The Soviet Union
Gorbachev Era
The Beginning of the End
Previous to Gorbachev's rise to communist control, the Soviet Union was led by a string of leaders all plagued by the fatigue of old age. Finally, in 1985, a young ruler was called to power, Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev.
Before understanding Gorbachev's role in inciting the end of communism in the Soviet Union, one must realize the influence of communism on Soviet leaders. Because of Stalin's dictatorship, the president of the Soviet Union was required to play some role in the Communist Party. In Gorbachev's case, this meant that along with being the president of the SU, he was also the General Secretary of the Communist Party.
1985
1987
- Can He Make It Work?
- Is the Cold War Fading?
1991
A Man Without A Country
Gorbachev
PERESTROIKA AND GLASNOST
“Both perestroika and glasnost, as Gorbachev understood them, would transform Soviet society into a true democracy.” - Lecture 16
What is perestroika?
What does glasnost mean?
Power of Glasnost
The Written Word
G. Orwell's "1984"
Glasnost Humor
“Gorbachev's reforms also polarized opinion in ways that even Gorbachev and his stalwart supporters could never have foreseen. All that restructuring and all that openness had increased the diversity of opinions and in the end, led to little more than nationalist and ethnic in-fighting.” - Lecture 16
Effect on Communism
In doing so, the Communist Party was fractured: Gorbachev and the other communist reformists on one side and the Anti-Reform Communist Party on the other. While he did call for reform, Gorbachev was unwilling to hand over the strength of the Soviet Union to the countries calling for freedom. Watch the below video (2:46+ involves Francesca's Review Topics).