CHAPTER 2 – THE END OF BIPOLARITY
What was the Soviet System?
● The Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) came after the Socialist
Revolution in Russia in 1917. The revolution was inspired by the ideas of
socialism and the need for an egalitarian society.
● After the 2nd world war, the East European countries that the Soviet army
had liberated from the fascist forces came under the control of the USSR
the political and the economic system of these countries were modelled
after the USSR. This group was called the second world or the ‘Socialist
Bloc’.
● The Soviet Union became a great power and the soviet economy became
more developed than the rest of the world except for the US.
1. It has a complex communication network.
2. It has vast resource like oil, iron and steel.
3. It has a transport sector that connected its remotest.
4. It has a domestic consumer industry that produced everything from
pins to cars.
5. It ensured a minimum standard of living for all citizens and the
government.
6. There was no employment. Land and productivity assets were
owned and controlled by the Soviet State.
● The Soviet System however started having a downfall because –
1. It became very bureaucratic and authoritarian making life very
difficult for its citizens.
2. Lack of democracy and the absence of freedom of speech stifled
people and the citizens were not happy.
3. The one party system represented by the Communist Party of the
Soviet Union had tight control over all institutions and was
unaccountable to the people.
4. Among the fifteen republics, Russia was the only republic and
dominated everything and people from other regions felt neglected
and often suppressed.
5. The Soviet Union managed to match the US in the arms race but at a
great cost. It lagged in technology, infrastructure and most
Page 1 of 7
, importantly is fulfilling the political or economic aspirations of
citizens.
6. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 weakened the system
more. Wages continued to grow and productivity fell. This also led
to shortages in all consumer goods.
● Role of Mikhail Gorbachev in disintegration of USSR –
Mikhail Gorbachev, who was the General Secretary of the Communist Party
of the Soviet Union brought about reforms.
1. Reformation of Policy:- Gorbachev introduced 2 policy reforms
namely Perestroika and Glasnost which means restructuring and
openness. According to him, reforms were necessary to keep the
USSR almost the information and technology revolution in the west.
2. Conflict within the Soviet Union:- Gorbachev decision to normalize
relations with the west and democratic and reform the Soviet Union
was strongly opposed and protested by the people in the East
European countries. The reforms were opposed by the leaders
within the Communist Party as well. This escalated crisis within the
USSR and communist regimes collapsed one after another.
3. Sensitivity of People:- The people by the under Gorbachev tasted
freedom and did not wanted the old-style rule of the communist
party. Boris Yeltsin emerged as a national hero, who won the
popular election in Russia and shifted the power from the Soviet
centre to the republics.
Nationalism in Republics:- The Europeanised part of the Soviet Union saw
themselves as sovereign states whereas the Central Asia remained with the
soviet federation. Under the leadership of Yeltsin, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus
declared that the Soviet Union was disbanded. The Communist Party was banned
and capitalism and democracy were adopted.
● Formation of the Common Wealth Independent States:- The declaration on
the disintegration of the USSR led to the formation of the common wealth
of Independent states. Russia was accepted as the successor state of the
Soviet Union and inherited the Soviet seat in the UN Security Council. It
took over as the only unclear state of the post-soviet space. The old Soviet
Union was thus dead the buried.
Causes of Disintegration
1. Internal weakness of Soviet political and economic institutions:-
Institutions in Soviet failed to meet the aspiration of the people due to
Page 2 of 7
What was the Soviet System?
● The Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) came after the Socialist
Revolution in Russia in 1917. The revolution was inspired by the ideas of
socialism and the need for an egalitarian society.
● After the 2nd world war, the East European countries that the Soviet army
had liberated from the fascist forces came under the control of the USSR
the political and the economic system of these countries were modelled
after the USSR. This group was called the second world or the ‘Socialist
Bloc’.
● The Soviet Union became a great power and the soviet economy became
more developed than the rest of the world except for the US.
1. It has a complex communication network.
2. It has vast resource like oil, iron and steel.
3. It has a transport sector that connected its remotest.
4. It has a domestic consumer industry that produced everything from
pins to cars.
5. It ensured a minimum standard of living for all citizens and the
government.
6. There was no employment. Land and productivity assets were
owned and controlled by the Soviet State.
● The Soviet System however started having a downfall because –
1. It became very bureaucratic and authoritarian making life very
difficult for its citizens.
2. Lack of democracy and the absence of freedom of speech stifled
people and the citizens were not happy.
3. The one party system represented by the Communist Party of the
Soviet Union had tight control over all institutions and was
unaccountable to the people.
4. Among the fifteen republics, Russia was the only republic and
dominated everything and people from other regions felt neglected
and often suppressed.
5. The Soviet Union managed to match the US in the arms race but at a
great cost. It lagged in technology, infrastructure and most
Page 1 of 7
, importantly is fulfilling the political or economic aspirations of
citizens.
6. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 weakened the system
more. Wages continued to grow and productivity fell. This also led
to shortages in all consumer goods.
● Role of Mikhail Gorbachev in disintegration of USSR –
Mikhail Gorbachev, who was the General Secretary of the Communist Party
of the Soviet Union brought about reforms.
1. Reformation of Policy:- Gorbachev introduced 2 policy reforms
namely Perestroika and Glasnost which means restructuring and
openness. According to him, reforms were necessary to keep the
USSR almost the information and technology revolution in the west.
2. Conflict within the Soviet Union:- Gorbachev decision to normalize
relations with the west and democratic and reform the Soviet Union
was strongly opposed and protested by the people in the East
European countries. The reforms were opposed by the leaders
within the Communist Party as well. This escalated crisis within the
USSR and communist regimes collapsed one after another.
3. Sensitivity of People:- The people by the under Gorbachev tasted
freedom and did not wanted the old-style rule of the communist
party. Boris Yeltsin emerged as a national hero, who won the
popular election in Russia and shifted the power from the Soviet
centre to the republics.
Nationalism in Republics:- The Europeanised part of the Soviet Union saw
themselves as sovereign states whereas the Central Asia remained with the
soviet federation. Under the leadership of Yeltsin, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus
declared that the Soviet Union was disbanded. The Communist Party was banned
and capitalism and democracy were adopted.
● Formation of the Common Wealth Independent States:- The declaration on
the disintegration of the USSR led to the formation of the common wealth
of Independent states. Russia was accepted as the successor state of the
Soviet Union and inherited the Soviet seat in the UN Security Council. It
took over as the only unclear state of the post-soviet space. The old Soviet
Union was thus dead the buried.
Causes of Disintegration
1. Internal weakness of Soviet political and economic institutions:-
Institutions in Soviet failed to meet the aspiration of the people due to
Page 2 of 7
