Summary
Summary Causes of the Collapse of the USSR (Grade 12 IEB)
- Course
- Institution
Detailed summary, easy to read and understand, created by pupil who got an 'A' in history for final Matric exam 2019.
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
leahf
Reviews received
Content preview
The Collapse of USSR Information Sheet 2GRADE 12 HISTORY
IF 2. CAUSES FOR THE COLLAPSE OF THE USSR
A. INTERNAL CAUSES
GORBACHEV – THE MAN
Undoubtedly the most important internal cause for the collapse of the USSR was Mikhail
Gorbachev, himself. Not that he set out intentionally to destroy the Soviet Union, on the
contrary. His aim was to improve it and make it wealthier. He also never meant to see an
end to communism, to his dying day he was a communist. But he initiated events and
policies that spiralled out of his control.....
GORBACHEV’S POLICIES OF REFORM
As discussed in Information Sheet 1, the policies of Glastnost, Perestroika and
Democratisation were the most instrumental internal reasons for the collapse of the
USSR.
A FAILING ECONOMY
The arms race expenditure had led to bankruptcy in the Soviet Union. On top of that the
Soviets were dependent on the USA for wheat and other commodities.
Internally too, the standards of living were very low with many people living below the
bread line.
B. EXTERNAL CAUSES FOR THE COLLAPSE OF THE USSR
CHERNOBYL
Mikhail Gorbachev was appointed General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet
Union on 11th March 1985. The Chernobyl nuclear disaster occurred in the USSR the
following year. This horrific incident made Gorbachev realise that communism needed to
be reformed in Russia.
AFGHANISTAN
In 1979 the USSR had sent troops into Afghanistan, to back a newly elected pro-Soviet
government there. It was being challenged by the Mujaheddin, anti-communist Islamic
fighters backed by Pakistan and the USA. The Soviet government wanted them defeated
because it feared that Islamic extremisms might influence the large Muslim population
living in the USSR. Despite superior weapons, the Soviet armed forces could not crush the
Page 1
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller leahf. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $2.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
77254 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now