University:
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Course:
HIST 1160 | U.S. History to 1865
Academic year:

2024
Views:

173

Pages:

4
Author:

Harsh P.

Lecture Title: The Collapse of Communism in the USSR I. Introduction ● Definition of Communism ● A socio-economic ideology based on collective ownership and control of the means of production. ● The USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) ● Formation in 1922 after the Russian Revolution. ● Emergence as a superpower during the Cold War. II. Economic Factors ● ● Centralized Planning ● Command economy with centralized planning. ● Inefficiencies and allocation problems. Resource Mismanagement ● Overemphasis on heavy industry. ● Neglect of consumer goods production. ● Widespread corruption in planning and allocation. III. Political Factors ● ● ● Authoritarianism ● Suppression of dissent. ● Lack of political freedom. Bureaucratic Corruption ● Nepotism and cronyism. ● Breeding ground for corruption. Gorbachev's Reforms ● Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring). ● Unintended consequences - increased criticism of the regime. IV. Nationalism and Ethnic Tensions ● ● Nationalism in Non-Russian Republics ● Desire for independence. ● Baltic States' push for autonomy. Ethnic Conflicts ● Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. ● Georgia's quest for independence. ● Ethnic tensions in Central Asia. V. Economic Crisis and Social Unrest ● ● ● Hyperinflation ● Devaluation of the ruble. ● Loss of savings. Food Shortages ● Empty store shelves. ● Long lines for basic necessities. Worker Strikes and Protests ● Labor unrest. ● Demands for political change. VI. Role of the United States and Western Powers ● ● ● Arms Race ● High defense spending. ● Economic strain on the USSR. Diplomatic Pressure ● Reagan's 'Evil Empire' speech. ● Support for anti-Soviet movements. End of the Cold War ● Diplomatic negotiations. ● Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989). VII. The August Coup (1991) ● ● ● Hardliner Reaction ● Attempt to overthrow Gorbachev. ● Fears of losing power. Popular Resistance ● Citizens taking to the streets. ● Defiance against the coup. Boris Yeltsin's Leadership ● Yeltsin's opposition to the coup. ● Symbolic role on a tank. VIII. Dissolution of the USSR ● Baltic States' Declaration of Independence ● ● ● Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Gorbachev's Resignation (1991) ● Formal dissolution of the USSR. ● End of the Cold War era. New Independent States ● Emergence of the Russian Federation. ● Creation of independent republics. IX. Legacy and Aftermath ● ● Economic Transition ● Move toward capitalism. ● Privatization of state assets. Geopolitical Changes ● ● ● Shift in global power dynamics. ● NATO expansion in Eastern Europe. Social Consequences ● Rise of oligarchs. ● Widening wealth gap. Historical Perspective ● Lessons from the USSR's collapse. X. Conclusion ● The collapse of Communism in the USSR resulted from a complex interplay of economic, political, and social factors. ● It marked the end of the Cold War and the beginning of a new era in international relations. ● The legacy of the USSR's collapse continues to shape the geopolitical landscape today.