidarity in 1980 which gained strong support from workers and the Catholic Church in Poland. Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in 1985 and implemented reforms like glasnost and perestroika to try to save the Soviet system, but the reforms were too slow and the economic crisis continued. Gorbachev's renunciation of the Brezhnev Doctrine allowed Eastern European states to break from Soviet domination. Massive demonstrations in 1989 weakened communist regimes, and the Berlin Wall was opened that November, marking the collapse of Soviet control in Eastern Europe.
The document summarizes the end of the USSR, beginning with key events and figures in the early Soviet period through World War II under Stalin. It then discusses reforms under Gorbachev in the 1980s that contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union, including perestroika and glasnost. Major events of the dissolution included the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, independence of Baltic states in 1989-1991, a failed coup against Gorbachev in 1991, and the formal dissolution of the USSR on December 25, 1991, resulting in 15 new independent countries emerging from the former Soviet republics.
The document discusses two major revolts against the Bolsheviks in 1921 - the Tambov Rebellion and the Kronstadt Revolt. The Tambov Rebellion was a widespread peasant uprising in response to millions of deaths from starvation under War Communism. The Kronstadt Revolt involved sailors and soldiers rebelling against compulsory labor and the replacement of soviet influence with the Vesenkha ministry. The Politburo anticipated the rebels would be unhappy about political oppression, economic misery, and witnessing the dire situation in cities like Petrograd. After defeating an initial attack, Trotsky mobilized over 60,000 troops equipped with artillery to put down the Kronstadt Revolt over almost three weeks of fighting, executing around
Class 12th
Political Science
Chapter 2
The End of Bipolarity
The things are explained in the completely and in better way.
It cover all the topics of NCERT Contemporary World Politics class 12
The PPT has been made under the guidance of an Political Science teacher
1 Title page
2 Berlin Wall
3 and 4 Some Important Leaders Of Soviet Union
5 What was soviet union
6 Merits of soviet union
7 Demerit of soviet union
8 On Verge of Stagnation
9 Gorbachev and the Disintegration
10 Common wealth of Independent State
11 to 18 why did soviet union disintegrate
19 to 22 Consequences of Disintegration of Soviet Union
23 to 26 shock therapy in post- communist regimes
27 Consequences of Shock Therapy
28 Tension and Conflicts
29 India and Post-Communist Country
30 to 34 During the world war era, India and the USSR enjoyed multi-dimensional relationship
35 thanks page
The document summarizes the decline of communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It describes Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms of perestroika and glasnost in the Soviet Union in the 1980s. It also discusses the rise of the Solidarity movement in Poland led by Lech Wałęsa and the non-violent revolutions that swept across Eastern Europe in 1989, ultimately leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The document summarizes the fall of communism in Eastern Europe from the 1950s through the 1990s. It discusses key events such as Stalin's death in 1953 and the reforms enacted under Khrushchev that allowed for more freedoms. It then covers the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and Prague Spring protests of 1968 that were crushed by the Soviet Union. Major reforms under Gorbachev in the 1980s, including glasnost and perestroika, weakened Soviet control and led Eastern European nations to demand more freedoms and hold free elections. This resulted in the fall of communist governments across Eastern Europe between 1989-1990 and the reunification of Germany.
Sec 3N Hist (Elec) Chapter 2.2: Stalin's RuleWeng Lun Ho
Stalin's dictatorship devastated the Soviet Union economically, politically, and socially. Economically, collectivization of agriculture and rapid industrialization increased production but also led to famine and poor living standards. Politically, the Great Terror eliminated opposition through executions and purges. Propaganda created a cult of personality around Stalin. Socially, the state tightly controlled all aspects of society and people lived in constant fear of arrest.
L5 how stable was the tsarist regime in 1914BOAHistory
The document analyzes the stability of the Tsarist regime in Russia by 1914 through examining major events like the Russo-Japanese War, 1905 Revolution, and reforms under Nicholas II and Petyr Stolypin. It discusses how the Russo-Japanese War was a major defeat that weakened the regime and sparked the 1905 Revolution. The 1905 Revolution saw widespread unrest that was only quelled after Nicholas II granted the October Manifesto for limited reforms. Stolypin further pursued reforms as Prime Minister but the regime still faced issues and was largely unreformed by the eve of World War I.
The document summarizes the breakup of the Soviet Union in 3 key points:
1. The USSR was a union of 15 republics formed in 1922 that dissolved in 1991 due to economic troubles, ethnic tensions between nationalities, and the liberalizing reforms of Gorbachev which weakened central control.
2. Mikhail Gorbachev's policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) relaxed censorship and aimed to transition to a market economy but had the unintended effect of empowering nationalist movements.
3. In 1991, the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus signed an agreement dissolving the Soviet Union and forming the Commonwealth of Independent States, bringing the
Sec 5N Hist (Elec) Chapter 11: End of Cold WarWeng Lun Ho
The document discusses the reasons for the end of the Cold War. It identifies long term factors like American economic and military superiority as well as the decline of communist ideology and failure of the Soviet economy. Short term factors included the ascension of Mikhail Gorbachev as Soviet leader and his reforms of glasnost (openness), perestroika (restructuring) and foreign policy which reduced tensions. Gorbachev's reforms revealed problems and lost control of the economy. Ultimately this led to the end of Soviet control over Eastern Europe and the fall of the Berlin Wall, increased cooperation between superpowers, and the disintegration of the Soviet Union.
1. The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 due to economic and political problems including a weak economy, widespread corruption, and rising nationalism in the republics.
2. Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms of perestroika and glasnost weakened the communist party's grip on power and emboldened independence movements.
3. The Soviet war in Afghanistan and military spending drained the economy while Gorbachev's openness policies destabilized communist rule, leading to the dissolution of the USSR and formation of 15 independent republics.
The Cold War ended in the late 20th century as reform in the Soviet Union under Gorbachev and the collapse of Communist regimes in Eastern Europe weakened the Eastern Bloc. Gorbachev's policies of perestroika and glasnost failed to solve economic problems and led to increased dissent. Popular protests emerged demanding democratic change. The USSR dissolved in 1991 and split into independent states, bringing an end to the Cold War. However, Communist rule remained in China and a few other nations, although they adopted some capitalist economic reforms.
The USSR was a socialist state that existed from 1922 to 1991, made up of 15 Soviet republics. It was established after the Russian Empire was overthrown in 1917. During World War II, the USSR helped the Allies with soldiers, artillery, and airplanes against Germany and its allies. After WWII, the USSR and US entered the Cold War period of global political and economic tension. In the late 1980s, the USSR experienced an economic crisis and the republics began declaring independence. In 1991, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus signed an agreement dissolving the Soviet Union, officially ending its existence.
The Soviet Union collapsed between 1985-1991 due to reforms introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev and rising nationalist sentiments. Gorbachev implemented policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (economic restructuring) in the 1980s that weakened the Soviet system. This led to independence movements in the Soviet republics. By 1991, hardliners launched a failed coup against Gorbachev and republic leaders, like Boris Yeltsin, declared independence. The Soviet Union was formally dissolved that December.
The document discusses the nuclear arms race between the United States and Soviet Union from the late 1940s through the 1980s. It describes how both nations engaged in an escalating arms buildup, developing new weapons like ICBMs, SLBMs, and MIRVs. It also discusses key events and agreements that shaped the arms race, such as the Soviet testing of nuclear weapons in 1949, the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, and arms limitation treaties like SALT I and SALT II. Throughout this period, both superpowers pursued policies of deterrence based on the threat of mutually assured destruction.
The Middle East has been a strategically important region due to its large oil resources. Tensions between Jews and Arabs have fueled conflict in the region for decades. The creation of Israel in 1948 led to the displacement of Palestinians and ongoing disputes over land claims. Major conflicts have included the Arab-Israeli War, Suez Crisis, and Six Day War, with Israel gaining territory each time but also creating more Palestinian refugees and angering Arab states. The region has been an area of competition between world powers like Britain, the US, and USSR as well.
The collapse of the communist party of the soviet union and the disintegratio...computer2012
The document discusses the rise of Stalinism in the Soviet Union after the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. It argues that Stalinism arose from material conditions including the devastation of World War I and civil war, which necessitated relying on bureaucrats and experts with little sympathy for socialism. This privileged bureaucratic layer became fused with the Communist party apparatus and came to dominate the Soviet state under Stalin's leadership. The document maintains Stalinism did not represent true Marxism or Leninism and was not the inevitable outcome of the Bolshevik revolution.
The Soviet Union faced numerous internal problems that contributed to its collapse, including nationalism and ethnic diversity with over 100 ethnic groups within its borders, worker morale declined as shortages increased standard of living, and Gorbachev's reforms of glasnost and perestroika opened up criticism of the government and decentralization but did not do enough to solve economic issues. An attempted coup by communist hardliners in 1991 failed when people resisted, and soon after the Soviet Union dissolved into 15 independent republics, bringing an end to 74 years of Soviet rule.
The document summarizes the collapse of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It began with the formation of the Solidarity trade union in Poland in 1980 which received support from the Catholic Church and led to reforms. Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in 1985 and implemented reforms of glasnost, perestroika, and renouncing the Brezhnev Doctrine, but the reforms did not go far enough or fast enough. This led to demonstrations across Eastern Europe in 1989 and the fall of communist governments. The Berlin Wall was opened in November 1989, marking the collapse of Soviet control over Eastern Europe.
This document provides an overview of several chapters covering Europe and Eastern Europe from 1914 to the end of the Cold War. It summarizes the key causes of World War I, including militarism, alliances, nationalism, imperialism, and assassination. It then discusses the results of World War I, including the Treaty of Versailles and rise of fascism in Germany and Italy. It also summarizes the Russian Revolution of 1917 and rise of communism in Russia under Lenin and Stalin. Finally, it discusses the causes and key events of World War II, as well as the postwar establishment of the United Nations and division of Europe during the Cold War between Western democracies and the Soviet bloc.
here i have discussed the Yeltsin years, 10 years of economic turmoil after the fall of the soviet union. At various points I have also compared the Russian economic conditions to that of India
The document summarizes the fall of the Soviet Union in December 1991. It provides background that the Soviet Union had a communist government from 1917 to 1991, where the government controlled all aspects of life. It then describes some of the economic difficulties that led to the fall, including the loss of $20 billion per year after Saudi Arabia stopped supporting oil prices. Finally, it states that Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as Soviet leader on December 25, 1991, marking the official fall of the Soviet Union and end of communist rule.
