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| Question | Answer |
| Describe Khrushchev's early policies. | - He accepted that Austria should be an independent nation. - He signed the armistice regarding Korea (1953). |
| What happened in Hungary in 1956? | There was a revolt in Hungary, lead by Imre Nagy, a communist politician. The uprising was a consequence of Poland making far-reaching changes, and Hungarians wanting change as well. The Soviet Union intervened in Hungary and the consequence was very violent. |
| Describe the Virgin Land program and the results. | This was an attempt to make agriculture grow in south of Russia, known as the Caucasus. The land was barren and nothing was able to grow there. Hence, the result was catastrophic. |
| Why was Khrushchev forced to resign in 1964? | Khrushchev had placed secret nuclear weapons on Cuba. This was discovered by the US, and was an ultimate threat to the Americans. John F. Kennedy decided for international guards to be placed on the Bay of Pigs. Khrushchev now ordered to sent back the missiles. This gave an impression of weakness and led to that Khrushchev was outmaneuvered. |
| What were the problems with the Soviet economy in the early 1970s? | The economy completely stagnated. The USSR used 40% of its' state budget on army (military) expenditures. This was a too high cost for armament. The Space Race between the US and the USSR was also very costly. Agriculture was also a problem in the USSR (however, this hadn't been a problem in Russia). |
| Describe the growing opposition in the mid 1970s. | In 1975, the Helsinki Agreement was signed, by both the East and the West. Now, the borders from WWII were recognized, which was highly important for the USSR. Another focal point was that human rights ought to be respected. Dissidents referred to the agreement, as a platform. |
| Describe the Brezhnev doctrine. | The Brezhnev doctrine (a doctrine is a guiding principle in situations) declared that no one has the right to leave communism, and the USSR gave themselves the right to intervene anywhere where they felt that socialism was threatened. |
| Why was the USSR willing to participate in the détente process in the early 1970s? | The USSR needed grains and high technology. The USSR was lacking behind in terms of technology, compared to the West. |
| What did the Soviets do in Africa in the mid 1970s? Why did the Americans remained inactive during this time? | There were civil wars in Angola, Mozambique and in Ethiopia. The Soviet Union assisted in the wars, providing weaponry, the missiles from Cuba, and, most likely, advisors. They wanted to expand communism. The Americans remained inactive due to their history with the Vietnam war. |
| What happened in Afghanistan in April 1978? | The Afghan army seized power (left-wing rule) and executed the President and the Prime Minister, Lieutenant General Sardar Muhammad Daud Khan. |
| How successful was the new regime (PDPA)? | The newly formed government (People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan) faced factionalism within its own party ranks, opposition and the problems of a poor country. |
| Describe the Mujahideens and their supporters. | The Mujahideens were rebels in Afghanistan that fought against the Soviet Union and the DRA (Democratic Republic of Afghanistan). They were traditionalists, i.e. valuing islamic traditions and not accepting reformations. They were supported by the US, who gave them heavy weaponry. |
| What happened in December 1979? | The USSR invaded Afghanistan and invoked the Brezhnev doctrine to explain the invasion. In September a new leader emerged, called Amin. |
| What happened to Amin and who replaced him? | Soviet forces killed Amin and replaced him with Babrak Karmal, who supported the USSR. Karmal was another PDPA leader who had temporarily been deputy prime minister under Amin's rule. |
| Brezhnev passed away in 1982. Describe the situation in Afghanistan at that time. | Andropov, Brezhnev's successor had instigated by insisting on a Soviet invasion in 1979. The situation in Afghanistan had deteriorated and was the main source of discontent with the government at this time. |
| What were the effects of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to the USSR? | By 1982, the Soviet Politburo recognized that they had engaged in a war that they could not win, but they refused to admit defeat and withdrew their forces. The Soviet state budget had spent a significant amount of money on the invasion, and this incident discredited the USSR politically. |
| What happened politically in the USSR from 1982, when Brezhnev passed away until Gorbachev came to power in 1985? | Andropov succeeded Brezhnev. He changed many aspects in the Brezhnev camp with corruption and attempted to negate the "stability of cadres" in favor of more accountability. Andropov passed away and was succeeded by Chernenko, an old communist leader, in 1984. Chernenko was deadly sick, and during his time there were few changes. |
| Describe the "Soviet problems" when Gorbachev came to power in 1985. | - The Soviet state had been stagnant for too long and there was rising dissent (stagnant economy, GDP around 6%). - Gorbachev was the third successor in less than three years (political instability). - 40% of the state budget had been used for army expenditures. - There were problems in Poland (Solidarity) and in Afghanistan (because of the invasion). - The gap between the US and the USSR was constantly increasing. - The USSR was lacking behind in high technology. - Infant mortality was rising, between the 1960s and 1980s the average life expectancy had decreased by 6 years. - More people drank alcohol than payed taxes. |
