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.

1. The Collapse of theThe Collapse of the
Soviet UnionSoviet Union
And the world watchedAnd the world watched
with wonder …with wonder …

2. Eastern
Bloc
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
15 Republics: Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania,
Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine,
Uzbekistan
7 Satellite
Countries:
Bulgaria,
Czech
Republic, East
Germany,
Hungary,
Poland,
Romania,
Slovakia

4. Was the Collapse Due to Force? NoWas the Collapse Due to Force? No
 The Cold War cost more thanThe Cold War cost more than
$11 trillion. But the collapse$11 trillion. But the collapse
of the Soviet Union and itsof the Soviet Union and its
satellites was not a result ofsatellites was not a result of
force.force.
 No NATO tank fired a shot.No NATO tank fired a shot.
 No bomb fell on theNo bomb fell on the
Kremlin.Kremlin.

5. A Home-Grown InsurgencyA Home-Grown Insurgency
 Instead, a massive, home-Instead, a massive, home-
grown insurgency, led by agrown insurgency, led by a
number of differentnumber of different
participants, contributed toparticipants, contributed to
the collapse:the collapse:
 WorkersWorkers
 Dissident intellectualsDissident intellectuals
 Advocates of nationalAdvocates of national
self-determinationself-determination
 ReformersReformers

6. Polish Trade Union: SolidarityPolish Trade Union: Solidarity
 The downfall began inThe downfall began in
1980 when striking Polish1980 when striking Polish
workers organizedworkers organized
Solidarity, anSolidarity, an
independent trade unionindependent trade union
of nearly 10 millionof nearly 10 million
members.members.

7. Support from Catholic ChurchSupport from Catholic Church
 Solidarity, which hadSolidarity, which had
strong support from thestrong support from the
powerful Polish Catholicpowerful Polish Catholic
Church, demonstratedChurch, demonstrated
how a working-classhow a working-class
movement could offer anmovement could offer an
entire nation moral andentire nation moral and
political leadership.political leadership.

8. Solidarity’s Chairman: Lech WalesaSolidarity’s Chairman: Lech Walesa
 The Polish military droveThe Polish military drove
Solidarity underground inSolidarity underground in
1981. However, in 1983,1981. However, in 1983,
Solidarity’s chairman, LechSolidarity’s chairman, Lech
Walesa, won the NobelWalesa, won the Nobel
peace prize. In 1990, hepeace prize. In 1990, he
would be the first freelywould be the first freely
elected president of theelected president of the
Polish nation in more thanPolish nation in more than
sixty years.sixty years.

9. The Gorbachev RevolutionThe Gorbachev Revolution
 Mikhail Gorbachev, whoMikhail Gorbachev, who
came to power in 1985came to power in 1985
as the General Secretaryas the General Secretary
of the Communist Partyof the Communist Party
of the Soviet Unionof the Soviet Union
(CPSU), recognized that(CPSU), recognized that
the Soviet Union couldthe Soviet Union could
not remain politically andnot remain politically and
economically isolated andeconomically isolated and
that the Soviet systemthat the Soviet system
had to be changed if ithad to be changed if it
was to survive.was to survive.

10. Gorbachev's Five-Point PlanGorbachev's Five-Point Plan
 The key pieces to Gorbachev's plan for the survivalThe key pieces to Gorbachev's plan for the survival
of the Soviet Union were a series of reforms:of the Soviet Union were a series of reforms:
1.1. GlasnostGlasnost (openness) – greater freedom of(openness) – greater freedom of
expressionexpression
2.2. PerestroikaPerestroika (restructuring) – decentralization(restructuring) – decentralization
of the Soviet economy with gradual marketof the Soviet economy with gradual market
reformsreforms
3.3. Renunciation of the Brezhnev DoctrineRenunciation of the Brezhnev Doctrine (armed(armed
intervention where socialism was threatened)intervention where socialism was threatened)
and the pursuit of arms control agreementsand the pursuit of arms control agreements
4.4. Reform of the KGBReform of the KGB (secret service)(secret service)
5.5. Reform of the Communist PartyReform of the Communist Party