The document summarizes the collapse of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It began with the formation of the Polish trade union Solidarity in 1980 which gained strong support from workers and the Catholic Church in Poland. Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in 1985 and implemented reforms like glasnost and perestroika to try to save the Soviet system, but the reforms were too slow and the economic crisis continued. Gorbachev's renunciation of the Brezhnev Doctrine allowed Eastern European states to break from Soviet domination. Massive demonstrations in 1989 weakened communist regimes, and the Berlin Wall was opened that November, marking the collapse of Soviet control in Eastern Europe.
The document summarizes the end of the USSR, beginning with key events and figures in the early Soviet period through World War II under Stalin. It then discusses reforms under Gorbachev in the 1980s that contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union, including perestroika and glasnost. Major events of the dissolution included the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, independence of Baltic states in 1989-1991, a failed coup against Gorbachev in 1991, and the formal dissolution of the USSR on December 25, 1991, resulting in 15 new independent countries emerging from the former Soviet republics.
The document discusses two major revolts against the Bolsheviks in 1921 - the Tambov Rebellion and the Kronstadt Revolt. The Tambov Rebellion was a widespread peasant uprising in response to millions of deaths from starvation under War Communism. The Kronstadt Revolt involved sailors and soldiers rebelling against compulsory labor and the replacement of soviet influence with the Vesenkha ministry. The Politburo anticipated the rebels would be unhappy about political oppression, economic misery, and witnessing the dire situation in cities like Petrograd. After defeating an initial attack, Trotsky mobilized over 60,000 troops equipped with artillery to put down the Kronstadt Revolt over almost three weeks of fighting, executing around
Class 12th
Political Science
Chapter 2
The End of Bipolarity
The things are explained in the completely and in better way.
It cover all the topics of NCERT Contemporary World Politics class 12
The PPT has been made under the guidance of an Political Science teacher
1 Title page
2 Berlin Wall
3 and 4 Some Important Leaders Of Soviet Union
5 What was soviet union
6 Merits of soviet union
7 Demerit of soviet union
8 On Verge of Stagnation
9 Gorbachev and the Disintegration
10 Common wealth of Independent State
11 to 18 why did soviet union disintegrate
19 to 22 Consequences of Disintegration of Soviet Union
23 to 26 shock therapy in post- communist regimes
27 Consequences of Shock Therapy
28 Tension and Conflicts
29 India and Post-Communist Country
30 to 34 During the world war era, India and the USSR enjoyed multi-dimensional relationship
35 thanks page
The document summarizes the decline of communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It describes Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms of perestroika and glasnost in the Soviet Union in the 1980s. It also discusses the rise of the Solidarity movement in Poland led by Lech Wałęsa and the non-violent revolutions that swept across Eastern Europe in 1989, ultimately leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The document summarizes the fall of communism in Eastern Europe from the 1950s through the 1990s. It discusses key events such as Stalin's death in 1953 and the reforms enacted under Khrushchev that allowed for more freedoms. It then covers the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and Prague Spring protests of 1968 that were crushed by the Soviet Union. Major reforms under Gorbachev in the 1980s, including glasnost and perestroika, weakened Soviet control and led Eastern European nations to demand more freedoms and hold free elections. This resulted in the fall of communist governments across Eastern Europe between 1989-1990 and the reunification of Germany.
Sec 3N Hist (Elec) Chapter 2.2: Stalin's RuleWeng Lun Ho
Stalin's dictatorship devastated the Soviet Union economically, politically, and socially. Economically, collectivization of agriculture and rapid industrialization increased production but also led to famine and poor living standards. Politically, the Great Terror eliminated opposition through executions and purges. Propaganda created a cult of personality around Stalin. Socially, the state tightly controlled all aspects of society and people lived in constant fear of arrest.
L5 how stable was the tsarist regime in 1914BOAHistory
The document analyzes the stability of the Tsarist regime in Russia by 1914 through examining major events like the Russo-Japanese War, 1905 Revolution, and reforms under Nicholas II and Petyr Stolypin. It discusses how the Russo-Japanese War was a major defeat that weakened the regime and sparked the 1905 Revolution. The 1905 Revolution saw widespread unrest that was only quelled after Nicholas II granted the October Manifesto for limited reforms. Stolypin further pursued reforms as Prime Minister but the regime still faced issues and was largely unreformed by the eve of World War I.
The document summarizes the breakup of the Soviet Union in 3 key points:
1. The USSR was a union of 15 republics formed in 1922 that dissolved in 1991 due to economic troubles, ethnic tensions between nationalities, and the liberalizing reforms of Gorbachev which weakened central control.
2. Mikhail Gorbachev's policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) relaxed censorship and aimed to transition to a market economy but had the unintended effect of empowering nationalist movements.
3. In 1991, the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus signed an agreement dissolving the Soviet Union and forming the Commonwealth of Independent States, bringing the
Sec 5N Hist (Elec) Chapter 11: End of Cold WarWeng Lun Ho
The document discusses the reasons for the end of the Cold War. It identifies long term factors like American economic and military superiority as well as the decline of communist ideology and failure of the Soviet economy. Short term factors included the ascension of Mikhail Gorbachev as Soviet leader and his reforms of glasnost (openness), perestroika (restructuring) and foreign policy which reduced tensions. Gorbachev's reforms revealed problems and lost control of the economy. Ultimately this led to the end of Soviet control over Eastern Europe and the fall of the Berlin Wall, increased cooperation between superpowers, and the disintegration of the Soviet Union.
1. The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 due to economic and political problems including a weak economy, widespread corruption, and rising nationalism in the republics.
2. Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms of perestroika and glasnost weakened the communist party's grip on power and emboldened independence movements.
3. The Soviet war in Afghanistan and military spending drained the economy while Gorbachev's openness policies destabilized communist rule, leading to the dissolution of the USSR and formation of 15 independent republics.
The Cold War ended in the late 20th century as reform in the Soviet Union under Gorbachev and the collapse of Communist regimes in Eastern Europe weakened the Eastern Bloc. Gorbachev's policies of perestroika and glasnost failed to solve economic problems and led to increased dissent. Popular protests emerged demanding democratic change. The USSR dissolved in 1991 and split into independent states, bringing an end to the Cold War. However, Communist rule remained in China and a few other nations, although they adopted some capitalist economic reforms.
The USSR was a socialist state that existed from 1922 to 1991, made up of 15 Soviet republics. It was established after the Russian Empire was overthrown in 1917. During World War II, the USSR helped the Allies with soldiers, artillery, and airplanes against Germany and its allies. After WWII, the USSR and US entered the Cold War period of global political and economic tension. In the late 1980s, the USSR experienced an economic crisis and the republics began declaring independence. In 1991, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus signed an agreement dissolving the Soviet Union, officially ending its existence.
The Soviet Union collapsed between 1985-1991 due to reforms introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev and rising nationalist sentiments. Gorbachev implemented policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (economic restructuring) in the 1980s that weakened the Soviet system. This led to independence movements in the Soviet republics. By 1991, hardliners launched a failed coup against Gorbachev and republic leaders, like Boris Yeltsin, declared independence. The Soviet Union was formally dissolved that December.
The document discusses the nuclear arms race between the United States and Soviet Union from the late 1940s through the 1980s. It describes how both nations engaged in an escalating arms buildup, developing new weapons like ICBMs, SLBMs, and MIRVs. It also discusses key events and agreements that shaped the arms race, such as the Soviet testing of nuclear weapons in 1949, the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, and arms limitation treaties like SALT I and SALT II. Throughout this period, both superpowers pursued policies of deterrence based on the threat of mutually assured destruction.
The Middle East has been a strategically important region due to its large oil resources. Tensions between Jews and Arabs have fueled conflict in the region for decades. The creation of Israel in 1948 led to the displacement of Palestinians and ongoing disputes over land claims. Major conflicts have included the Arab-Israeli War, Suez Crisis, and Six Day War, with Israel gaining territory each time but also creating more Palestinian refugees and angering Arab states. The region has been an area of competition between world powers like Britain, the US, and USSR as well.
The document provides an overview of international interest in China after World War 2 and the establishment of the People's Republic of China under Mao Zedong. Key events summarized include:
1) After defeating Japanese occupation, Jiang Jieshi's nationalist forces prepared for civil war against Mao's communists while receiving aid from the US.
2) Despite American efforts to avert civil war, fighting broke out in 1946 and the communists gained control of China by 1949, forcing Jiang and nationalist leaders to flee to Taiwan.
3) Diplomatic recognition of communist China was slow, with the USSR providing early recognition while the US withheld it due to Mao's support for revolution abroad and involvement in
The document provides background information on postwar Japan and various Asian countries from 1945 onwards. It discusses Japan being stripped of its empire by the US occupation forces led by General MacArthur. It then covers the division of India and Pakistan, the ongoing conflict over Kashmir, the division of Korea and war between North and South, as well as the beginnings of US involvement in Vietnam against the communist North. It focuses on the nationalist and independence movements in Asia in the aftermath of World War 2 and the increasing tensions and conflicts between Western and communist Eastern blocs in the region.
Winston Churchill gave the famous "Iron Curtain" speech in 1946 after losing the 1945 UK election. In the speech, he coined the term "Iron Curtain" to describe how Soviet control now separated Eastern and Western Europe. The Soviet Union had installed a physical and mental barrier across Central and Eastern Europe from Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic. Major cities like Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, and Budapest now lay behind the Iron Curtain and were subject to increasing Soviet influence and control from Moscow. Churchill warned that the Iron Curtain was designed to keep people and information confined within the Soviet sphere of influence.
The Cold War began in earnest following World War 2 as tensions rose between the Western allies and the Soviet Union. Key events that heightened tensions included Churchill's Iron Curtain speech in 1946, the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan in 1947, the 1948 Czech coup and Berlin Blockade, which led to the establishment of NATO in 1949 and the division of Germany into East and West.