| Describe Gorbachev's ideas on how to reconstruct the Soviet society. | He wanted to revitalize the communist party and maintain a socialist system of governance, through economic reform and political openness designed to modernize the state and satisfy the population. |
| Define "perestroika" and "glasnost". | * Perestroika = Economic reconstructing, as well as construction of bureaucracy. Decentralize deal over arms deal with the West, in order to "save" communism. * Glasnost = A policy emphasizing candor (honesty) with regard to discussion of social problems and shortcomings. Glasnost translates to "openness". |
| What happened in 1986? | - The 21st Party Congress took place. The prices were set to a market economy system. The system was decentralized, meaning that both the producer and the consumer knows what the item will cost. - The artist Sacharov was welcomed back to Russia, after having to live in exile. - The press was encouraged to be critical and the Soviet archives were opened. - The Chernobyl disaster occurred (in Ukraine), were a nuclear powerplant exploded. - There was a meeting in Geneva between the powers, but nothing was established. |
| What happened at the summit meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 1986? | The disarmament policies were discussed between Reagan (the US) and Gorbachev (the USSR). Gorbachev declared that the USSR would minimize the nuclear weapons with more than 50%. Reagan was very pleased about this. SDI (Strategic Defense Initiative) was intended to protect the US against missiles. Gorbachev didn't want the SDI, and stated that provided that the US gave it up, they would agree. This didn't please Reagan and the meeting collapsed. |
| What reforms were introduced in 1987? | - Law Un-cooperatives: Private companies (foreign trade) was allowed again. This was very significant and changed the press's "attitudes". - There were societal changes, in almost every aspect. |
| What happened at the summit meeting in Washington, the US, in 1987? | The meeting was a continuation of Reykjavik. All medium range missiles in Europe were destroyed. The meeting was between the US and the USSR. This was the first time they abolished the system, and it was very significant. The Iron-F treaty was signed at 14:16 (Nancy Reagan, wife of the president, wanted this specific timing because of astrological beliefs). |
| What happened in 1988, concerning Afghanistan, the Red Army and the satellites in Eastern Europe? | -88: The Soviet Union made an agreement to leave Afghanistan. -89: The USSR officially left Afghanistan. - 88: Gorbachev announced that the Brezhnev doctrine was dead and it was replaced with the Sinatra doctrine ("I did it my way..."). |
| List some events from 1989. | * Solidarity was legalized in Poland. There were free elections, which brought a non-communist to power. * In May, Gorbachev visited China. Students were demonstrating for freedom. After he had left, the regime ordered the massacre at Tiananman Square. The Chinese were not going to follow the USSR. * The Hungarian border to Austria was opened, i.e. the Iron Curtain was falling apart. * The USSR left Afghanistan. * Communist parties lost power in satellites like Czechoslovakia, Poland, East Germany, Hungary and Romania. * In November, the symbol of the Cold War, the Berlin Wall, came down. |
| Explain military factors as reasons for the fall of communism in the USSR. [External factor] | 40% of the Soviet state budget had been used for defense and arms for a significant amount of time (years). This was very costly. |
| Explain nationalism as reasons for the fall of communism in the USSR. [External factor] | The Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) and satellites in Eastern Europe saw glasnost as an opportunity to speak up. They declared that they no longer wished to be a part of the USSR. One can argue that Gorbachev offered a platform for nationalism with glasnost. |
| Other factors involved as reasons for the fall of communism in the USSR. [External factor] | - Oil prices quadrupled in Saudi Arabia, i.e. 75% increase. It has later been known that the US made the Saudis do this, to break down the USSR. - Failure of planned economy. - Use of terror (undermined the legitimacy). - The Congress of People's Deputy (1989) where non-communists were elected. This was televised and people could openly see the criticism that communism faced. - Glasnost eroded the system. One can hence blame Gorbachev for being naïve. |
| Development in the Third World as reasons for the fall of communism in the USSR. [External factor] | The Third World countries were leaning towards capitalism. Countries which had Marxist economies were bad off, compared to countries with capitalism that were highly wealthy. One may wonder, is there something wrong with the Marxist idea of planned economy? |
| The system of planned economy as reasons for the fall of communism in the USSR. [Internal factor] | Planned economy means that a large proportion of the economy is owned and controlled by the state. Planned economy doesn't generate as much growth, compared to market economy, as there is no competition. The system of planned economy ultimately led to the stagnation/halt of the economy. The economic growth of the USSR had been going down since the late 1950s. In the USSR in the 1980s there was no growth in the economy. |