11. The Objective: SurvivalThe Objective: Survival
 Gorbachev knew that the Soviet Union would haveGorbachev knew that the Soviet Union would have
to change if it was to survive.to change if it was to survive.
 Central planningCentral planning in a modern industrial economyin a modern industrial economy
brought many inefficiencies.brought many inefficiencies.
 TheThe factory management systemfactory management system provided littleprovided little
incentive to make technological improvementsincentive to make technological improvements
and every incentive to hide factory capacities toand every incentive to hide factory capacities to
ensure low quotasensure low quotas
 TheThe socialist farm systemsocialist farm system was inefficient – therewas inefficient – there
were poor worker incentives and storage andwere poor worker incentives and storage and
transportation problems.transportation problems.
 The Soviet State could no longer afford theThe Soviet State could no longer afford the highhigh
defense spendingdefense spending that accompanied the Coldthat accompanied the Cold
War.War.

12. Insistent Calls for ChangeInsistent Calls for Change
 He believed that hisHe believed that his
reforms were necessaryreforms were necessary
and used his leadershipand used his leadership
and power to attempt toand power to attempt to
implement them.implement them.
 The policy ofThe policy of glasnostglasnost
(openness) made it(openness) made it
possible for people topossible for people to
more freely criticize themore freely criticize the
government's policies.government's policies.
When people realized itWhen people realized it
was safe to speak out, thewas safe to speak out, the
calls for change becamecalls for change became
more insistent.more insistent.

13. Reforms Were Too SlowReforms Were Too Slow
 The gradual market reformsThe gradual market reforms
and decentralization of theand decentralization of the
economy (economy (perestroikaperestroika) were) were
too slow and failed to keeptoo slow and failed to keep
pace with the crisis and hispace with the crisis and his
people's demands.people's demands.
 The Soviet Union wasThe Soviet Union was
suffering a deterioration ofsuffering a deterioration of
economic and socialeconomic and social
conditions and a fall in theconditions and a fall in the
GNP.GNP.

14. Party Reforms a FailureParty Reforms a Failure
 His attempts to reformHis attempts to reform
thethe Communist PartyCommunist Party
were a failure. Changewere a failure. Change
was too slow to keep pacewas too slow to keep pace
with events and he waswith events and he was
continually hampered bycontinually hampered by
his need to give in to thehis need to give in to the
hard-liners in order tohard-liners in order to
retain power. Asretain power. As
communism collapsed incommunism collapsed in
Eastern Europe, reform ofEastern Europe, reform of
communism in the Sovietcommunism in the Soviet
Union became unlikely.Union became unlikely.

15. Release from Soviet DominationRelease from Soviet Domination
 The renunciation of theThe renunciation of the
Brezhnev DoctrineBrezhnev Doctrine (armed(armed
intervention in support ofintervention in support of
socialism) released thesocialism) released the
Eastern European statesEastern European states
from Soviet domination.from Soviet domination.
 The communist rulers ofThe communist rulers of
these states could notthese states could not
survive without the supportsurvive without the support
of the Soviet Union.of the Soviet Union.
The Brezhnev Doctrine was articulated in 1968 when the Soviet army
occupied Czechoslovakia to end the Prague Spring, an attempt by
Alexander Dubcek to build “socialism with a human face.”

17. Reagan’s Brandenburg Gate SpeechReagan’s Brandenburg Gate Speech
 President Ronald Reagan called uponPresident Ronald Reagan called upon
Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall:Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall:
""In the Communist world, we see failure,In the Communist world, we see failure,
technological backwardness, decliningtechnological backwardness, declining
standards... Even today, the Soviet Unionstandards... Even today, the Soviet Union
cannot feed itself. The inescapable conclusioncannot feed itself. The inescapable conclusion
is that freedom is the victor. Generalis that freedom is the victor. General
Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace,Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace,
if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union,if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union,
if you seek liberalization: Come here to thisif you seek liberalization: Come here to this
gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate!gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate!
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

18. President Reagan giving a speech at the Berlin Wall,
Brandenburg Gate, Federal Republic of Germany. June 12, 1987

19. Wave of DemonstrationsWave of Demonstrations
 Beginning in SeptemberBeginning in September
1989, a wave of huge1989, a wave of huge
demonstrations shookdemonstrations shook
Communist regimes acrossCommunist regimes across
eastern Europe. A massiveeastern Europe. A massive
tide of East Germantide of East German
emigrants surged throughemigrants surged through
Czechoslovakia and HungaryCzechoslovakia and Hungary
to the West, undermining theto the West, undermining the
authority of the Communistauthority of the Communist
hard-liners who still clung tohard-liners who still clung to
power in the Germanpower in the German
Democratic Republic (GDR).Democratic Republic (GDR).