Belarus has a history of domination by foreign powers and being divided and reunited. It was part of the USSR for over 70 years. Belarus declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 after the parliament declared sovereignty in 1990. For almost three years the country did not have a president and was ruled by the Supreme Council. Alexander Lukashenko became the country's first president in 1994. Belarus and Russia have been close allies since the breakup of the Soviet Union, with Belarus dependent on Russia for imports and exports. A union between Russia and Belarus was established in the 1990s through treaties promoting shared policies, but stopped short of fully merging the governments. Under President Lukashenko, Belarus maneuvers between the influence of Western
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Chronology of the 4th Generation War Against Venezuela
The US Government is waging war on Venezuela - not your typical, traditional war, but a modern, asymmetric - 4th Generation War - against President Chávez and the Bolivarian Revolution. Below is a presentation I created regarding the pattern and escalation of US Government aggression against Venezuela, with clear quotes and cites as evidence to back up this claim.
OBJECTIVE
Relate Chávez with:
*Drug trafficking
*Terrorism
*A Dictatorship
*An Arms Race
*Money Laundering
*A Threat Against Regional Security
Actions
2002-2006
*The coup d’etat against Chávez in 2002
*The “lockout” and economic sabotage from December 2002 to February 2003
*The “guarimbas” of 2004
*The Recall Referendum of 2004
*Electoral Intervention in 2005 and 2006
*An increase in US military presence in the region during 2006-2007
Change in Strategy
-After the victory of President Chávez in the recall referendum of 2004, the US toughened its position towards Venezuela increased its public hostility and aggression against the Venezuelan government.
-January 2005: “Hugo Chávez is a negative force in the region.” -Condoleezza Rice
-March 2005: “Venezuela is one of the most unstable and dangerous ‘hot spots’ in Latin America.” -Porter Goss, ex-Director of the CIA
-March 2005: “Venezuela is starting a dangerous arms race that threatens regional security.” -Donald Rumsfeld, ex-Secretary of Defense
-March 2005: “I am concerned about Venezuela’s influence in the area of responsibility...SOUTHCOM supports the position of the Joint Chiefs to maintain ‘military to military’ contact with the Venezuelan military…we need an inter-agency focus to deal with Venezuela.” -General Bantz Craddock, ex-Commander of SOUTHCOM
-July 2005: “Cuba and Venezuela are promoting instability in Latin America…There is no doubt that President Chávez is funding radical forces in Bolivia.” -Rogelio Pardo-Maurer, Assistant Sub-Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere
-July 2005: “Venezuela and Cuba are promoting radicalism in the region...Venezuela is trying to undermine the democratic governments in the region to impede CAFTA.” -Donald Rumsfeld, ex-Secretary of Defense
-August 2005: “Venezuelan territory is a safe haven for Colombian terrorists.” -Tom Casey, spokesperson for the Department of State
-September 2005: “The problem of working with President Chávez is serious and continuous, as it is in other parts of the relationship.” -John Walters, Director of the National Policy Office for Drug Control.
-November 2005: “The assault on democratic institutions in Venezuela continues and the system is in serious danger.” -Thomas Shannon, Sub-secretary of State
Escalation in Aggression 2006
The War Machine
-2 February 2006: “Presidente Chávez continues to use his control to repress the opposition, reduce freedom of the press and restrict democracy….it’s a threat.” -John Negroponte, ex-Director of National Intelligence
-2 February 2006: “We have Chávez in Venezuela with a lot of money from oil. He is a person who was elected legally, just like Adolf Hitler...” - Donald Rumsfeld, ex-Secretary of Defense
Connection with Terrorism
-16 March 2006: “In Venezuela, a demogoge full of oil money is undermining democracy and trying to destabilize the region.” -George W. Bush
-June 2006: “Venezuela’s cooperation in the international campaign against terrorism continues to be insignificant...It’s not clear to what point the Venezuelan government offered material support to Colombian terrorists.” - Annual Report on Terrorism, Department of State
Increase in Military Presence
-March-July 2006: The US military engages in four major exercises off the coast of Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea, with support from NATO, and based at the US air force base in Curaça
The document discusses the end of the Cold War and the rise of the United States as a dominant global military power in the post-Cold War era. It notes key events that contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, including Gorbachev's reforms and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. It then examines how the US has taken on a policing role globally and increased its willingness to use force abroad. Finally, it explores topics like globalization, free trade agreements, outsourcing, and the spread of American culture as part of the US rise as the dominant global power since the end of the Cold War.
This document discusses the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and their aftermath. It provides details on the death toll from 9/11 and the impact on families in New York. It also mentions the backlash against Middle Eastern people after 9/11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq launched by the US in response, and debates around the rationale for the Iraq war.
Ronald Wilson Reagan Heritage Minute by Matthew Bmatthewbuchan
Ronald Reagan was born in 1911 in Illinois. He had a career in Hollywood as a sports announcer and actor, starring in around 50 movies. Reagan later became involved in politics and was the 40th Governor of California from 1967 to 1975 and served two terms as the 40th US President from 1981 to 1989 as a Republican.
Mikhail Gorbachev implemented new economic and political reforms in the Soviet Union called glasnost and perestroika, allowing more openness and economic changes. Relations improved between the US and USSR under Reagan and Gorbachev. They signed the INF Treaty in 1987 eliminating intermediate-range missiles in Europe. In 1988, the USSR withdrew from Afghanistan, ending a war supported by US aid to anti-Soviet mujahideen. The Iran-Contra affair involved Reagan administration officials facilitating arms sales to Iran and diverting the proceeds to illegally fund anti-communist Contra rebels in Nicaragua.
The document summarizes the proceedings of the 4th Global Baku Forum held in March 2016 on the theme of "Towards a Multipolar World." It discusses the challenges facing the modern world including conflicts in Syria, Ukraine, Iran and Afghanistan. It also examines broader thematic issues like radicalization, migration, energy security, global inequality, human rights, and cultural integration. The forum brought together former world leaders and experts to explore these challenges and ways to avoid conflicts in the emerging multipolar global order of the 21st century.
how a strategic partnership form , what is partnership and what is alliences , the collaborative advantege , kentres 8 criterias for succesfull partnership etc...!!!
El documento contrasta un mundo unipolar dominado por una sola potencia globalizadora frente a un mundo multipolar cooperativo. Un mundo unipolar promueve el libre comercio sin restricciones en beneficio de las corporaciones multinacionales y genera desigualdad social y ambiental. Un mundo multipolar propugna la autonomía política de los países, la cooperación internacional, reformas en el orden económico global y la preservación del medio ambiente.
This document discusses how Europe can strengthen itself to shape the emerging multipolar world order. It argues that a multipolar world could develop either as a multilateral system with cooperation between major powers, or as a system dominated by hostile alliances.
The EU needs to pursue several policies to reinforce its strength and influence how multipolarity evolves. It must focus on economic success and reform to strengthen its soft power. It also needs to lead internationally on climate change and develop a more capable European defence. Finally, the EU's foreign policy in the coming years will be shaped by its approach to the Middle East, Russia, and China - all crucial regions and powers in the emerging global order.
Ronald Reagan was a conservative American politician who served as the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Some key details about his life and presidency include: He was born in 1911 in Illinois and got his start in Hollywood before pursuing a career in politics. As President, Reagan advocated for lower taxes, less government regulation of the economy, and increased military spending. His policies aimed to stimulate economic growth and roll back communism. However, his presidency was also marked by controversies like the Iran-Contra affair and growing inequality.
The document summarizes the collapse of the Soviet Union between 1985 and 1991. Key events included Gorbachev implementing reforms of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (economic restructuring) in the late 1980s. This weakened the Communist Party's control and empowered independence movements. In 1991, hardliners attempted a coup against Gorbachev but failed, accelerating the collapse. The Soviet Union dissolved in December 1991 and split into 15 independent nations.
The Soviet Union collapsed between 1985-1991 due to various political and economic factors. Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in 1985 and introduced reforms of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (economic restructuring) that weakened the Soviet system. By 1991, independence movements grew and republics began declaring independence. Gorbachev resigned in December 1991, dissolving the Soviet Union.
Glasnost was a policy of openness and transparency in government instituted by Mikhail Gorbachev in the Soviet Union in 1985. It aimed to liberalize freedom of the press and allow dissent to combat corruption. However, the government initially resisted glasnost, hiding details of the Chernobyl disaster. While meant to make the Soviet system more transparent, glasnost ultimately led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and transition to a market economy in the late 1980s and early 1990s, leaving the Soviet economy in decline.
INTRODUCTION
CHILDHOOD
POLITICAL CAREER
CPSU AND DOMESTIC REFORMS (1985-1989)
‘NEW THINKING’
COLLAPSE OF SOVIET UNION
THE AUGUST COUP AND FINAL COLLAPSE
ACTIVITIES AFTER RESIGNATION
TIMELINE
Created by Manjula Gunathilake - Sri Lanka 011-2729972
Glasnost means "openness" or "publicity". Gorbachev introduced glasnost to allow for open debate and explain decisions, though he did not advocate for complete freedom of speech. There were two main reasons for glasnost: to help people understand necessary changes and to expose corruption. However, the Chernobyl disaster showed flaws in glasnost as the Soviet media remained silent while foreign media heavily covered it.
THE CAUSES OF FAILURE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SOCIALISM AND ITS FUTURE Fernando Alcoforado
This article aims to present the promises of socialism, its construction process in several countries in the world, the causes of its failure with the conclusions about its future.
The document discusses Mikhail Gorbachev's policies of glasnost and perestroika in the Soviet Union in the 1980s which aimed to reform and open up the communist system. It led to increased transparency and freedom of speech. Gorbachev withdrew Soviet troops from Eastern Europe and weakened the power of the Communist Party, ultimately leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. There was an attempted coup by KGB and military hardliners to remove Gorbachev from power and stop reforms, but it failed within days. Gorbachev transformed the world by ending the Cold War and dismantling the Soviet communist system, though Russia faced economic hardship in the process.
Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in the Soviet Union in 1985 and introduced reforms like perestroika and glasnost to restructure the failing economy. However, his reforms destabilized the country and emboldened independence movements. By 1991, hardliners launched a coup against Gorbachev but failed, leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Surrounding countries like those in Eastern Europe gained independence but struggled with transitioning to capitalism from communism and faced economic and social difficulties. The fall of the USSR continues to impact geopolitics today.