| Political changes as reasons for the fall of communism in the USSR. [Internal factor] | * Perestroika: Economic reconstructing. * Glasnost: Roughly translated to "openness". People could freely speak their mind. * More democratic stand and rejection of Brezhnev doctrine. * Archives: Gorbachev opened the archives with all the cruelty committed by the former USSr leaders. |
| Lack of timing as reasons for the fall of communism in the USSR. [Internal factor] | * Gorbachev reformed the USSR too quickly. The country had a history of terror (74 years with the Soviet Union and the years prior with the Tsars). * Gorbachev also inherited problems from his predecessors, such as the invasion of Afghanistan. * Gorbachev reformed the country all while oil prices quadrupled in Saudi Arabia and he couldn't afford paying salaries to the workers of the USSR. * Gorbachev's anti-alcohol campaign regarding vodka should perhaps have been done in stages, as Gorbachev was aware of how much the Soviets consumed alcohol (in particular, vodka). * Congress of People's Deputies: This was televised and non-communists were allowed to meet and discuss communism and their opinions. One can argue that Gorbachev gave an "open scene" to non-communists to sway the people's opinions. |
| How do you explain the fall of communism in the USSR? | A combination between internal and external factors. |
| Do you think that Gorbachev was too naïve and caused the fall of the empire or do you admire him? | I admire Gorbachev, but I do believe he was too naïve as he truly believed the satellites would remain loyal to the Soviet Union, even though they had the brutal history with Gorbachev's predecessors. For me, it seems very unlikely that they would remain loyal, given their history. |
| Name historians that support fall of communism in the USSR on both internal and external factors. | Internal factors: Bell, Shevardnaze and Dobrynin (Soviet Ambassador in Washington). External factors: Kennan and Richard Pipes. |
| What happened in Czechoslovakia in 1968? | In January 1968, Dubček became Party First Secretary. The reformists had gained the upper hand and in April articulated their political aims in an Action Program. This was the key moment in what became known as the Prague Spring. The document called for increased democratization, including more open debate with representatives of other groups in the society, the use of opinion polls to inform policy, a relaxation of censorship, the freedom to travel abroad and grater autonomy for Slovakia. |
| Describe the policy of normalization. | The Communist party was purged of reformers, censorship was restored, travel restrictions were reimposed, the maximum period of detention without trial was extended, and there was a return to centralized economic control. Everything returned to "normal" hence the name of the policy. |
| Describe Charter 77. | Charter 77 was an opposition group in Czechoslovakia who was based on a petition calling on the government to respect its own commitment to the 1975 Helsinki Agreements/Accords on human rights. |
| Describe the Sinatra Doctrine. | The Sinatra Doctrine name was based on the American singer Frank Sinatra's song "My Way". The Sinatra Doctrine gave each satellite the right and freedom to "Do it their way." The threat of Soviet intervention had been removed (1988) and the Brezhnev doctrine was officially dead. |
| Describe the economic development and how the opposition grew. | The widening gap between the East and the West was impossible to hide in an age of improved communication, in which Western media was more high-tech than the East. Encouraged by fresh winds blowing from Moscow, increasing numbers of Czechs and Slovaks were prepared to voice their opposition to the regime. One example is the "Bratislava Aloud", which published a report in 1987, criticizing the government's disregard for the environment. |
| Describe the fall of the regime and the Velvet revolution. | The Velvet Revolution (Czech) or the Gentle Revolution (Slovak) was a non-violent transition of power in Czechoslovakia. The upheaval took place between November 17 to December 29, 1989. Popular demonstrations against the one-party government started and after 41 years of communist rule in Czechoslovakia a conversion to a parliamentary republic began. |
| What happened in Poland in 1956? | A revolution that half-succeeded. Polish discontent was channelled through and resolved by the Party. Polish workers rioted. They wished for more freedom. Khrushchev negotiated with the Poles. |
| What happened in Poland in 1970? | By the 1970s, circumstances had changed and a full revolution took place. There were strikes regarding the increase in food prices (around 36% increase). 56 people were killed in the riots. |
| Around 1976, there was another crisis in Poland. Why? | There was a strike in 1976 as the food prices were increased once more, without a sign of warning to the population. The result of riot and violent state retribution (punishment for wrongdoing or criminal act), but again the Party gave way and the increase in food prices was withdrawn. |
| Describe the origins of Solidarity. | Solidarity can be traced back to events in December 1970. Just before Christmas (1970), the party decided to increase food prices by 36%. Solidarity was a free trade union. It constituted of a new generation with more intellectuals, that were unsatisfied. Gdansk is the birth-town of Solidarity. |
