Socia Economic Political
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USSR Topic 5 - What explains the fall of the USSR, c1985–91?
The significance of the economic weaknesses of the USSR and the failure of reform.
The effects of Gorbachev’s failure to reform the Communist Party and the Soviet government.
The impact of the nationalist resurgence in the late 1980s in the Soviet republics and in the communist states of Eastern Europe.
How far Gorbachev and Yeltsin can be seen as responsible for the collapse of the USSR in 1991.
Weaknesses within Reforms Implemented Aims Results Judgement
the USSR
20m alcoholics by The legal age for the Improving the productivity Initially, people became sober Poor reform as it was economically
1985 – worsened consumption of alcohol was and punctuality of the Taxes from alcohol plummeted detrimental due to creating an
health, productivity raised to 21; the number of workforce People began to dangerously produce informal (and therefore untaxed)
and punctuality of retail outlets where alcohol Improving the health of alcohol at home sector which also caused health
population and could be bought was reduced; the population, therefore issues, putting a strain on the
accounted for vineyards were destroyed and reducing their country’s healthcare system and its
household spending distilleries were closed; the dependence on health funding
that could be used cost of vodka in shops was services
elsewhere tripled.
1/3rd marriages end in divorce – greater movement of people, displacement of children and their placement in care of state
Absenteeism (often Food rationing introduced to Ease hoarding situation Workers (e.g. miners) protested over unpaid
to queue for food) ease problems of Perestroika wages and food shortages
– Meat rationed in 26/55
Russian regions in 1988
Unofficial culture Glasnost introduced in 1986 Led to an increase in criticism, which focused on Poor reform as it caused criticisms
was popular encouraged population to poor quality of housing, corruption of officials towards Gorbachev to be openly
make suggestions for reforms and nepotism. shared and accepted.
to the Party.
Lack of real alliance In 1990, Gorbachev was Prevent strikes by raising Without economic collapse, people would Essentially signed the death warrant
with socialism forced to repeal Article 6, the income of workers have continued to tolerate the communist for the communist state but also
allowing alternative party satiated the desire for reform
parties to exist There was little use in increased wages amongst the population. Arguably
Increased wages when there was so little in supply in the inevitable but demonstrated a
shops concession of communist principles.
, Rivalry within the Defining the functions of Struggled to get people to choose one or the Western historians have generally
Communist Party Party and state – ridding other, particularly as the lines between the viewed Gorbachev’s political
between those who the USSR of the systems two had become blurred due to the reforms as well-meaning but
pursued reform and that favoured Party Nomenklatura system unlikely to have ever brought
those who didn’t members over the most Increased divisions within party, between success. ‘Essentialist’ historians take
able candidates for roles ‘liberals’ and ‘conservatives’ the view that communism and the
Alienated reformers who realised that the Communist Party were impossible to
Party would not carry out desired/necessary reform due to their belief that they
reforms (e.g. Yeltsin attacking Gorbachev’s were incapable of producing
approach as it was too slow) anything other than a totalitarian
Pace of reform was criticised by state in which a one-party rule could
conservatives and glasnost was branded only be sustained through force.
‘demoralising’ More recent research has suggested
that Gorbachev’s political reforms
were potentially workable but
undermined by both conservatives
and liberals within the Party.
Public had become Defining the functions of Struggled to get people to choose one or the
more interested in Party and state – ridding other, particularly as the lines between the
politics and had the USSR of the systems two had become blurred due to the
grown dissatisfied that favoured Party Nomenklatura system
with the present members over the most Gorbachev became President of the Soviet
workings able candidates for roles Union as well as General Secretary of the
Shifting power from the Party
Party to the Soviets – Under pressure from liberals, Gorbachev
allocating more finance to repealed Article 6 (which enshrined the
the Soviets to give them Communist Party’s position at the forefront
the resources to support of the one-party state) in March 1990,
their role. Deputies were allowing other political parties to be
given five years in their established to contest elections. This
role to give them greater angered many conservatives who saw
security. Article 6 as non-negotiable. Communist
candidates were eventually beaten across
l
USSR Topic 5 - What explains the fall of the USSR, c1985–91?