The Berlin Wall symbolized the division between East and West during the Cold War. Built in 1961, it separated East and West Berlin for 28 years until it was torn down in 1989, marking the reunification of Germany and the beginning of the end of the communist bloc. The document then discusses the origins and structure of the Soviet system and socialist bloc countries. It notes the bureaucratic and authoritarian nature of the Soviet system caused problems over time. Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms in the 1980s led to growing nationalism that contributed to the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. This ended the Cold War and changed global power dynamics, leaving the US as the dominant superpower amid the transition of former Soviet states to capitalist dem
The roots of resurgence and the end of the Cold WarNimesh Babu Oli
The end of the Cold War between the US and the USSR is a multi-varied equation. The two camps for this debate - ideational vs. material - bring out the role of Mikhail Gorbachev and the role of western financial institutions, respectively, in ending the hostility. This presentation provides an overview of these two camps that explains the end of the Cold War.
300 words or moreDiscussionSubject Here you will have the.docxrhetttrevannion
300 words or more
Discussion
Subject
: Here you will have the chance to share your impressions of the August Coup and the destruction of the Soviet Union.
Step-by-Step Directions
1.Watch this video:
Collapse of the Soviet Union
2. Read the lecture notes in this module
3. In your first post, report on your impressions on what you learned and include your source website strings and pictures. Try to post your report by Friday evening. To post pictures, open up the edit ribbon to show 3 rows. Find the picture icon and click this. Follow the directions to post your picture.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCFREwQ846o
LECTURE NOTES
Here you will find all of the lecture notes:
PERESTROIKA, GLASNOST, AND GORBACHEV
What I want you to know: Mikhail Gorbachev is remembered in Soviet history as the man that nailed the first nail in the coffin of Soviet Socialism. His ideas for reform for the Soviet Union’s economy and society were radical in the mid ‘80’s. He felt that he could somehow improve the Soviet Union and revive it’s ailing economy. He had no idea that what he started would end the Soviet Union instead of save it.
I. Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev
A. Born March 2, 1931 in Privolnye in Southern Russia
B. Became a Party Boss in the Stavropol krai and by 1985 had become General Secretary of the CPSU
C. 1986, influenced by Yuri Andropov’s attempts at reform, Gorbachev began his period of political openness (Glasnost’) and economic “Perestroika” (restructuring) intended to modernize the USSR and “democratization” of the Soviet Government
D. 1990: Awarded the Nobel Peace prize for his reform efforts.
E. 1991: Removed from office in the August Coup and replaced by Boris Yeltsin.
F. Today, Gorbachev gives many speeches worldwide and is very busy with humanitarian groups. He founded the
Green Cross
an international organization that is concerned about preserving the Earth’s environment. He still lives in Moscow.
G. Richard Nixon suggested that Gorbachev become Time’s “Man of the Century” said this of him:
“He has decided that he would risk his power in order to save his reforms, rather than risk his reforms to save his power.”
http://www.mikhailgorbachev.org
II. GLASNOST’
A. 1986 Gorbachev un-cuffed the press and no longer censored & punished journalists for openly criticizing the government, economy, political officials.
B. Dissidents were released from prison. Andrei Sakharov, a prominent Physicist who was arrested on the streets of Moscow and deported to Gorky for protesting the Soviet’s involvement in Afghanistan, was realeased in 1986.
C. Banned literature, art, music was legalized again. Solzhenitsen’s “A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich”, Akhamatova, Pasternak. Now the Soviets could again enjoy the fruits of their famous artists.
D. Peaceful protests were allowed in the streets. (Tatars in Red Square).
E. Religion became tolerated again and believers were no longer pe.
The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 resulted from economic weaknesses due to huge military spending and maintaining satellite states, political unaccountability under communist single-party rule, Gorbachev's reforms allowing more freedom and democracy that further destabilized communist control, and the rise of nationalism among republics like Russia, Baltic states, and Ukraine that no longer wanted to be part of the USSR. Mikhail Gorbachev as the last Soviet leader introduced reforms like perestroika and glasnost to revive the economy but they had the unintended effect of weakening central control and empowering independence movements among the republics.
The document discusses how the fall of the Soviet Union and rise of neoliberalism weakened anti-capitalist forces worldwide. It analyzes how the failures of historical socialism demonstrated that the old socialist project was no longer viable, allowing conservative forces to push neoliberal economic policies that reduced state intervention. The author argues that neoliberalism represents a "counter-reform" rolling back the social reforms and rights gained during the "passive revolution" of the welfare state era in Western Europe. Left parties now lack alternatives to capitalism and have been co-opted by neoliberalism.
The Bolsheviks led by Lenin overthrew the provisional Russian government in 1917 and established the Soviet Union, the world's first communist state. After Lenin's death in 1924, Joseph Stalin became dictator and instituted harsh authoritarian rule. During World War II, the Soviet Union fought against Nazi Germany and its allies before emerging as a global superpower after the war. In the postwar period, the Soviet Union exerted control over Eastern Europe and competed for global influence with the Western capitalist countries during the Cold War. In the 1980s, Mikhail Gorbachev introduced reforms like glasnost and perestroika in an attempt to restructure and liberalize the Soviet system, which ultimately led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in
The document summarizes the rise of Stalinism in the Soviet Union following the Russian Revolution. It describes how the revolutionary Bolshevik party degenerated into a bureaucratic dictatorship under Stalin. Lenin recognized the growing bureaucratization early on and fought against it, but died before he could combat Stalin and the bureaucracy at a party congress in 1923. This paved the way for Stalin to consolidate his control over the Communist Party and Soviet state.
Similar to H12 ch 16_soviet_unioncollapse_2013 (16)
The document discusses the rise of the nation state in Europe from the 17th century onward and some of the conflicts that arose from competition between powerful nation states leading up to World War I. It describes how European powers established colonies overseas in pursuit of resources to fuel their industrial growth in the late 19th century. Rising tensions between nation states like Germany, Britain, and Russia contributed to conflicts such as the Franco-Prussian War, Boer Wars, and Russo-Japanese War. Ethnocentric views of cultural and racial superiority also justified colonial expansion. These global rivalries and displays of nationalism set the stage for World War I.
The document discusses the benefits of exercise for mental health. Regular physical activity can help reduce anxiety and depression and improve mood and cognitive function. Exercise causes chemical changes in the brain that may help protect against mental illness and improve symptoms.
Hitler's goal was to expand Germany's territory through conquest to gain Lebensraum or living space for the German people, who he believed were racially superior. His plans included annexing Austria and Czechoslovakia's Sudetenland, as well as removing populations deemed inferior like Slavs and Jews. The Nazi government passed the Nuremberg Laws in 1935 to strip citizenship from Jews and classify people by racial categories. Kristallnacht in 1938 saw the destruction of Jewish homes and synagogues across Germany as Nazi persecution of Jews intensified. Other countries hesitated to interfere due to a policy of appeasement, hoping Hitler's territorial ambitions could be satisfied through diplomatic concessions.
This document summarizes Canada's involvement in World War 2 on the home front. It discusses how Canada mobilized its military and economy for the war effort. Key points include:
- Canada's military was small at the start of the war but expanded greatly through programs like the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.
- The Canadian economy was transformed to support the war, with industries producing weapons, ships, and planes. Price controls and rationing were introduced to manage shortages.
- Over a million women entered the paid workforce during the war, taking jobs in factories and other industries. Propaganda encouraged civilians to contribute through activities like salvage drives and victory bond purchases.
- The issue of conscription divided French and English
The document discusses the reconstruction of Europe following World War I. Key events included the redrawing of borders, with Germany losing territory and new states like Poland and Czechoslovakia being formed. It was a politically unstable time in central Europe, with nationalism on the rise. The League of Nations was formed to promote collective security and prevent future conflicts, but faced challenges like some major powers not participating.
- The Middle East region has been a strategic area due to its large oil resources, fueling tensions between various powers seeking influence in the region. Britain and France previously dominated the area prior to World War 2 through a mandate system.
- The creation of Israel as a Jewish state in 1948 and the displacement of Palestinian Arabs led to ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict over claims to the territory. Subsequent wars in 1956, 1967, 1973, and conflicts between Israel and Palestinian groups intensified tensions.
- Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990 in an attempt to control more of the Persian Gulf's oil resources, leading to the Gulf War international coalition that drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait in 1991. Regional conflicts and competition for influence
The document discusses several key events at the end of World War II and establishment of the United Nations:
1) In early 1945, Soviet troops pushed into Germany from the east while the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading Japan to surrender and ending the war.
2) World leaders met at Yalta in 1945 to discuss postwar plans, agreeing Poland would have free elections though the Soviets did not follow through.
3) The U.N. was established in 1945 to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars, with goals of maintaining peace and protecting human rights.
The document discusses the political and military buildup to World War II in Europe and Asia in the 1930s. It describes the rise of fascist regimes in Germany under Hitler, Italy under Mussolini, and increasing militarism and aggression by Japan. Hitler consolidated power in Germany and systematically stripped rights from Jews. Germany began violating the Treaty of Versailles through military buildup and annexing territories. The Western allies pursued a policy of appeasement, allowing the German annexation of Austria and Czechoslovakia. War began in Asia in 1937 with Japan's invasion of China and in Europe in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland.
At the turn of the 20th century, industrialization led to rapid urbanization as people moved from rural areas to cities. As the population grew and life expectancy increased, mass production developed through new techniques like the assembly line. This enabled the production of goods for a growing mass society. However, workers began organizing unions to advocate for better conditions in factories where they had little control. Tensions rose between workers and employers as well as between nations competing for resources, contributing to the outbreak of World War I.
1) After World War 1, Canada began moving towards independence from Britain by signing its own international agreements, such as the 1923 Halibut Treaty with the United States.
2) In the 1920s Canada experienced prosperity due to trade with the US, but was heavily dependent on exporting natural resources, leaving it vulnerable when the global economy declined.
3) The stock market crash of 1929 marked the beginning of the Great Depression, as world commodity prices fell, hurting Canada's export-reliant economy.
By 1933, the Great Depression had reached its worst point in Canada, with 25% unemployment. The government, led by R.B. Bennett and the Conservatives, had failed to deliver on promises to end unemployment. Provinces were bankrupt and looking for solutions. In 1935, Mackenzie King and the Liberals returned to power after implementing policies inspired by Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal, including unemployment insurance and increased government intervention in the economy. The economy began recovering in 1938 under the Liberals' policies.
