Preview

How Do You Think Gorbachev Modernize The Soviet Union

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
527 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Do You Think Gorbachev Modernize The Soviet Union
The moment Mikhail Gorbachev became the Soviet Union’s leader was the beginning of the end for the Cold War. Appointed in 1985, Gorbachev was left with a broken nation, whose people had little freedom to voice their beliefs without facing repercussions from the communist society that was so ingrained in the Soviet at that time. Faced with economical problems along with the current government’s poor treatment of the people, Gorbachev knew he need to ameliorate his degrading and suppressed nation. As leader, Gorbachev’s main goal was to liberate the people and modernize the Soviet Union in a way that neither dictators nor capitalists could monopolize society, but rather a democracy, in which the people governed themselves. His goal was a balanced and perfect socialism, a utopia. What inspires me the most about Gorbachev’s actions was his willingness to challenge the hard-pressed Soviet beliefs in order to promote peace and re-administer the rights unto the people. His fresh thinking led to the reformation of the Soviet based on two concepts: …show more content…
On December 25th, 1991, Gorbachev disbanded the Soviet Union and in turn, ended the Cold War. His beliefs that every individual is entitled to the unalienable rights as well as a say in government showed his respect for others. His pursued peace and the amelioration of the Soviet, not global supremacy or world dictatorship. He did not strive for personal gain, but rather, a perfect society in which there is peace and equality. In the end, Gorbachev did not achieve a modernized and strengthened Soviet, but his consideration for others removed the fear of tyranny from Eastern Europe. This man is a champion of justice, a man who, in the face of a communism that suppressed through fear, reinstituted the rights that are entitled to all. In doing so, he freed a people, and inspired many. Including

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In 1991, when Boris Yeltsin seized the power and the Belavezha Accords were signed, the decision to disband the Soviet Union had been made and supported by the governments of Ukraine and Belarus. On December 12, 1991 Russia’s secession from the Union was sealed, the Belavezha Accords were ratified and the 1922 treaty on the creation of the Soviet Union was denounced. It had been a long road, and arguably it was predictable. It was finally time for change.…

    • 1222 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    During The Cold War, There was a total of 4 change in power. Joseph Stalin being the first dictator of The Soviet Union during The Cold War, Nikita Khrushchev being the second, Leonid Brezhnev the third, and Mikhail Gorbachev the final leader of The Soviet Union. “While this meant change the underlying political reality was that the Soviet system did not trust the people. Government was retained in the hand of Party apparatchiks which the public had no role in choosing. Economically there were improvements.” Despite the improvements, living conditions were poor for the citizens of The Soviet Union. “Agriculture remained a major weakness with poor yields”. Although The Soviet try to improve life for people, life was still poor. The economics…

    • 133 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cold War Review Questions

    • 517 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Many people considered Khrushchev reckless because he tore the ideas of communism down. He allowed freer expression of opinion, made modest efforts to meet the demand for more consumer goods, decentralized economic planning, and removed many restrictive regulations on private cultivation.…

    • 517 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Due to problems in Russia originating from the slow recovery from WWII, Gorbachev made changes and saw how the country was falling. Citizens were in desperate need for supplies, shelter, and allies. United States President at the time, Ronald Reagan, demanded that Gorbachev tear down the Berlin Wall which divided Germany in two for both the U.S. and Russia. Gorbachev knew his country wouldn't be able to survive the war so he tore down the wall and the peace between Russia and the rest of the world slowly started to build. The Russians were able to become friendly with citizens from other countries which enabled the country to flourish.…

    • 716 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The nation was created with poor decisions and dishonesty that throughout the years led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Gorbachev’s decision to give more power to the people and how open elections which was similar to what was seen in a democratic government which began a slow process of democratization that destabilized Communist control. After 1990 elections, Gorbachev was faced with many political pressures which in turn sped up the process of his resignation. On December 25, 1991, the Soviet flag was taken down and replaced by the Russian flag that flies today. Gorbachev resigned as president and on December 26, 1991, The Soviet Union…

