End of the Cold War and the USSR

Economic and Social Problems in USSR

USSR economic growth slowed to 2% in 1970s
Low quality of goods, no consumer goods and lack of raw materials
$80 billion given to Eastern bloc
Only 8800 computers 1985 compared to US's 6 billion
25% GNP spent on military- lack of growth
Communist parties often corrupt, limited political freedom- political prisoners locked in mental intitutions
High alchoholism, suicide, mental health issues
Charter 77 and Helsinki Watch Committees exposing human rights abuses
1989 pulled troops out of Afghanistan
1983 USSR shot down Korean Aircraft- created tension
NATO 1983 Able Archer- Defcon 1

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Reagan referred to USSR as 'evil empire' in 1983
- Largest peacetime military buildup in US history, 30% federal budget e.g. Trident
- Reagan Doctrine assisting anti-communist groups e.g. $687 billion to Mujahedin
- SDI launched 1984- space lasers to intercept missiles
- Thatcher encouraging- missles in UK
- Restricted trade with USSR to grain, oil and technology
Gorbachev leader of USSR from 1985, New Thinking approach:
- Perestroika- reduced military spending to improve living standards
- Glasnost- political openess in politics
- Said he would no longer use military force in Eastern Europe
Geneva Summit 1985- Gorby wanted to end SDI but Reagan said SDI was essential, established good working relationship
Reykjavik Summit 1986- Gorby proposed elimination of all nuclear weapons but Reagan still wanted SDI
INF Treaty 1987- commited to removal of all ICMs from Europe, end to SDI
Moscow Summit 1988- agreement to extend trade/ technology links
Matla Summit 1889- Gorby and Bush declare the Cold War at an end
START 1 Treaty 1991- agreeing to decrease nuclear weapons

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Poland, encouraged by Pope John Paul II, emergence of Solidarity 1980
- Jaruzelski originally supressed with martial law
- Result of Sinatra Doctrine, Solidarity legalised and multi-party elections introduced
- Creation of Democratic government under Lech Walesa 1990
Hungary 1988 hardline Kadar sacked
- Government dominated by reformers, opened borders 1989- East Germans escaping to Austria (125,000 in September)
East Germany, Hockner removed by Politburo
- Krenz (new leader) refused to repress the demonstrations
- November Berlin Wall dismantled by the people 1989
- End of ideological split, and formation of new political groups e.g. New Forum
- 1990 election favoured re-unification, re-unifed October 1990
Czechoslovakia 1989 communist make concessions in response to protest
- Civic Forum Organisation formed to get rid of government, Havel president 1989
- Little violence- know as the Velvet Revolution
Romania- Ceausascu sent army to supress demonstrations, 71 killed
- Later demonstration, army refused to supress, Ceasescu and wife fled, executed Xmas

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1991 Yeltsin as President of Russia
Gorby very unpopular in USSR, failed to improve living standards, inflation, strikes etc.
Glasnost meant people could now criticise the political system, Stalin's terror details released
Union of Soverign States about to be signed releasing Baltic states from USSR
Conservatives in CPSU disapproved, staged coup aginst Gorby
Yeltsin emerged as leader- communist party made illegal
Baltic states independance in 1990 and remaining republics in Dec 1991 = USSR dissolved

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Policy of Shock Therapy:
- Rapid liberalisation, overnight removal of price controls = hyper inflation
- Privitisation of state assets, enterprise not competitive = collapse of old industries, rise of old elite and oligarchs who brough up assets
1993 39-49% population in poverty, 1.5% under communism, increased crime, alchoholism, death rates BUT more consumer goods
Invaded Checnya 1994 to reassert control
- 14,000 deaths, 200,000 injuries
- Guerllia war that encouraged radical Islam (Taliban)
1993 Parliament crisis- insisted Yelstin resign and declared Rutskoi as leader
- Yelstin besieged parliament with troops, erected barricades and shut of phones/heating
- Yeltsin won, but massive anti-Yeltsin protests and Communsits did better in next election

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Death of Tito in 1980 = rise of nationalism
Huge economic problems, 300% inflation, PM Makovic introduced shock therapy meaning only party for political reform associated with unpopular policy
1991 Croatia and Slovenia declared independance, Serbian leader Milosevic marched in with Yugoslav army- Civl War between Croats and Serbs in Croatia
Milosevic wanted an 'ethnically pure' Greater Serbia- 100,000 killed
1995 Bosnia-Serb forced attacked safe haven of Srebrenica, 8000 killed, women *****
West had to intevene with 1995 Drayton Peace Agreement and 1999 NATO bombing ending the war

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Germany had slow economy growth despite Eastern Economy Recovery Programme
Rise of neo-Nazi groups and racism
Sense of ostaglie amongst Easterns for life in the GDR and 'wall in your head' between East and West

Czechoslovakia seperated in 1993 into Czech Republic and Slovenia due to nationalist tensions
Relatively prosperous due to export markets and tourism
Coalition government created in 1989 and 95% population voted
Removal of 95% price controls, low unemployment and first ex-communist country to recieved investment trade credit

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