20. A tram is blocked by East German demonstrators in the center of the city in October 1989. Their
banner reads: 'Legalization of opposition parties, free democratic elections, free press and
independent unions.'

21. The Wall Came DownThe Wall Came Down
 Finally, on the night ofFinally, on the night of
November 9, 1989,November 9, 1989,
ordinary Germansordinary Germans
poured through thepoured through the
Berlin Wall. The GDRBerlin Wall. The GDR
quickly disintegrated,quickly disintegrated,
and by the end of 1990,and by the end of 1990,
all of East Germany hadall of East Germany had
been incorporated intobeen incorporated into
the wealthy, powerfulthe wealthy, powerful
Federal Republic ofFederal Republic of
Germany.Germany.

22. The Rise of NationalismThe Rise of Nationalism
 With the iron grip of theWith the iron grip of the
centralized Soviet statecentralized Soviet state
relaxed and the growingrelaxed and the growing
failure of the state tofailure of the state to
adequately feed andadequately feed and
clothe its people,clothe its people,
nationalism in thenationalism in the
republics surged andrepublics surged and
separatist movementsseparatist movements
threatened the verythreatened the very
existence of the Sovietexistence of the Soviet
Union.Union. Super Cute Protesters:
Moldova: The hot, angry face of
nationalism - Apr 13, 2009

23. Events in Eastern EuropeEvents in Eastern Europe
 Communist governmentsCommunist governments
in Czechoslovakia,in Czechoslovakia,
Hungary, and BulgariaHungary, and Bulgaria
either tumbled oreither tumbled or
underwent reform.underwent reform.
 The CommunistThe Communist
dictatorship in Romaniadictatorship in Romania
fell after a week offell after a week of
bloody street battlesbloody street battles
between ordinarybetween ordinary
citizens and police, whocitizens and police, who
defended the old orderdefended the old order
to the bitter end.to the bitter end.

24. Radical ChangeRadical Change
 Radical change finallyRadical change finally
reached the Sovietreached the Soviet
heartland in Augustheartland in August
1991, when thousands of1991, when thousands of
Russian citizens pouredRussian citizens poured
into the streets to defeatinto the streets to defeat
a reactionary coupa reactionary coup
d'état.d'état.

25. Independent RepublicsIndependent Republics
 The Communist partyThe Communist party
quickly collapsed, andquickly collapsed, and
the Soviet Union beganthe Soviet Union began
the painful and uncertainthe painful and uncertain
process of reorganizingprocess of reorganizing
itself as a looseitself as a loose
confederation ofconfederation of
independent republics.independent republics.

26. Boris YeltsinBoris Yeltsin
 Boris Yeltsin, whoBoris Yeltsin, who
headed the Russianheaded the Russian
Republic, replacedRepublic, replaced
Gorbachev as presidentGorbachev as president
of a much- diminishedof a much- diminished
state. Gorbachev foundstate. Gorbachev found
that there was nothat there was no
Soviet Union to leadSoviet Union to lead
and retired into privateand retired into private
life.life.
Time magazine's July 15, 1996, issue, featured a 10-page
spread about a squad of U.S. political pros who
"clandestinely participated in guiding Yeltsin's campaign.“

27. Nobel Peace PrizeNobel Peace Prize
 Gorbachev won the 1989Gorbachev won the 1989
Nobel Peace Prize. HeNobel Peace Prize. He
brought a peaceful end tobrought a peaceful end to
the cold war, and dramaticthe cold war, and dramatic
change to his country'schange to his country's
economy, though not ineconomy, though not in
the way he intended.the way he intended.

