Collapse of the Ussr
Rosa Maldonado Vera
Why did the USSR Collapse in 1991?
In December of 1991, the Soviet Union broke down into fifteen separate countries. The west saw this collapse as a victory for freedom, a triumph of democracy over totalitarianism, and evidence of the superiority of capitalism over socialism. The United States were glad that its enemy was brought to its knees. The Cold War, which had confronted these two superpowers since the end of World War II, had ended. The breakup of the Soviet Union led to a reformulation of political, economic and military alliances all over the globe.
The Soviet Union was built on approximately the same territory as the Russian Empire which succeeded. After the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, the newly-formed government developed a philosophy of socialism with the eventual and gradual transition to Communism. The state which the Bolsheviks created was intended to overcome national differences, and to create one monolithic state based on a centralized economical and political system. This state was built on a Communist ideology, it was eventually transformed into a totalitarian state, the Communist leadership had complete control over the country.
Creating a unified, centralized socialist state was proved problematic for several reasons. First, the Soviets took too lightly the reaction that non-Russian people would have on a Russianized State. Second, their economic planning failed to meet the needs of the State, which couldn't afford the arms race with the United States. This led to gradual economic decline, which eventually led to needing reforms. Finally, the ideology of Communism was never too strong and eventually lost its influence in the people.
Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet Union’s last leader, rose to power in 1985. The country was in a situation of severe stagnation, with deep economic and political problems. Gorbachev introduced two policies of reform. He initiated a policy of glasnost, or freedom of speech. He also began
Why did the USSR Collapse in 1991?
In December of 1991, the Soviet Union broke down into fifteen separate countries. The west saw this collapse as a victory for freedom, a triumph of democracy over totalitarianism, and evidence of the superiority of capitalism over socialism. The United States were glad that its enemy was brought to its knees. The Cold War, which had confronted these two superpowers since the end of World War II, had ended. The breakup of the Soviet Union led to a reformulation of political, economic and military alliances all over the globe.
The Soviet Union was built on approximately the same territory as the Russian Empire which succeeded. After the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, the newly-formed government developed a philosophy of socialism with the eventual and gradual transition to Communism. The state which the Bolsheviks created was intended to overcome national differences, and to create one monolithic state based on a centralized economical and political system. This state was built on a Communist ideology, it was eventually transformed into a totalitarian state, the Communist leadership had complete control over the country.
Creating a unified, centralized socialist state was proved problematic for several reasons. First, the Soviets took too lightly the reaction that non-Russian people would have on a Russianized State. Second, their economic planning failed to meet the needs of the State, which couldn't afford the arms race with the United States. This led to gradual economic decline, which eventually led to needing reforms. Finally, the ideology of Communism was never too strong and eventually lost its influence in the people.
Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet Union’s last leader, rose to power in 1985. The country was in a situation of severe stagnation, with deep economic and political problems. Gorbachev introduced two policies of reform. He initiated a policy of glasnost, or freedom of speech. He also began