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Summary Causes of the Collapse of the USSR (Grade 12 IEB)
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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
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