28. The End of the Cold WarThe End of the Cold War
 The Cold War was over,The Cold War was over,
brought to a close not bybrought to a close not by
the missiles and tanks ofthe missiles and tanks of
the principal participants,the principal participants,
but by the collectivebut by the collective
courage and willpower ofcourage and willpower of
ordinary men and women.ordinary men and women.

29. Ronald Reagan’s RoleRonald Reagan’s Role
 In the United States, partisans ofIn the United States, partisans of
Ronald Reagan claimed much ofRonald Reagan claimed much of
the credit for ending the Cold War.the credit for ending the Cold War.
Reagan's frank denunciation of theReagan's frank denunciation of the
Soviet Union as an “Soviet Union as an “evil empireevil empire,","
along with his administration'salong with his administration's
military buildupmilitary buildup, were said to have, were said to have
inspired eastern bloc dissidents atinspired eastern bloc dissidents at
the same time thethe same time the arms racearms race
exhausted the productive capacityexhausted the productive capacity
of the Soviet Union and otherof the Soviet Union and other
inefficient Communist regimes.inefficient Communist regimes.

30. Nuclear Stockpiles, 1945-2006Nuclear Stockpiles, 1945-2006
Source data from: Robert S. Norris and Hans M. Kristensen, "Global nuclear stockpiles, 1945-2006," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
62, no. 4 (July/August 2006), 64-66. Online at http://thebulletin.metapress.com/content/c4120650912x74k7/fulltext.pdf

31. The National DebtThe National Debt
US Pop: 304,998,272
Share of
Debt/Person:
$34,526.04
Daily Increase:
$3.84 billion
$438
billion
deficit

32. Another Side to the StoryAnother Side to the Story
 According to U.S. diplomatAccording to U.S. diplomat
George Kennan, author of "TheGeorge Kennan, author of "The
Sources of Soviet Conduct"Sources of Soviet Conduct"
(1947) and architect of the(1947) and architect of the
containment policy,containment policy, the West'sthe West's
militarized posture helped themilitarized posture helped the
Communists to rationalize theirCommunists to rationalize their
authoritarian ruleauthoritarian rule. The more U.S.. The more U.S.
policies followed a hard line, thepolicies followed a hard line, the
greater was the tendency ingreater was the tendency in
Moscow to tighten the controlsMoscow to tighten the controls
and to discourage liberalizingand to discourage liberalizing
tendencies.tendencies.

33. Lech Walesa's
SOLIDARITY
Gorbachev’s
REFORMS
John Paul II’s
CATHOLIC
CHURCH
GlasnostRonald Reagan’s
FOREIGN POLICY
No Brezhnev
Doctrine
Perestroika
Reform
KGB
Reform
Comm Party
EVIL EMPIRE
Speech
MILITARY
BUILDUP
ARMS RACE
East German
NATIONALISM
The Collapse of the Soviet Union
and the End of the Cold War
Ordinary
MEN & WOMEN
WILL POWER
COURAGE
Eastern
Bloc
Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics

34. Remaining Communist CountriesRemaining Communist Countries
 At its peak, communism was practiced in dozens ofAt its peak, communism was practiced in dozens of
countries:countries:
 Soviet UnionSoviet Union: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia,: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania,Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania,
Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, andMoldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and
UzbekistanUzbekistan
 Asian CountriesAsian Countries: Afghanistan, Cambodia, Mongolia, and: Afghanistan, Cambodia, Mongolia, and
YemenYemen
 Soviet Controlled Eastern bloc countriesSoviet Controlled Eastern bloc countries: Bulgaria, Czech: Bulgaria, Czech
Republic, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania,Republic, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania,
Slovakia.Slovakia.
 The BalkansThe Balkans: Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Bulgaria,: Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia.Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia.
 AfricaAfrica: Angola, Benin, Congo, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, and: Angola, Benin, Congo, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, and
Mozambique.Mozambique.
 CurrentlyCurrently only a handful of countries identified as communistonly a handful of countries identified as communist
remain: Laos, North Korea, Vietnam, China, and Cuba.remain: Laos, North Korea, Vietnam, China, and Cuba.