The significance of the economic weaknesses of the USSR and the failure of reform.
The effects of Gorbachev’s failure to reform the Communist Party and the Soviet government.
The impact of the nationalist resurgence in the late 1980s in the Soviet republics and in the communist states of Eastern Europe.
How far Gorbachev and Yeltsin can be seen as responsible for the collapse of the USSR in 1991.
Weaknesses within Reforms Implemented Aims Results Judgement
the USSR
20m alcoholics by The legal age for the Improving the productivity Initially, people became sober Poor reform as it was economically
1985 – worsened consumption of alcohol was and punctuality of the Taxes from alcohol plummeted detrimental due to creating an
health, productivity raised to 21; the number of workforce People began to dangerously produce informal (and therefore untaxed)
and punctuality of retail outlets where alcohol Improving the health of alcohol at home sector which also caused health
population and could be bought was reduced; the population, therefore issues, putting a strain on the
accounted for vineyards were destroyed and reducing their country’s healthcare system and its
household spending distilleries were closed; the dependence on health funding
that could be used cost of vodka in shops was services
elsewhere tripled.
1/3rd marriages end in divorce – greater movement of people, displacement of children and their placement in care of state
Absenteeism (often Food rationing introduced to Ease hoarding situation Workers (e.g. miners) protested over unpaid
to queue for food) ease problems of Perestroika wages and food shortages
– Meat rationed in 26/55
Russian regions in 1988
Unofficial culture Glasnost introduced in 1986 Led to an increase in criticism, which focused on Poor reform as it caused criticisms
was popular encouraged population to poor quality of housing, corruption of officials towards Gorbachev to be openly
make suggestions for reforms and nepotism. shared and accepted.
to the Party.
Lack of real alliance In 1990, Gorbachev was Prevent strikes by raising Without economic collapse, people would Essentially signed the death warrant
with socialism forced to repeal Article 6, the income of workers have continued to tolerate the communist for the communist state but also
allowing alternative party satiated the desire for reform
parties to exist There was little use in increased wages amongst the population. Arguably
Increased wages when there was so little in supply in the inevitable but demonstrated a
shops concession of communist principles.
, Rivalry within the Defining the functions of Struggled to get people to choose one or the Western historians have generally
Communist Party Party and state – ridding other, particularly as the lines between the viewed Gorbachev’s political
between those who the USSR of the systems two had become blurred due to the reforms as well-meaning but
pursued reform and that favoured Party Nomenklatura system unlikely to have ever brought
those who didn’t members over the most Increased divisions within party, between success. ‘Essentialist’ historians take
able candidates for roles ‘liberals’ and ‘conservatives’ the view that communism and the
Alienated reformers who realised that the Communist Party were impossible to
Party would not carry out desired/necessary reform due to their belief that they
reforms (e.g. Yeltsin attacking Gorbachev’s were incapable of producing
approach as it was too slow) anything other than a totalitarian
Pace of reform was criticised by state in which a one-party rule could
conservatives and glasnost was branded only be sustained through force.
‘demoralising’ More recent research has suggested
that Gorbachev’s political reforms
were potentially workable but
undermined by both conservatives
and liberals within the Party.
Public had become Defining the functions of Struggled to get people to choose one or the
more interested in Party and state – ridding other, particularly as the lines between the
politics and had the USSR of the systems two had become blurred due to the
grown dissatisfied that favoured Party Nomenklatura system
with the present members over the most Gorbachev became President of the Soviet
workings able candidates for roles Union as well as General Secretary of the
Shifting power from the Party
Party to the Soviets – Under pressure from liberals, Gorbachev
allocating more finance to repealed Article 6 (which enshrined the
the Soviets to give them Communist Party’s position at the forefront
the resources to support of the one-party state) in March 1990,
their role. Deputies were allowing other political parties to be
given five years in their established to contest elections. This
role to give them greater angered many conservatives who saw
security. Article 6 as non-negotiable. Communist
candidates were eventually beaten across
