The Collapse of the Soviet Union, 1985-1991

The collapse of the Soviet experiment was one of the major turning points in twentieth century history. During the period of 'perestroika' the Soviet Union took the first steps to becoming a civil society and started to re-examine it's Stalinist past. This new text examines the Gorbachev years, asks why the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, and offers a succinct and accessible interpretation of the remarkable events that led to the collapse.

Autorentext

David R. Marples is Professor of History at the University of Alberta.

Zusammenfassung
Why did the Soviet Union collapse in 1991?The collapse of the Soviet Union has widely been seen as the result of the arms race and Cold War, and the failure of the Soviet side to keep pace with new technology. This book argues that the disintegration was mainly a result of two interrelated factors: the rise of the Soviet national republics, and the manipulation of the new Russian presidency by Boris Yeltsin in what became a direct power struggle between Yeltsin and the Soviet leader, Gorbachev.Written in a clear and accessible manner, the book provides:an explanation of how the national question came to dominate Soviet politics by 1990-1 analysis of the economic crisis that occurred in the late 1980s a chapter devoted to the year 1991, from the referendum to reform the Soviet Union to the unforeseen dissolution of the country by December a discussion of the personalities of and political confrontation between the two key statesman: Gorbachev and Yeltsin Also containing a Chronology, Glossary and Who's Who of key figures, The Collapse of the Soviet Union is essential reading for students of twentieth century European history.

Inhalt

INTRODUCTION
PART ONE: BACKGROUND

1. GORBACHEV COMES TO POWER
   Political Overview
   Glasnost
   Social, Environmental, and Nuclear Power Issues
   PART TWO: THE YEARS OF PERESTROIKA
2. THE ECONOMY AND FOREIGN POLICY
   The Economy, 1985-90
   Acceleration and Anti-Alcohol Campaigns
   Coal Miners' Strike
   Economic Reform Programmes
   Stagnation
   The Pavlov Programme
   Foreign Policy
   Ideology and Propaganda
   Arms Control
   Architects of Soviet Foreign Policy
   Eastern Europe
   Ending the Cold War
   
   3. THE NATIONAL QUESTION
      The Submerged Dilemma
      Nagorno-Katabakh
      The Baltic States
      Georgia, Ukraine, and Belarus
      The Plenum on National Policy, September 1989
3. DOMESTIC POLITICS, 1989-MID-AUGUST 1991
   The Congress of People's Deputies and New Presidency
   The 28th Party Congress and Aftermath
   The Referendum of 17 March 1991
   Toward a New Union Treaty
4. THE PUTSCH AND THE COLLAPSE OF THE USSR
   The Putsch, 18-21 August 1991
   Administrative Changes
   The Failure of the Union Treaty
   Yeltsin Consolidates His Power
   The Belavezha Agreement
   PART THREE: ASSESSMENT
5. WHY DID THE SOVIET UNION COLLAPSE?
   PART FOUR: DOCUMENTS
   Chronology
   Glossary
   Who's Who
   Guide to Further Reading