| Why is it embarrassing in a communist country with a free trade union? | Communism/socialism is about planned economy and not about trade. Trade is distinct for capitalism. Communism's idea is that it represents the workers worldwide, so there is no need for a trade union. |
| Describe the KOR. | This was a group of intellectuals, who initially organized the legal defense of the workers, who had led the protests in 1970. They also produced, by an underground press, uncensored press, uncensored journals and newspapers, such as Robotnik. |
| Explain the significance of the Catholic Church. | The newly elected Pope (elected in 1978) was a Pole, and took the name John Paul II. He had a simple message to the people of Poland: "The future of Poland will depend upon how many people are mature enough to be non-conformists." The Church stood behind to lead a nation against Soviet control, and became an enormous symbol of opposition. |
| What happened in Poland in 1980? | An unrest was caused by economic problems. Poland's international debt had risen drastically and as a result, food prices increased. The sporadic strikes that resulted were contained through judicious, localized pay rises. The USSR couldn't use the Red Army in Poland because of their intervention in Afghanistan at the same period. |
| Why was August 31, 1980 a unique day? | A unique situation was reached whereby an independent trade union could represent the workers against the workers' state. In other words, Solidarity was legalized, which was of major importance. However, Solidarity was only allowed to be legalized in 469 days. |
| What did Solidarity achieve in the 469 days? | - Created a social and political pluralism that had never before been achieved in the Eastern Bloc. - Gave local groups a national focus. - Successfully opposed the introduction of two working Saturdays, but had to accept one. - 10 million members within months (very significant). |
| What did the problems in Bydgoszcz lead to? (March 1981) | A Solidarity demonstration in favor of Rural Solidarity was violently halted by the security forces. This led to a four-hour strike, called in by Solidarity. Walesa and the leadership reached a compromise agreement with the government, which satisfied no one. This resulted in division on both sides of the disputes. |
| Was Jaruzelski successful with his martial laws? | This was an attempt to restrict normal life by crushing the political opposition. Thousands of opposition activists were jailed without charge and as many as 100 were killed. However, this cannot be compared to the "normalization" policy in Czechoslovakia. Hence, Jaruzelski could prevent Solidarity, but it was still a disaster. |
| How did Jaruzelski react when Gorbachev introduced his reforms in the mid 1980s? (1985) | Jaruzelski was quick to change sides and tactics. In September 1986, he granted an amnesty to all people who had been detained during martial law. He quickly became Gorbachev's most open supporter of glasnost and oversaw the most liberalized of Eastern Bloc societies. |
| What happened in November, 1987? | In 1987, the Polish economy was once again on the verge of collapse. The government proposed some radical reforms, including the creation of private firms. In November 1987, the government conducted a national referendum asking the public for their approval of the changes. |
| What did Jaruzelski offer Walesa in 1988? How did he manage to make the communist party to accept it? | If Walesa could get the strikes called off, the government offered to discuss the legalization of Solidarity. Only the threat of Jaruzelski's resignation in January 1989 forced the decision through. |
| Who participated in the round table discussions in February 1989? What was the outcome of the round table discussions? | It was between the Church, the government, the opposition in terms of political parties, intellectuals and trade unions, including Solidarity. The outcome was that Solidarity was legally recognized and would be given minority representation in the new parliament. New and free elections were also agreed upon. |
| In June, 1989, there were free elections for the first time in a communist country. What were the results? | Upper house (Senate): 99/100 seats won by Solidarity candidates. Lower house (Sejm): 161/161 seats won by Solidarity candidates. |
| Summarize the reasons for the fall of communism in Poland. | - Gorbachev (Gorby). - Economic problems. - Strikes. - Solidarity (Bydgoszcz). - KOR. - Catholic Church. - Jaruzelski. - The offer (1988). |
| How shall we describe East Germany as a communist state? | * |
| Why was the development in Hungary in the summer of 1989 so important? | * |
| What was the difference between Honecker and Jaruzelski concerning the development in the Eastern Bloc? | * |
| What did Gorbachev do when he visited the country in 1989? | * |
| Describe East German television. | People in East Germany could watch West German television. First, they were watching the state controlled news from their own country and directly after that they could see news from the West, which were not censored. Imagine the impact this had in the East. |
| Why was Leipzig important in the development? | * |
| Krentz, the new leader who succeeded Honecker in the autumn of 1989, could never establish real political control since everything collapsed. What question was most important to the population? | * |
| How did the Berlin Wall come down? | * |
| Rank what you think are the most important reasons for the fall of communism in East Germany. | * |
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