An essay attempt with notes on the IEB History Paper 1 2021 Question 3.
Note: it is slightly less than the word count required but the content can be used for studying.
How effective were Gorbachev's reforms in preserving Communism and the
Soviet state? Discuss with reference to events in Russia between 1985 and 1991.
Notes:
The goal of Gorbachev's reforms, which included glasnost (openness) and perestroika
(economic restructuring) policies, was to keep the Soviet state and Communism alive.
However, in the end, the reforms resulted in the Soviet Union's demise in 1991.
Numerous issues and inefficiencies that had been concealed under the previous regime
were brought to light as a result of the opening of Soviet society and economy.
Additionally, non-Russian republics experienced an increase in nationalism and a
weakening of the central government as a result of republics' increased autonomy and
decentralization of power. The failed coup attempt in 1991 further destabilized the
Soviet state and eventually resulted in the Soviet Union's demise and the formation of
the Russian Federation.
Potential Essay:
The goal of Gorbachev's reforms, which were implemented between 1985 and 1991,
was to safeguard both the Soviet state and the Communist ideology. However, in the
end, the reforms resulted in the Soviet Union's demise in 1991. In this essay, I will talk
about how Gorbachev's policies of glasnost, or openness, and perestroika, or economic
restructuring, were meant to keep Communism and the Soviet state together, and how
these policies ultimately led to the Soviet Union's demise.
When Gorbachev took over as the leader of the Soviet Union in 1985, he immediately
began enacting his glasnost and perestroika policies. The goal of Glasnost was to make
Soviet society more open and transparent. As a result, there was less censorship and
more freedom of speech. The Soviet economy was to be reorganized as part of
Perestroika in order to increase productivity and efficiency. Gorbachev was of the
opinion that these policies would contribute to the upkeep of the Soviet state and the
Communist ideology.
However, the implementation of glasnost and perestroika brought many issues and
inefficiencies that had been concealed by the previous administration to light. The
Soviet people were able to learn more about the real state of the Soviet economy and
society as censorship was eased. They discovered that there were serious issues with
corruption and inefficiency, and that the Soviet economy was not as robust as they had
been led to believe. Additionally, the Soviet people were informed of the Soviet
government's violations of human rights. Faith in the Soviet state and Communist
ideology was shaken as a result of these revelations.
Another important part of Gorbachev's reforms was to decentralize power and give
republics more freedom. In order to lessen Moscow's power concentration, he wanted to
give the republics more authority. The central government became less strong as a
result, and nationalist sentiments rose in non-Russian republics. The republics started
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