The Schlieffen Plan aimed to quickly defeat France before focusing on Russia, but it failed as the Western Front descended into trench warfare by late 1914. Russia's entry helped the Allies at first, but the nation withdrew from the war in 1917 after the Communist Revolution. The United States entry in 1917 boosted the Allies and compensated for Russia's exit, helping turn the tide of the war.
The document contains blank lines where questions, main ideas, summaries and notes could be written but are not. It appears to be a template for organizing information but contains no actual content to summarize.
The document contains repetitive sections with blank lines for questions, main ideas, summaries, and notes. However, no substantive information is provided to summarize.
The document contains repetitive blank sections for questions/main ideas, summaries, and notes but no substantive information. It is unclear what the purpose or content of the document is due to the absence of details.
The document is blank and contains no information to summarize. It consists of section headings for "Questions/Main ideas" and "Summary" with blank lines underneath. There is no content in the document to summarize.
The document contains repetitive sections with blank lines for questions, main ideas, summaries, and notes. However, no substantive information is provided to summarize.
The document discusses Aboriginal issues in Canada, including their origins and population size prior to European arrival. It notes that Aboriginal traditions hold they have always existed in North America. It also describes the damaging effects of the residential school system, including high rates of substance abuse, suicide, and family problems among Aboriginal communities. The document further examines the Allied Tribes of BC and their opposition to the reduction of reserve sizes as recommended by the McKenna-McBride Commission on Indian Affairs.
13062024_First India Newspaper Jaipur.pdfFIRST INDIA
Find Latest India News and Breaking News these days from India on Politics, Business, Entertainment, Technology, Sports, Lifestyle and Coronavirus News in India and the world over that you can't miss. For real time update Visit our social media handle. Read First India NewsPaper in your morning replace. Visit First India.
CLICK:- https://firstindia.co.in/
#First_India_NewsPaper
Christian persecution in Islamic countries has intensified, with alarming incidents of violence, discrimination, and intolerance. This article highlights recent attacks in Nigeria, Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq, exposing the multifaceted challenges faced by Christian communities. Despite the severity of these atrocities, the Western world's response remains muted due to political, economic, and social considerations. The urgent need for international intervention is underscored, emphasizing that without substantial support, the future of Christianity in these regions is at grave risk.
https://ecspe.org/the-rise-of-christian-persecution-in-islamic-countries/
17062024_First India Newspaper Jaipur.pdfFIRST INDIA
Find Latest India News and Breaking News these days from India on Politics, Business, Entertainment, Technology, Sports, Lifestyle and Coronavirus News in India and the world over that you can't miss. For real time update Visit our social media handle. Read First India NewsPaper in your morning replace. Visit First India.
CLICK:- https://firstindia.co.in/
#First_India_NewsPaper
16062024_First India Newspaper Jaipur.pdfFIRST INDIA
Find Latest India News and Breaking News these days from India on Politics, Business, Entertainment, Technology, Sports, Lifestyle and Coronavirus News in India and the world over that you can't miss. For real time update Visit our social media handle. Read First India NewsPaper in your morning replace. Visit First India.
CLICK:- https://firstindia.co.in/
#First_India_NewsPaper
ग्रेटर मुंबई के नगर आयुक्त को एक खुले पत्र में याचिका दायर कर 540 से अधिक मुंबईकरों ने सभी अवैध और अस्थिर होर्डिंग्स, साइनबोर्ड और इलेक्ट्रिक साइनेज को तत्काल हटाने और 13 मई, 2024 की शाम को घाटकोपर में अवैध होर्डिंग के गिरने की विनाशकारी घटना के बाद अपराधियों के खिलाफ सख्त कार्रवाई की मांग की है, जिसमें 17 लोगों की जान चली गई और कई निर्दोष लोग गंभीर रूप से घायल हो गए।
Federal Authorities Urge Vigilance Amid Bird Flu Outbreak | The Lifesciences ...The Lifesciences Magazine
Federal authorities have advised the public to remain vigilant but calm in response to the ongoing bird flu outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu.
Slide deck with charts from our Digital News Report 2024, the most comprehensive exploration of news consumption habits around the world, based on survey data from more than 95,000 respondents across 47 countries.
15062024_First India Newspaper Jaipur.pdfFIRST INDIA
Find Latest India News and Breaking News these days from India on Politics, Business, Entertainment, Technology, Sports, Lifestyle and Coronavirus News in India and the world over that you can't miss. For real time update Visit our social media handle. Read First India NewsPaper in your morning replace. Visit First India.
CLICK:- https://firstindia.co.in/
#First_India_NewsPaper
केरल उच्च न्यायालय ने 11 जून, 2024 को मंडला पूजा में भाग लेने की अनुमति मांगने वाली 10 वर्षीय लड़की की रिट याचिका को खारिज कर दिया, जिसमें सर्वोच्च न्यायालय की एक बड़ी पीठ के समक्ष इस मुद्दे की लंबित प्रकृति पर जोर दिया गया। यह आदेश न्यायमूर्ति अनिल के. नरेंद्रन और न्यायमूर्ति हरिशंकर वी. मेनन की खंडपीठ द्वारा पारित किया गया
12062024_First India Newspaper Jaipur.pdfFIRST INDIA
Find Latest India News and Breaking News these days from India on Politics, Business, Entertainment, Technology, Sports, Lifestyle and Coronavirus News in India and the world over that you can't miss. For real time update Visit our social media handle. Read First India NewsPaper in your morning replace. Visit First India.
CLICK:- https://firstindia.co.in/
#First_India_NewsPaper
projet de traité négocié à Istanbul (anglais).pdfEdouardHusson
Ceci est le projet de traité qui avait été négocié entre Russes et Ukrainiens à Istanbul en mars 2022, avant que les Etats-Unis et la Grande-Bretagne ne détournent Kiev de signer.
#WenguiGuo#WashingtonFarm Guo Wengui Wolf son ambition exposed to open a far...rittaajmal71
Since fleeing to the United States in 2014, Guo Wengui has founded a number of projects in the United States, such as GTV Media Group, GTV private equity, farm loan project, G Club Operations Co., LTD., and Himalaya Exchange.
18062024_First India Newspaper Jaipur.pdfFIRST INDIA
Find Latest India News and Breaking News these days from India on Politics, Business, Entertainment, Technology, Sports, Lifestyle and Coronavirus News in India and the world over that you can't miss. For real time update Visit our social media handle. Read First India NewsPaper in your morning replace. Visit First India.
CLICK:- https://firstindia.co.in/
#First_India_NewsPaper
Recent years have seen a disturbing rise in violence, discrimination, and intolerance against Christian communities in various Islamic countries. This multifaceted challenge, deeply rooted in historical, social, and political animosities, demands urgent attention. Despite the escalating persecution, substantial support from the Western world remains lacking.
2. The Rise of Mikhail Gorbachev
On March 11, 1985 The Politburo of the USSR approved Mikhail Gorbachev
Gorbachev was influenced by Khrushchev’s speech to the 20th
Party Congress and was
interested in making significant changes to the structure of the USSR
He had attracted the attention of the Communist Party by dealing with agricultural
problems in Stavropol.
He was moved to Moscow in 1978 where he became responsible for all of the USSR’s
agriculture by the Central Committee of the Communist Party
Gorbachev created the Regional Agricultural Industrial Organization (RAPO) in 1982 to
reduce waste between the field and the processing plant.
The RAPO was modelled on American companies and was made up of agribusiness
units.
The hope was that the industrialization of agriculture would solve the ongoing Soviet
problem of food production
Unfortunately by 1987 consumers were faced with even greater shortages
Even though RAPO had failed to solve the agricultural problems of the USSR Gorbachev
was still selected in 1985 by the Politburo of the Soviet Union to lead the nation
4. Gorbachev’s Reform Program
Upon taking power in 1985 Gorbachev discovered just how bad
the problems in the Soviet economy were.
Initially Gorbachev embarked on a moderate program of reform
He modernized the machine-tool industry
Did some moderate reformation of the economy
Encouraged innovation in science and technology
He also replaced many of the older members of the Politburo,
with younger people who had technical expertise
Despite the reconstruction of the Politburo Gorbachev still faced
criticism from both the extreme right and left of the Soviet
factions
5. Perestroika, Glasnost, Uskorenie, and
Demokratizatsiya
The basis of Gorbachev’s reform program hinged on the adoption of a series
of philosophies
Glasnost- which meant transparency or openness, freedom of information
and government transparency a policy that commits a government or
organization to greater accountability, openness, discussion, and freer
disclosure of information than previously,
Perestroika- Which meant restructuring or economic reform in the USSR
The stated objectives included decentralized control of industry and
agriculture and some private ownership.
Uskorenie- or acceleration would be applied to both
of these concepts and this would be aided by
Demokratizatsiya- Democratization. Which meant
that he intended to put his country under the control
of its citizens by allowing them to participate in their
government or decision-making processes in a free
and equal way
6. Perestroika
• Of all of the these concepts Perestroika became the most important as in involved
the restructuring of both the political and economic systems.
• Perestroika could not work unless it was supported by democratization and
openness to stop the bureaucratic abuses that had resulted in the economic
problems the Soviets were experiencing
• Applying perestroika was difficult Gorbachev faced opposition for not
decollectivizing agriculture as the Chinese had done (the Chinese system allowed
farmers to send a quota of grain to the collective farm and keep any surplus for
themselves, this had resulted in a big incentive for the Chinese farmers and created
surplus goods for the open market reducing shortages and improving standards of
living)
• The RAPO, however did not want to move to a collective farming model, then when
the 6 ministries that had previously been in charge of dealing with agricultural
issues in the USSR were consolidated into one they became unable to effectively
delegate responsibility or direct production.
• During the winter of 1989-1990 it became difficult for residents of Moscow and
other urban centers to access even the most basic food stuff.
7. Perestroika: The Enterprise Law
One of the key factors in the potential success of perestroika was the
encouragement and reward of private economic initiative and development
The Enterprise Law passed June 30, 1987 established the independence of small
business operations (enterprises) from the state ministries or Gosplan
These enterprises were self-sufficient and not subsidised by the state. Contracts
would now be negotiated directly with individual customers
This system was crippled by the stipulation that the state could order 50% to
70% of a companies production leaving little or nothing for private sale.
Cooperative enterprises like those that produced luxury goods were also
ultimately driven to fail due to detrimental state policy.
Particularly within the Russian Republic people were resentful of those of a
better economic status than the norm
This is reflected by some government policies The Ministry of Finance imposed a
tax on cooperatives that began at 30% but grew to 90%.
Ultimately the Supreme Soviet (the two-chamber national legislature of the
former Soviet Union) was forced to step in and reduced the tax to a maximum of
50%
8. Gorbachev’s attempt to introduce a
Market economy
One of the biggest problems Gorbachev faced with his attempt to
introduce aspects of a market economy was that there was a
complete absence of a history of free enterprise within the culture of
the Soviet Union.
The USSR had moved from serfdom to Communism without a
development of much of a middle or merchant class. The average
Soviet citizen had no personal or family history of economic self
determination
Structural changes in the Soviet political system were essential for the
success of Gorbachev’s planned reforms, however once members of
the existing bureaucracy realized how that restructuring might affect
them they began to openly resist Gorbachev’s reforms
9. Gorbachev faces criticism from Boris
Yeltsin and by mail
Surprisingly the first serious challenge to Gorbachev’s leadership came from
Boris Yeltsin at the 1987 plenum of the Central Committee
Yeltsin had been a supporter of Gorbachev, however he grew impatient with
the pace of reform and the amount of
power that the conservatives still held in
government.
In his speech to the Central Committee Yeltsin
condemned the party and Gorbachev,
suggesting that the existing Politburo was
moving too slowly, promising too much and
internally divided on the way in which reform
should be instituted
Yeltsin had the support of a large number of
students and intellectuals, who were angry that
Gorbachev had dismissed Yeltsin on the
grounds that he was a “Stalinist”
10. Gorbachev faces criticism from Boris Yeltsin
and by mail
Gorbachev felt that Yeltsin was a revolutionary and that various stages of
socialism must be ascended on a ladder of reform
Conservative factions were encouraged by Yeltsin’s dismissal and became
more vocal in their resistance to the reform movement
In March of 1988, Conservative criticism of Gorbachev culminated in a
letter published supposedly by a Leningrad chemistry teacher named Nina
Andreeva (actually by a propagandists for the Central Committee)
The letter was highly critical of Gorbachev’s reforms suggesting that with
the de-Stalinization program and liberalization of the USSR Gorbachev
had destabilized the Soviet Society. Central Committee secretary, Yegor
Ligachev Publicly praised that letter directly challenging Gorbachev’s rule
12. Gorbachev responds
Gorbachev mounted a counter offensive in April beginning
with a special Politburo meeting designed to confront
Ligachev and his supporters he demanded an explanation for
the attack on perestroika
On April 5, Pravda published an article against Ligachev’s
attack, promoting Gorbachev’s reforms
In a later letter Pravda suggested that in attacking perestroika
Ligachev was actually providing a defence of Stalin and an
encouragement to return to his policies
Pravda went on to say that it would be impossible for the
USSR to turn away from reform now and that perestroika was
essential for the renewal of Soviet society
Ultimately the Ligachev incident was resolved in Gorbachev’s
favour, however the resistance to his ideas that it
represented remained
14. Glasnost
Originally Glasnost was meant to be Gorbachev’s most innovative reforms, it
promised to institute an openness that had been unknown in Soviet society
in the past.
Freedom of speech had been openly repressed under the Soviet system,
criticism of the government was dealt with harshly. The Tsarist regime of the
past was not known for a great deal of personal freedom and Glasnost was
meant to be groundbreaking
While greater freedom of expression and the press were allowed their
remained limits
These included state secrets, war propaganda and medical records
Despite limitations, glasnost allowed a view of Soviet society previously
unavailable to anyone
The existence of crime, alcoholism and prostitution which had been denied
under earlier regimes became common news for Soviet citizens
People were now free to criticize medical care, government building projects
and the war in Afghanistan
15.
16. Glasnost continued
Books that had been banned under previous regimes because they were
deemed to be critical of Communism were released for sale to the public
(Boris Pasternk’s Doctor Zhivago etc.)
Soviet historians were permitted to deal with events that had been
“revised” or ignored, for example the Katyn Forest massacre of Polish
officers by the Soviet army during WWII which was originally blamed on
the Nazi’s was acknowledged by the Soviet government as was the toll
caused by starvation during Stalin’s reign of terror
While Glasnost provided a level of freedom of expression that the Soviet
population had previously been deprived of it also promoted discussions
of ethnic concerns and historical disputes that had been firmly put down
in the past and in the new spirit of openness began to once again
percolate to the surface of the Soviet satellite states.
18. Glasnost continued
Instability developed in a number of areas, notably in Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and the Soviet
southwest (populated by Ukrainians, Belarusians and Moldavians)
Originally the USSR was structured as a federal state, allowing its satellites to
function semi-autonomously, thereby accommodating the wide variety of
ethnicities and cultures
In 1923 Lenin organized a strong centralized Communist party to maintain
political control while non-Russian languages and cultures were allowed to
develop
That all changed when Stalin took over.
Stalin promoted Russian culture and language to bring the nation together.
Local cadres who had promoted local ethnic culture were purged
After Stalin’s death the issue of national identity re-emerged as non-Russian
nationalities were growing at a greater rate than the Russian nationality and
were becoming more vocal.
19. Glasnost: Unrest in the Satellite States
Non-Russian peoples saw Russification as a threat and started to
make demands regarding language, religion, and immigration
rights
After the Helsinki Accord, national groups tried to push their
grievances forward Gorbachev inherited these problems when he
took office and the policy of Glasnost allowed a much greater
level of freedom to criticize than had previously existed
On June 28, the 19th
Party Conference convened in Moscow
Gorbachev used in as a platform to promote his program of
reform and to institutionalize the philosophies of democratization
and Glasnost
Although perestroika focused on economics there was now a
realization that economic reform required political reform
21. Glasnost: Unrest in the Satellite States
At the 19th
Party Conference Gorbachev proposed restructuring the Soviet
political system
• Cutting the Party apparatus by as much as 50%
• This would require a substantial reduction of personnel
• An elimination of departments that duplicated government services
• The removal of party functionaries from local economic units
The Idea was it would get rid of unnecessary bureaucratic apparatus and allow
free economic units to solve problems without the interference of the Gosplan
It would also allow the central bureaucracy to focus on issues of national
importance
These changes in enacted would have radically altered the nature of the Soviet
Union, however by late 1988 rising unrest threatened to topple his rule and
proposed reforms
22. Andrei Sakharov and Yelena Bonner
There were many voices that called for the reformation of the Soviet system
Well before Gorbachev took office there were voices for change from within
the soviet system
This included Andrei Sakharov, the father of the Russian Hydrogen Bomb
Sakharov became primarily responsible for developing the Hydrogen bomb
in 1953 ending US domination of as a nuclear power.
Sakharov went on in the 1960’s to campaign for a nuclear test ban treaty
and improved Soviet relations with the international community
He spoke out against the civil rights abuses within the USSR and helped to
found the Soviet Human Rights Committee
He won the Nobel peace prize in 1975 (the first Soviet citizen to do so)
23. Andrei Sakharov and Yelena Bonner
After his criticism of the war in Afghanistan Sakharov was arrested and internally
exiled to Gorky (a closed city) in 1980
While in Gorky he undertook hunger strikes until he obtained permission for his
wife’s eye surgery in Italy
His Wife, Yelena Bonner, was also a civil rights campaigner in the USSR
Her father was killed and her mother arrested during Stalin’s “Great Purge” of 1937
During WWII Bonner served in the army (where her eyes were damaged)
After the war she became a doctor and joined the Communist Party of the Soviet
Union (CPSU)
She became disillusioned with the USSR after the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968,
she became a dissident
She married Sakharov in 1971 and resigned from the CPSU a year later and began to
lead the Soviet dissident movement with Sakharov
25. The 1989 Revolution
In 1989 the countries of Eastern Europe began to break free from the
Soviet Union
First Poland and Hungary attempted to hold free elections and
eliminate the one party system of the Communist regime
This was followed by anti Communist movements in East Germany,
Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Romania
Unlike previous attempts to break away from Soviet domination
Moscow put up little to no resistance to the movements
Romania was the only country in Central Europe that experienced any
significant violence during the collapse of Soviet domination (more on
the massacre of dissident Romanians later)
Clip from the award-winning documentary "The Second Russian Revolu
26. Poland
Poland was the first country to obtain release from the Communist Party. On
April 5, 1989, Solidarity leaders signed an accord with the Polish government
that provided for the legal status of Solidarity and granted free and open
elections
The accord also reinstated the upper house of parliament, which would have 100
freely elected members and would be able to veto legislation from the lower
house (of the 460 seats in the lower house, 35% would be open to Solidarity
candidates)
The June 4, election was a massive defeat for the Communist party
Solidarity candidates took 99 of the 100 seats in the upper house and all 161
seats they were allowed to run for in the lower house
Even when running uncontested many Communist candidates did not obtain the
50% they needed to win in a seat in the lower house, many people just voted No
to the official candidate listed and spoiled their ballots
Wojciech Jaruzelski resigned as leader of the Polish Communist party on July 29,
1989
On August 19 1989 Jaruzelski (who was still president) designated the Solidarity
official Tadeusz Mazowiecki as prime minister, the first non-Communist to hold
the post in the post WWII world.
