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Summary Post Cold War
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POST COLD WARGorbachev’s Reforms in the Soviet Union
Gorbachev’s Situation:
- In 1985 Gorbachev became the Secretary-General of Soviet Communist Party
• Lifelong communist and believed in the ideology but was not as intense as predecessors
- Wanted to improve the economy by bettering industrial output and technology as well as
expanding its markets
- The cost of the Cold War weakened their economy:
• Arms Race
• Space Race
• Control of Satellite States in Eastern Europe
• War in Afghanistan
• Various other proxy wars
- Soviet Central Planning Committee was corrupt and inefficient; this led to a decrease in industrial
production and efficient farming practices
• Standard of living was lower than Satellite States
• Severe food and good shortages
• Imported grain from USA and other western countries
• Bad health standards and health care
• Inflation rose drastically
Gorbachev’s Aims:
- Restructure and restore economy by removing government influence
- Introduced Perestroika: encouraged competition and provided incentives
- Reduce military spending
- Encourage Western investment in Soviet Union
- Create a culture of transparency
- Allow elections, which would have a limited effect and power would still remain with the
Communist Party
Perestroika and Glasnost:
Perestroika: re-structuring Glasnost: Openness
Aimed to increase profits Aimed to create transparency
Remove corruption Be more democratic
Provide affordable goods More freedom from Government control
Remove central planning by the government in Have leaders who listen to the people and who
the economy accept criticism
Ensure everyone did their jobs properly Media freedom
Provide platforms for economy to re-structure Freedom of speech
HM 1 of 9
, Poland
Background:
- Poland had become a Russian Satellite State after it had been liberated from the Nazi’s (WW2)
- Many Polish citizens did not enjoy the Soviet Union:
• They were a one-party, communist state and free elections were banned
• They made religious praise difficult which was tough for the majority, who were Roman
Catholic Church
• Food, goods and fuel shortages were an issue which led to a spike in prices (inflation)
• Limited workers benefits
• Trade Unions were banned
Solidarity:
- Workers organisation led by Lech Walesa
- Formation of Solidarity occurred 17 September 1980
- First independent trade union which existed in a Soviet Satellite State
- Much of Polands labour force were struggling as they were unable to buy daily necessities and
their wages remained low
- All its members were anti-communist
- Support grew:
• Polish were loyal to the Roman Catholic Church. This was later emphasises when the
newly elected Polish Pope, Pope John Paul II, showed his support for Poland
• Support from the CIA as they (Reagan) believed this would be a good way to undermine
the communist movement
- 17000 workers at the Gdansk shipyard protested for freedom and justice
• This led to a wave of uprisings throughout Poland
• More unions were formed
• International media coverage of the strikes
- Government gave in and sent Government Commission to Gdansk which gave formal approval to
the workers demands:
• Form labour unions independent of Communist Party control
• Strike
- Gdansk Agreement meant:
• Workers concerns would be represented
• Democratic changes could be introduced into the communist political structure
- Fearful in using violence as a means of retaliation
- March 1981: 27 members were assaulted by the state police during a National Council meeting
which led to:
• Poland standstill
• Largest strikes in history of the Eastern Bloc
How the Soviet Union reacted:
- Soviet Union added pressure to the Polish government as they were loosing control
- General Wojciech Jaruzelski was put in charge:
• December 1981: declared Martial Law (military policing with military laws)
• Arrested 5000 members, including Walesa
• Expanded censorship and police force
• Silenced strikes which resulted in 7 deaths
HM 2 of 9
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