Zusammenfassung der Ressource
The Disintegration of the
USSR
- The Nationalities
Problem
- The USSR was a federation of 15
different republics of which the Russian
Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
(RSFSR) was by far the largest.
- The collapse of Communism
in many countries meant
that nationalism had made
a return and the collapse of
the economy removed any
further incentive to stay in
the USSR.
- The Baltic States
- Estonia Latvia and Lithuania had
been occupied by 4diffrent
nations since the first world war.
Perestroika and Glasnost had
encouraged reforms and to press
for independence. In 1988,
Popular fronts made up of
coalition reformers formed in all
3 republics. In February of 1990
local elections were held
throughout the USSR and
pro-independence candidates
won in all 3 republic states.
March Lithuania and Latvia
declared independence and in
May so did Latvia.
- Gorbahev's
Reaction
- He initially moves against the Baltics becoming independent
as he wants to keep the USR whole at all costs. He imposes
and economic blockade on Lithuania in April 1990 and in
January 1991 stationed troops in all 3 states on the pretext
of searching for military deserters. In Vilnius Lithuania, they
seized radio and TV centres killing 13 civilians but after
massive public demonstrations had to withdraw. 11 of Jan
Bush contacted Gorbachev to epxress his concern. The
violence had stegthened the fighters will for Independence
- Armenian-Azerbaijan Confilct
- The most serious part of this conflict occurred
in Caucasus region and was between
Christian Armenians and Muslim
Azerbaijan.The Nagorno-Karabakh district,
populated by Armenians was given to
Azerbaijan by Stalin in 1923. Glasnost enabled
rallies to be held in the Winter of 1987-88 and
demand its return by the Armenians. In
Febuary1988 after growing demonstrations,
Nagorno-Karabakh voted to merge with
Armenia. Gorbachev vetoes this and
anti-Armenian riots emerged in Azerbaijan.
- Gorbachev removes both leaders but the
failure to resolve the confilctled to growing
Nationalism in both countries. Early 1988
Armenian intellectuals and nationalist
formed theKarabakh comittee to organise a
campaign for the return of the region. In
opposition the this the Popular front of
Azerbaijan was formed in July 1988 which
aimed at independence from the USSR and
the retention of the region.
- Blockade
of
Armenia
- July 1988 the region was placed
under direct control of Moscow. In
hope of a lasting solution
Gorbachev let the matter be
handled by the USSR's Supreme
Soviet. This voted on however to
keep in in control of Azerbaijan.
However the Armenian Supreme
Soviet decided to integrate it into
Armenia anyway. This lead to the
Azerbaijan Popular Front (APF) to
have a rail blockade. This lead to
food and pertol shortages. It also
held demonstration in Baku the
capital which degenrated into
riots against the local Armenians
of which at least 91 werre killed.
APF then decided to declare a
state of emrgency and the
following day its members siezed
goverrnment and Communist
party buildings.
- Gorbachev responds by declaring
Martial Law and sending in Soviet
troops. Th break the APF blockades
attacking protestors killing over 130.
It regains control of Baku however
the population was completely
alienated. Most of Baku's
population attends the mass
funerals of the protestors.
- Georgia
- The independence movements in the
Baltic and Transcaucasia inspire similar
movements here. 7-8 of April troops
were used after more than 100000
people gathered in front of Government
offices calling for independence. 19
were killed and 200 wounded. This
helped radicalise Georgian politics
leading many to believe that that
independence was preferable over
Soviet Rule.
- Central Asia Republics
- Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Gorbachev's attempts to purge the
Local communist Party organisation of corrupt officials triggers a
nationalist backlash which leads both to vote in becoming
independent. 1986 Gorbachev replaces Kazakh leader with a
Russian. Seen as humiliating and evidence of further Russian
domination. 16 Dec rioting breaks out in cities all over the
country. The government arrests thousands in crackdown.
- In Uzbekistan, it was equally clumsy. 18000
Uzbek members of the communist party
dismissed and replaced on the whole by
Russians who knew little about the
country or language triggering nationalism
which wanted ethnic Uzbek rule and
independence.
- Moldavia
- The Democratic Movement
of Moldova (DMM) was
formed in 1988 to campaign
for greater independence
from the USSR. It took the
form of the demand for
Moldovan traditions and the
recognition of Moldovan as
the official language.
- On the 31 of August 1989 it
succefully got a new
language law implemented
to make Moldovan the
official language. In 1990 it
became the largest part for
the elections of the Supreme
Soviet.
- Ukraine
- This was of paramount importance
to Russia as it was the second
largest Republic. If this fell then the
USSR would be irrepairibly damged.
Lvov became a centre of protests
which demanded greater tolernce of
Christians and culture. Initially
attempts were made to end these
but this became much more difuclut
when the Republic wide Ukranian
Popular Front Movemewas created
in 1989. Oct 1990 declared its goal
wasd to no longer to be autonomy
witht eh USSR but for complete
independence.
- Belarus
- Again inspire by the Baltic state Popular fronts the
Belarus Popular front was formed in 1988 as it
demanded democracy and independence. The
discovery of mass graves in the woods outside Minsk
of those executed by the NKVD during Stalin's era
added momentum to this. It was argued only complete
independence would protect Belarus from this
reocurring.
- Russia
- Elections had taken place for the Congress of
People's Deputies in March/April 1990 and gave
a majority to reformers and outright oponetns
of Communism. Clear that the 1920's USSR was
doomed. Yeltsin now Gorbachev's rival
emerged as the leading politician in Russia and
elected as chairman of congress. 12 june
congress declared Russia was independent and
that its laws took precedent over the Supreme
Soviet of the UHSSR. It did not however rule
out the negotiation of a new federation
therefore.
- End of the USSR
- Gorbachev drafts a New Union Treaty Nov
1990. March 1991 a referendum is held on
the question f forming a new union by
the members of the USSR. They were
asked whether they supported the idea
or not. Referendum boycotted by Baltics,
Gergia, Moldavia and Armenia but in the
others it was supported.
- Gorbachev under threat
- He was increasingly weak as he had not been
elected and had a weak power base. He had
two opposition quarters. 1- Communists in
the army, party, KGB who thought his
policies had caused the fall of the USSR. 2-
reformers like Yeltsin.
- Coup 18/19 August 1991
- On August 18 2 days before the union treaty was
to come into effect leading Communists who
opposed the change made a last ditched effort
to save the USSR. They launched an abortive
Coup in Moscow while Gorbachev was on
holiday. No public backing meant rebels
collapsed. Yeltsin rallied crowds against the
Coup. Gorbachev sidelined as he was on holiday
and Yeltsin hailed as a hero of Russia. The
Communist party was made illegal in Russia.
- End of the USSR
- The republics that agreed to the Union
treaty refused to implement it.
Gorbachev attempts to redraft it but
they all reject it. Ukraine then decides
on complete independence killing the
USSR after a referendum. Ukraine,
Russia and Belarus the establish the
Commonwealth of Independent Staes
(CIS) which was joined by Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Kazakstan,Kyrgyzstan,
Moldova, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and
Uzbekistan. Georgia joins later. On
Christmas Day, 1991 Gorbachev resigns
and by the 31 of Dec the USSR ceases to
exist. The new CIS organisation was a
ghost organisation.