Stagnation and Decline of Communism Stagnation and Decline of Communism in Eastern Europe, 1970-1991in Eastern Europe, 1970-1991

CAUSES of the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe and Soviet Union:

1. Negative comparisons with West

2. Communism was not working

3. Pressure of Western containment policy and Soviet military spending

4. Persistence of nationalism

5. Dissidents and Human Rights

6. Soviet intervention in Afghan war (1979-1989)

7. Poland: Solidarity

8. Mikhail Gorbachev

9. Chernobyl nuclear disaster (April 1986)

CAUSES of the collapse of communism, 1989-1991

1. Negative comparisons with West– Jeans– Toilet paper– Birth control devices– Healthcare– Service– Soap operas– High-heeled shoes– “Equality in poverty.” Slavenka Drakulic

CAUSES of the collapse of communism, 1989-1991

2. Communism was not working:• Collective farms never very efficient• Kitchen gardens became crucial• Central planning created industrialization, but

consumer goods sacrificed• Quantity over quality• Bureaucracy was always on the take: Blat• Party elite privileges: special stores, dachas,

vacations

CAUSES of the collapse, 1989-1991

3. Pressure of Western containment policy and Soviet military spending: Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), “Star Wars”

CAUSES of the collapse, 1989-1991

4. Persistence of Nationalism inside Soviet Bloc and USSR

CAUSES of the collapse, 1989-1991

5. Dissidents and Human Rights:

1975: Helsinki Accords

1976: KOR (Committee for the Defense of Workers)

1977: Charter 77

CAUSES of the collapse, 1989-1991

6. Soviet intervention in Afghan war (1979-1989):

• Bungled• losing• sapping resources• veterans

7. Poland and Solidarity

• Gdansk: Lenin Shipyards• August 1980: Party granted right to unions• September 1980: Solidarity: Union of

Trade Unions• Early 1981: 10 million Solidarity members• December 1981: Martial Law imposed

Lech Wałęsa

8. Mikhail Gorbachev, r. 1985-1991

• A reformer in sheep’s clothing

• Reform Communism (still idealism)

• Attempted moderate reform

• Perestroika (restructuring)

• Glasnost (openness)

9. Chernobyl nuclear disaster (April 1986)

• Scared everyone• Showed technical

incompetence• Showed Party’s priorities• Spawned anti-nuclear

and ecological movements across East Europe

1988

• February: Polish government again raises prices workers’ strikes

• October: Solidarity and Polish government began Round Table discussion.

• December: at UN Gorbachev promised to withdraw Soviet troops from Eastern Europe.

1989, part I

• February: Hungarian Communists renounced “leading role” and proposed multi-party political system.

• April: Round Table concluded, Solidarity legalized again.

• May: Baltic Republics (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia) declared themselves to be sovereign.

• June: Solidarity claimed victory in Polish parliamentary elections, but also Tiananmen Square massacre.

• July: Gorbachev announced that each country can take its own path to socialism.

1989, part II• August: First GDR refugees began leaving Soviet

bloc via Hungary.• September: Solidarity-led government took power

in Poland.• October: Gorbachev visited GDR, encouraged

reform and independence.• November: Berlin Wall opened; Czechoslovakian

Communist government resigned: “Velvet Revolution”.

• December: Romanians overthrew Ceaucescu communist regime and executed Ceaucescus.

1990• March: Lithuania declared independence

from USSR and German CDU won election; SED got only 16 percent of vote.

• July: CPSU declared end to its monopoly on political power.

• October: Unification of Germany; Gorbachev awarded Nobel Peace Prize.

• December: Lech Walesa elected President of Poland.

1991• June: Croatia and Slovenia declared

independence from Yugoslavia; Yugoslav Wars began.

• July: Soviet Republics negotiate new union treaty; Warsaw Pact dissolved.

• August: Hard-line communists orchestrated coup in Moscow; defeated, but meant end of USSR

• December 8: Russia, Ukraine and Belarus created Commonwealth of Independent States USSR ceased to exist.

The New Europe