World Civilizations Cracks in the Soviet Union

Cracks in the Soviet Union What was the relationship between production and population in the Soviet Union and the USSR? And what were the consequences of this relationship? Production rates in the Soviet Union were much slower when compared to the US and required more resources while production in the United States was more efficient and required fewer materials. The population of the USSR was also greater than the population of the US, resulting in the need for further production to meet the growing necessities of Soviets; consequently, the Soviet Union’s economy was damaged and inflation occured, along with a dependency on foreign imports. Based on the documents above, why was the Soviet Union falling behind the United States? The Soviet Union failed to discover more innovative and efficient means of production or how to correctly implement those new production methods, leaving the Soviet Union unable to maintain manufacturing or keep up with the modern technology and flourishing economy of the US. According to Vladimir Tamarov, how did the USSR initially feel about invading Afghanistan? The Soviet Union considered its invasion of Afghanistan to be another “banal beginning” or just another military decision and interference. Prior to the USSR’s involvement in Afghanistan, the Soviet Union held troops in “satellite states” across Europe similar to the condition of Afghanistan, controlling their official government and people. Why do you think Tamarov begins to question Soviet intervention? Tamarov begins to question the Soviet intervention when seeing the weak condition of the Afghan soldiers and the tremendous loss of Soviet lives to the violence and bloodshed. The Soviet government and official press even openly declared the military intervention in Afghanistan to be a mistake and bad decision. Cracks in the Soviet Union Foreign Policy Questions: 1. According to Vladimir Tamarov, the Soviet Union initially thought that intervening in Afghanistan was normal, just the usual occurrence, but Tamarov began to question Soviet intervention after the Soviet government and press started to state otherwise. This opened his eyes to the reality of their intervention, as he saw the growing Soviet graves that were unidentified. Cracks within the Soviet Economy Questions: 2. The Soviet Union was falling behind the United States as they were not creating nor using new production potential to its full use, causing them to slow down in all aspects. They were also not fully democratized and were lacking in education and computer technology, chemistry, etc. Cracks in the Soviet Environment Questions: 1. Second, in your own words, write one sentence that explains what the accident showed about underlying Soviet problems? The accident displayed the lack of the Soviet’s knowledge of technology, their inattentiveness and ignorance of their work, and even revealed previous accidents. 2. What do you think Gorbachev meant when he wrote about the bad effects of “bureaucracy and monopolism in science?” I think when Gorbachev wrote about the bureaucracy and monopolism in science, he meant that because the Soviet Union was only desperate about being ahead of the United States, this created opportunities for sloppiness and the neglect of minor details, leading to this accident.