    • 669 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    The collapse of the United Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) led to the formation of a new democratic state. The Russian federation has had three different presidents since its formation and the ratification of its constitution in 1993. The Russian president’s role in the creation of foreign and domestic policies lies within the Russian constitution (Federation, 2013). However, not all presidents have addressed issues in the same manner. The first Russian president, Boris Yeltsin, was unsuccessful at fixing the broken Russian economy and uniting its government to establish a strong foreign policy. Yeltsin’s failure to lead the biggest country on the planet led to his resignation in 1999. His resignation allowed the Russian prime minister of the time to take power of the Russian Federation. His name is Vladimir Putin. This article will discuss some of Vladimir Putin’s approaches on international security issues that…

    • 2937 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    At the time, America and the Soviet Union were enemies, and America did not trust the Soviets. Reagan labeled the Soviet Union as “The Evil Empire,” but Gorbachev was able to persuade him and America that they mean America no harm and that they want to both be at peace with one another (PBS). For the Soviet Union and the United States to be allies is a major step forward to peace being made in the world. Gorbachev and Reagan worked together to end the war, and during that period of time, a real friendship had kindled between them. The end of the Cold War was beneficial to both the United States and Russia, but the Soviets had an extremely tough time dealing with the aftermath. Gorbachev’s economic reforms began to fail and some Soviets demanded independence by using the word glasnost, which translates to openness from Russian (PBS). Since Gorbachev was able to make peace with one of his many enemies at the time adds to the list of how he was an impactful…

    • 804 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Who Is Mr Putin A Hero

    • 558 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the 1980’s Americans at home and millions of Russians living in the Soviet Union said U.S. President Ronald Reagan was a great communicator because he was the first to openly say the Soviet Union was an “evil empire” that must be defeated. However, in today’s Russia, a high percent of Russians regret the Soviet Union collapse which was so relentlessly pursued by the United States. Mr. Putin has called the empire’s break-up “A national tragedy of enormous scale.” This conflict made Mr. Reagan’s Presidency controversial, some saw him as a hero while others saw him as a zealot wanting all the power. People can be seen as a hero to some and a villain to others because of their actions and how they are perceived.…

    • 558 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Western Democratic Socialism demonstrates to the world what a feasible, arguably successful form of socialism looks like. Conversely, the economic, political, and social challenges of Eastern European Socialism eventually led to the collapse of the Soviet Union under Gorbachev, demonstrating a form of socialism that proved incapable of being maintained. Some would say that the USSR was not an impactful form of socialism because it did not last into the 21st century. However, you cannot judge the impact of socialism based on how long that it lasted; instead, judgment of the impact can be based on what was accomplished while this form of socialism existed. In the time that the Soviet Union existed, the USSR was able to implement socialism and major changes were made. These two poles of socialism have sparked a debate about the advantages of socialism, as well as its possible obsolescence or viability. Due to this discussion, they are the most impactful forms of…

    • 1234 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Soviet communists did not like capitalism. They opposed private ownership economies of the United States and its allies. Russian leaders believed that capitalism was doomed and that communism would spread throughout the world. This caused great tension and the emergence of a new kind of war, a Cold War. Mistrust ran deep. In the words of Winston Churchill, it was as if an “iron curtain” had been drawn between the Soviet-controlled countries in Eastern Europe and the Western democracies.…

    • 463 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    He is an iconic leader still remembered for his great impact on the struggle as well as his determination. He inspires people to this very day, and has his own National Historic Site and Memorial.…

    • 657 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    As de facto ruler of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev tried to reform the stagnating Party and the state economy by introducing glasnost ("openness"), perestroika ("restructuring"), demokratizatsiya ("democratization"), and uskoreniye ("acceleration" of economic development), which were launched at the 27th Congress of the CPSU in February 1986.…

    • 749 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    jack johnson

    • 2644 Words
    • 11 Pages

    him as a hero. He impacted many lives and also allowed people to get away from the…

    • 2644 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Soviet Union was looking to expand their way of life and basically take away liberty, slowly but surely. It may not have seemed so at first, and it is apparent because of the actions of presidents Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter. With their choices to deny containment in the spirit of trade and relations,…

    • 302 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Olympics In The 1980s

    • 1942 Words
    • 8 Pages

    A long stretch of time known as the Cold War began and the Soviets and Americans were in a nuclear standoff which brought these two countries to Total War involving everything from daily life, except for war itself. Many important events came into play such as The Space Race, Cuban Missile Crisis, and the creation of Nato and the Warsaw Pact. An interview between President Nixon and Kruschev showed the two’s argument between Democracy and Communism and what helps the industrial…

    • 1942 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays