The Collapse of Communism

The Collapse of Communism

1. Gorbachev's final reforms

   • During final years of 80s - G extended perestroika
     • Introduced greater decentralisation in the economy and elements of choice in Soviet elections
       • Most significant change - official abandonment of Brezhnev Doctrine - during 88-89
         • Led to collapse of communism across Eastern Europe

2. Fall of the Berlin Wall

   • Poland + Hungary were first countries to test the end of the Brezhnev Doctrine
     • In Hungary - govt opened its borders with the West - allowing East German citizens to travel via Hungary to West Germany
       • In September alone - 10,000 East Germans made the trip to the West
         • Consequently - East G govt agreed to open Checkpoint Charlie
           • Berliners from both side flocked to wall and began to tear it down
             • Fall of Berlin wall became symbolic end of the Cold War - the end of a divided Europe - a clear victory for people power

3. The Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe 1989 - 1991

   • East Germany
     • Fall of Berlin wall in 1989 - brought East G's comm govt to an end
       • Elections held in March 1990 - Germany reunited in October 1990
   • Czechoslovakia
     • November 1989 - Velvet Revolution - handed power peacefully to a democratically elected govt
   • Hungary
     • Jan 1989 - Comm party announced multi-party elections with Gorbchev's approval
       • First democratic govt was elected in April 1990
   • Yugoslavia
     • During 1990 - nationalist groups in 6 major regions won democratic elections - leading to break up of Yugoslavia
   • Romania
     • Romanian dictator - Ceausescu - overthrown on Christmas day 1989
   • Bulgaria
     • Free elections held in June 1990
   • Albania
     • Free elections held March 1991
   • Poland
     • Following wave of strikes in 1988 - comm govt forced to negotiate with Solidarity
       • By Sept 1989 - Poland had non comm Prime Minister
         • Significantly - after end of the Brezhnev Doctrine - G did nothing to challenge fall of communism in Poland
           • This prompted change across Europe

4. Gorbachev's Role in the collapse of communism

   • Initially - G played permissive role by abandoning the B doctrine and announcing that each comm country should 'find its own path to socialism'
     • By saying this, he implied that East European countries should work towards communism, but be free of Russian influence
   • However - once freed of Russian influence - communism quickly collapsed
     • During 1989 - G became more radical - actively encouraging comm govts to negotiate with opposition groups
       • Even advised East German govt to open its border with West

5. US role in the collapse of Communism

   • During 89 - new President George Bush welcomed the changes in East Europe
     • Was praised for his tact and for not gloating as the USSR began to collapse

6. The fall of the USSR

   • Neither Bush nor Gorbachev actively tried to break up the USSR
     • Nonetheless - nationalist movements in the Soviet republics followed the example of countries from the Eastern Bloc - moved towards independence
   • To prevent the break up of the USSR - comm hard-liners staged a coup in August 1991 - temporarily removing G from power
     • Coup failed - and so did G's attempt to hold the USSR together
       • Gorbachev resigned on 25 December 1991 - USSR ceased to exist a day later