The new government of Poland began to restructure the economy and look to
the future
28. Hungary
Following the announcement that non-Communist political parties
would be tolerated, the control of Communism over Hungary began
to erode
Hungary began to cut the barbed wire that sealed its boarder with
Austria in early May of 1989
On June 16th
Imre Nagy (one of the key figures in the Hungarian
Revolution in 1956 and later executed by the
Soviets) was honoured with a hero’s burial
after a public ceremony in Budapest’s Hero
Square
New independent liberal political parties
began to develop
Communist popularity was in decline
Imre Nagy --Imre Nagy --
29. Hungary continued
Karoly Grosz (who succeeded Janos Kadar as the leader of Communist
Hungary) was stripped of most of his authority
The Communist party started to talk about changing it’s name to something
more progressive sounding
Lacking public support and facing a liberal movement that was increasingly
sure of its success in the upcoming free elections of 1990 the Communist
party of Hungary decided it was time for a change
The Communist party of Hungary formally disbanded on October 7, 1989 and
renamed itself the Hungarian Socialist party
It promised to follow democratic procedures and to reform its program to
meet the needs of a new Hungary
Hungarian Socialist Party– Campaign Film
Hungarian Socialist Party – Campaign film- Struck
Karoly Grosz ---
30. East Germany
• As the boarder between Austria and Hungary became more open many East
Germans asked permission through the Hungarian embassy to make their way
through Hungary to Austria and on to West Germany
• Over the course of the summer of 1989 about 6000 East Germans arrived in
Vienna via Budapest escaping on the pretext of taking a vacation
• By September of 1989 the number of East Germans attempting to gain entry to
West Germany through Hungary increased The East German government began
to tighten travel restrictions to cut off the flow of people escaping to West
Germany
• Escaping East Germans switched their destination to the embassy in Prague as
Czechoslovakia was assessable to East Germans without East German travel
documents
32. East Germany: Continued
By October 1989, Freedom Trains (not to be confused with those of the civil
rights movement in the USA during the 50’s and 60’s) were transporting East
Germans to Prague where they attempted to gain sanctuary at the West
German embassy before going to West Germany
As the number of people seeking refuge in the West increased so did
international demands that the East Germans lift travel restrictions and bring
about democratic reform
Demonstrations in East Berlin, Leipzig and Dresden showed the growing
discontent inside East Germany
Eventually both internal and external pressure (partially from Hungary)
convinced the East German government to let about 30 000 East Germans to
emigrate
The East German Communist party replaced the hard-line Erich Honecker with
more moderate Egon Krez in October
However the easing of travel restrictions and the replacement of the
incumbent Communist leader did nothing to stop the flow of East Germans to
the West
On November 1989 approximately ½ a million people demonstrated in East
Berlin, mocking the Communist Party and demanding democratic reform
33. East Germany: The Wall comes Tumbling
Down
On November 7th
1989 the entire East German cabinet resigned and
the Politburo announced a reorganization, not enough
On November 9th
1989 the Berlin Wall was opened at midnight by
East German boarder guards
The Wall had stood since August 13th
, 1961 as a symbol of Cold War
oppression and ill will
throughout that weekend East Berliners celebrated with West
Berliners and for the first time since WWII reunification of the two
German states seemed like a possibility
Berlin Wall Falls
34. Bulgaria
At the same time as Berlin was unravelling Bulgaria was also
experiencing changes
In 1988 approximately 310 000 ethnic Turks fled Bulgaria for Turkey to
escape forced assimilation
In 1989 Bulgarian dissidents began to voice serious concern about
environmental pollution and dissatisfaction with the government
Like other Eastern Bloc countries Bulgaria had experienced economic
difficulty, however until Todor Zhivkov resigned on November 10th
1989
few realized that the Communist regime in Bulgaria was weakening
The new Communist party leader Petar Mladenov promised free
elections in the spring of 1990
And after the new Union of Democratic Forces led a 50 000 strong
demonstration in Sofia on December 10th
he gave up absolute power
over the government
As a final show of reform the Communist Party threw out Zhivkov from
the Party ranks
36. Czechoslovakia
Freedom would not be as easily achieved by the people of Czechoslovakia
When 10 000 people staged a demonstration in Wenceslas Square (where Jan
Palach, the student set himself on fire in protest in 1968 when Warsaw Pact
troops ended the “Prague Spring”) to demand change, the demonstration was
put down by police. Order was imposed by Communist party leader Milos
Jakes
Dissent still filled the country
Vaclav Havel (a writer who was a poet
and play-write and a long time critic of
censorship and founding member of the
dissident civil rights group Charter 77)
became a symbol of opposition to the
government.
Vaclav Havel ----
37. Czechoslovakia
On November 20th
more than 200 000 people marched through the streets of
Prague demanding fee elections and calling for a general strike
By November 25th
the Communist party had resigned their positions
The crowd was addressed by Alexander Dubcek, (the same reform minded
leader, who had been ousted by Warsaw Pact troops in 1968) who urged
them to continue to “act in such a way as to bring the light back.”
November 27th
the entire
Czechoslovakian work force
walked off the job in a two hour
general strike
38. Czechoslovakia Continued
As the demonstrations in Czechoslovakia continued one dissident group
solidified the others into a unified force, a group called Civic Forum developed
Civic Forum was a mass movement determined to created political opposition
to the ruling Communist party in Czechoslovakia
On December 7th
Ladislav Adamec resigned as Prime Minister and was replaced
by Marian Calfa
Negotiations between the Communist party and Civic Forum resulted in Gustav
Husak’s resignation as President on December 10th
1989
On December 29th
1989 Vaclav Havel became Czechoslovakia’s new President
Havel demanded that free parliamentary elections be held in the new year
The office of premier was given to Alexander Dubcek who had been a leading
figure in the Prague Spring of 1968
39.
40.
41. Romania
Romania had been led by Nicolae Ceausescu since 1956
Ceausescu was a hard line Stalinist who ran an oppressive and brutal
dictatorship characterized by complete domination of the people
Nicolae Ceausescu -----
On December 17th
Anti-Government
demonstrators took to the streets to protest
the arrest of the Reverend Toekes who was
ethically Hungarian and acted as a
spokesperson million ethnic Hungarians that
called Romania “home”
Ceausescu’s troops met the demonstrators
with tanks and opened fire on the crowd of
men, women and children by the thousand (a
mass grave with a reported body count of 4500
bodies has been attributed to this massacre)
42. Romania
As time wore on it became more and more obvious that the Romanian
people were no longer willing to allow their fear of Ceausescu and his
“special” police forces stop them from seeking greater freedom
On December 25th
1989 Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena (almost, if
not as bad, as he was) were seized in a coup and later executed by firing
squad
The people of Romania were faced with rebuilding a society that had
been isolated from the rest of the world for years and who’s population
had been denied the most basic freedoms and modern living standards
It was a huge task for a country with no history of political pluralism (the
existence of different political groups inside one country)
Ion Iliescu became the new president of Romania after the election of
May 20th
1990
43. The Aftermath of Revolution: Eastern Europe
During 1989 Gorbachev abandoned the Brezhnev Doctrine
The Brezhnev Doctrine which would have demanded the use of
ideological and military control on the revolutionary movements
discussed in the previous slides that were taking place in Eastern
Europe
Instead Gorbachev encouraged reform and stood by while
Communist parties throughout the Soviet Bloc lost their monopoly on
power and the one party system of the Eastern Bloc dissolved
Political pluralism and market economics and the free elections that
Stalin had promised at the Yalta conference (February 4-11, 1945)
finally happened in 1989 and 1990 in Eastern Europe
44. The Aftermath of Revolution: Eastern
Europe
The Warsaw Pact was dissolved March 31st
1991
Initially, in Czechoslovakia and East Germany non Communist governments
gained power and in Hungary and Poland Non Communists also took power
in both the government and the military
Subsequently free elections in the re unified Germany resulted in the
election of Helmut Kohl’s conservative coalition and in Poland the
Communists were defeated and Lech Walesa (you should remember him
from the Solidarity movement) was elected as the new Pr
Helmut Kohl ---
--- Lech Walesa
45. Eastern European reform in the 1990’s
Two primary factors threatened Eastern European reform in the 1990’s
were economic and nationalistic
The region’s economies had suffered during the Communist regime and
required injections of capital as well as the will of the existing population,
people also had to face inflation and rising unemployment as they moved
toward a free market system
In Poland people began to see ample consumer goods available for
purchase for the first time in years, however few could afford to buy them
During 1990 the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (the Comecon)
which had regulated trade in the Soviet Bloc, ceased to exist.
47. Eastern European reform in the 1990’s
Soviet subsidies of energy also ceased
The Soviet Union began to demand that the Central European countries pay
for Soviet oil with hard currency
This became even more problematic because of the Gulf crisis in 1990 –1991,
which meant there was a significant chance that Iraq would not pay back the
$4 billion they owed to Eastern European countries
This combined with the fact that the Eastern Bloc currencies could not be
exchanged for Western currencies blocked the Eastern Bloc countries from
gaining any real place on the world markets
48. German Reunification
The idea of German reunification made both the
Soviet Union and France very uncomfortable
The Soviets did not want a reunified Germany as a
NATO nation
France did not want a reunified Germany to
invade it again
In February and again in July Helmut Kohl
(chancellor of West Germany) met with`
Gorbachev to discuss reunification
This resulted in a reunified Germany as a
sovereign state with membership in NATO
In return Kohl pledged West German financial
support in East German reconstruction in addition
to an aid package to the Soviet Union
Helmut Kohl
49. A Unified Germany
July 1st
1990 The economic union of East and West Germany became
a reality
East German stores stocked Western goods which East Germans
could buy with a East German ostmark at par with the deutschmark.
There were of course some fears of inflation and unemployment as
East German factories were thrown into competition with their West
German equivalents
On October 2nd
1990 East and West Germany were reunited
politically
Helmut Kohl won the leadership of the newly unified Germany and
plans began to reinstate Berlin as the capital
The transition from a centrally planned economy to a free market
system was hard
Unemployment rose dramatically in the eastern regions as industry
attempted to become profitable
Resentment among the West Germans rose as they were expected
to make sacrifices in an attempt to assist the assimilation of the East
Germans to a Westernized way of life
50. The Collapse of the Soviet Union
Mikhail Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in
recognition for his role in rapprochement (the establishment or
renewal of friendly relations between people or nations that were previously
hostile or unsympathetic toward each other) with the West on October
15th
1990
Things were not so sweet back home.
Gorbachev faced Economic, nationalist and political challenges
throughout 1990-91 that threatened to bring down the Soviet
Union
Economic reforms under the policy of perestroika failed to revive
the Soviet economy
Despite record crops, food shortages persisted
Mikhail S. Gorbachev Summary- with Nobel Peace Prize (5:20)
51. The Collapse of the Soviet Union
The harvest transportation and distribution systems remained deeply
flawed, and as a result food rationing had to be enforced and an appeal to
the West was made for food aid
Gorbachev still refused to allow private property or conversion to the free
market system.
A five Hundred Day Plan proposed by his reformist economic advisor
Stanislav Shatalin to convert the economy to capitalism over a 500 day
period was rejected
Instead a currency reform aimed at removing excess rubles from the system
and reducing inflation was undertaken
This measure further eroded confidence in the banking system and wrought
havoc with the small private sector of business that was permitted
52. The Collapse of the Soviet Union: the Separation of the Soviet
republics
Seperatist movements, resulting from nationalist forces, threatended the
existence of the USSR as all 15 republics declared their sovereignty.
Gorbachev was determined to retain central control in Moscow.
In the state of Lithunia in January 1991, Gorbachev backed his
determination with the Red Army.
13 people were killed as the army attacked Lithuanians supporting the
independece movement.
Gorbachev claimed no knowledge of the action, which begged the question
of his honesty and/or his control over the Army.
On February 9th 1991, Lithuanians voted 90% in favour of establishing a
sovereign independent state, despite intimidation from from Moscow.
Soviet troops vs. unarmed Lithuanian civilians, Vilnius 1991.
53. Hill of Crosses became a national symbol of the fight forHill of Crosses became a national symbol of the fight for
independenceindependence
54. The Collapse of the Soviet Union: the Separation of
the Soviet republics
Initially viewed as a reformer, Yeltsin consolidated his power during 1990 to
give him more control than any leader since Stalin.
Boris Yeltsin posed a serious challenge, he proposed the institution of private
property and the adoption of a free market
Reformists like Nikolai Rhzhkov and Alexander Yakolev, were driven out of
power.
The most surprising move was the resignation of Eduard Schevardnadze, the
Soviet foreign minister
Schevardnadze was credited with improved relations with the West.
He warned that a dictatorship was on the horizon and wanted no part in it.
Boris Yeltsin -------------------
55. The Nationalities Issue
• The Soviet Union was huge and ethnically very diverse, with the Russians
historically being the largest ethnic nationality.
• Out of 290 million people 145 were classified as Great Russians.
• The remaining 145 million represented a diversity of different religious, social,
cultural and ethnic groups, not all of whom wished to give up their individual
cultures to be absorbed into a greater “Russified” Soviet state.
• Article 76 of the Soviet constitution identified the USSR as a union of sovereign
republics.
• Each of the 15 republics maintained its own Communist party organization ,
hymn, flag, and capital, while political, and social control was held by Moscow.
• This extended to cultural control when the concept of Russification was
instituted.
• This created conflicts between centralized and decentralized control of
political and economic decision-making.
56. The Nationalities Issue: Continued
• The Soviet Union (and Imperial Russia before it) had been expanding from the time
of Peter the Great (Late 1600’s)
• The Soviet Union continued with the Imperialist policy of attempting to teach
assimilated groups both the Russian language and encourage them to adopt
Russian customs.
• Despite the Communist (and Tsarist) attempts to wipe out nationalism, old loyalties
and ties to culture remained
• Also the mixing of different national groups in countries like Armenia and
Azerbaijan caused its own problems, as the different ethnicities did not always get
along.
• Russification programs in countries like the Ukraine gave benefits to people who
learned the Russian language and adopted Russian culture
• This (combined with the fact that all the best positions in the bureaucracy were
filled by Russians) caused civil uprisings once freedom of the press and free
assembly were permitted by Glasnost
• The Caucasus region (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) each state enjoyed a brief
period of independence post the 1917 revolution and the borders established in
1923 did not adequately address pre-existing ethnic differences
57. Armenia and Azerbaijan
February 23rd
, 1988 1 million Armenians protested in the capital of Yerevan demanding
the return to Armenia of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, (this region had a
majority group of Armenians and had long been a source of harsh ethnic conflict) As
Armenia’s population is over 90% Christian while Azerbaijan's is more that 90% Muslim,
there were issues.
December 4th
1988 troops put down a demonstration in Baku, Azerbaijan (killing 3 and
injuring many others)
Violent acts against the Armenian minority continued in 1989 particularly in the
Azerbaijani cities of Sumgait and Baku
Guerrilla warfare continued along the border of the Nagorno-Karabakh region
Finally the Armenian National movement and the Azerbaijani Popular Front agreed to
attend conciliatory talks in Latvia in January of 1990
In 1991 both territories declared independence. Constitutions were adopted in 1995
however, serious issues revolving around rule of law, free elections and human rights
remain
The dispute in the Nagorno-Karabakh region heated up again in 1992. There was open
war between 1992- and 1994 (30 000 dead, almost 1 million Azeris mostly Muslim
displaced)
Armenian forces were left in control of the enclave and despite the ceasefire Russia
brokered in 1994, violence has been ongoing.
58.
59. This protest is about the violence "Azerbaijan" committed against Armenians in
Sumgait, Kirovabad, Baku, Maragha and other forgotten villages and towns that it
cleansed and bombed indiscriminately during the Artsakh liberation war, also
known as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
60. Georgia
April 9th
1989 a peaceful demonstration in Tbilisi (the capital of Georgia) is
attacked by Soviet troops, killing 19 people and injuring many more.
Poison gas is also used on the crowd as they kneel in prayer
The demonstration was led by intellectuals and the factory workers who
wanted an independent Georgia.
Georgia did not receive independence until the collapse of the Soviet
Union in 1991.
In 1992 Georgia adopted a constitutional and elected Eduard
Shevardnadze as president (the critic of Gorbachev’s policies mentioned
earlier)
Unfortunately Georgia has suffered from corruption and a general
breakdown of its economy despite $1 billion in US aid
62. Georgia
Between 1990 and 1993 civil war raged between Georgia and Abkhazia (located
on the Black Sea) Abkhazia was supported by Russia.
By 1992 Georgia was forced to withdraw, the Russians withdrew in exchange for
the Georgians accepting Russian military bases inside Georgia.
Abkhazia declared independence, however it remains unrecognized by the
international community
The US considers Georgia within its sphere of influence
Georgia contains nuclear material left over from the cold war and may harbour
Al Qaeda members.
US oil investment approaches $20 billion
Recently Russia has reasserted its interest in reacquiring Georgia.
63. The Baltic States
The Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania had enjoyed a period of
sovereign independence during the inter-war years.
In August of 1989, 2 million people formed a human chain stretching
through the three capital cities of Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius, in a symbolic
protest of the Nazi-Soviet pact of 1939 which had cost them their freedom.
Popular front movements gained momentum in the region and in
December of 1989 Lithuanian president Landsbergis declared Lithuanian
independent of the USSR
Gorbachev sent in tanks and troops
Human Chain Protest ------
64. The Baltic States
The Soviet Union imposed an economic embargo and a blockade to stop
goods from entering Lithuania from Poland
Estonia and Latvia followed Lithuania’s lead and declared that the Soviet
Union had taken them over through illegal means
By mid-June Gorbachev conceded that negotiations should be held on the
Baltic issue
The collapse of the USSR allowed for a resolution of the Baltic issue
Each of the three is now a parliamentary democracy with a free market
system
They are members of the UN, the WTO, NATO and the EU
65. The Ukraine
Sometimes called the “Jewel in the Russian crown” the Ukraine is both
geographically important, agriculturally rich and economically necessary for the
former Soviet Union to control
A significant amount of the USSR’s agricultural land lay with in the borders of the
Ukraine and its position on the Black Sea gave it access to trade routes
66. The Ukraine
It held a seat on the UN as a republic of the USSR along with Belorussia
and Russia
When the Ukrainians began to make serious moves toward independence
in 1990 it was a bad sign for the Soviet Union
Initially, there were hopes for the Ukraine to become a successful
democratic state, however the government remained corrupt and
involved in questionable activities (including dealing arms to the Iraqis,
that purportedly detect Stealth aircraft, and activities that have led to the
city of Kharkov being called the “watering hole” for arms traffickers across
the globe)
it would not be until the late 1990s’ that the Ukraine would achieve any
level of economic or political stability and has still not become a member
of the EU
Ukraine’s declaration of independence in 1991 led to the exodus of the
other republics and was followed by the dissolution of the Soviet Union
67. Ukraine: Chernobyl Disaster
April 26th
, 1986, a nuclear accident at the Chernobyl power plant resulted
in the destruction of one of 4 RBMK-type reactors (the type of nuclear
reactor cooled by water and moderated by graphite)
The accident occurred during a safety test,
During the test(due to human error) Instability was created in the reactor
and the operator attempted to correct the problem by overriding the
control rods.
No safety mechanism was in place because of the test, so when a huge
surge of power occurred, the resulting explosion destroyed the top of the
reactor core and started a fire which threatened the other three reactors.
Firefighters attempted to put out the fire
They succumbed to radiation, and died becoming the first, but not the last
of the victims of Chernobyl.
68. • Ukraine marked the 21st anniversary of the deadly explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear
power plant, the world’s worst nuclear disaster up to that point. The April 26, 1986
explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant affected about 3.3 million Ukrainians
69. The Chernobyl Disaster: Continued
The poisons radioactive cloud produced by Chernobyl spread across a
huge area including but not limited to;
• The western regions of Ukraine
• Belorussia
• Russia
• Eastern Europe and some parts of Scandinavia
Initially the Soviet Union did not even report the disaster
The first report came from Sweden who had picked up above normal
amounts of radioactivity in its regular air tests
Questions were raised regarding the Soviet Union’s failure to report
the nuclear disaster (it seemed like a fairly large failure in Glasnost)
70.
71. The Chernobyl Disaster: Continued
Questions still remain regarding the number of victims the disaster claimed
and the true extent of the environmental damage done both to the
Ukraine and to surrounding areas
About 100 000 people were evacuated from the Chernobyl area ( the city
of Pripyat, remains abandoned) it is estimated that close to 2 million
people were affected by radiation.
Of these close to 1 million still live in contaminated areas. Over another ¼
million should be relocated but have nowhere else to go.
Birth defects and cancer rates are up
The official Soviet death toll is 31, that is unlikely at best.
Sheep as far as Scotland and reindeer herds in Scandinavia have registered
high levels of radiation that has been attributed to Chernobyl. This raises
the inevitable question: What are the long term effects of the melt down
of the nuclear reactors in Japan going to be? Who will be effected and
how?