Soviet system would not be able to last for so long if elements of democratic rule existed within the system in greater extent. If the Soviet Communistic system has been associated with systematic flows and was doomed for failure, how the system was able to survive for almost seven decades reaching its peak during the period from mid 1960s to mid 1980s? Major US and European companies were provided with opportunities of entering new markets through exporting, formation of joint-ventures, initiating wholly-owned subsidiaries, franchising, licensing and other new market entry strategies. They had come to demand, in the name of the State Committee for the State of Emergency in the U.S.S.R., that Gorbachev sign a document declaring a state of emergency and transferring power to his vice president, Gennady Yanayev. According to research, the United States and the Soviet Union had built so many nuclear weapons at that time that the entire earth could be destroyed by more than 200 times. Nevertheless, due to the range of reasons discussed below the existence of USSR came to its end officially in 1991. At the age of 54, Mikhail Gorbachev became the youngest Soviet leader since Joseph Stalin, and his appointment by Politburo – central apparatus of Communistic party was warmly welcomed by the majority of Soviet people. However, solution of issues raised by protesters was only possible by introducing profound changes in economic system. It’s not the day ofthe Belovezha Accords, nor theAugust coup [of 1991]. The planned signing on August 20 of a new union treaty that would have weakened central control over the republics appeared to explain the timing of the coup. 5, Issue: 2, Kratsev, I. 'Causes of the Collapse of the USSR', in Dallin A. and Lapidus G. W. (ed), The Soviet System: From Crisis to Collapse, revised edition, Westview Press, Boulder, 1995, … The event that pushed the Soviet Union into the history books was the failed coup of August 1991, when communist hard-liners tried to remove Gorbachev from office, and put in place a more Stalinist system - within two months of this coup the Soviet … Furthermore, it can be convincingly argued that regardless of motives, US military interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq and a range of other countries during the last two decades might have been prevented if not for the collapse of the Soviet Union. Why did it collapse? He later issued a presidential edict declaring the coup illegal and the plotters “criminals” and “traitors.” Russian officials were not to obey the orders of the Emergency Committee. Collapse of the Soviet Union, sequence of events that led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union on December 31, 1991. The Soviet Union’s collapse not only threw economic systems and trade relations throughout Eastern Europe into a tailspin, it also produced the upheaval in many Eastern European countries and led to increased crime rates and corruption within the Russian government. Boris N. Yeltsin (centre) standing on an armoured vehicle parked in front of the White House in Moscow, with supporters holding a Russian Federation flag, August 19, 1991. The U.S.S.R. Economic factors have played an immense role in the collapse of the Soviet Union and this role relates to the negative impacts of centrally-planned economic system. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, The rise of Yeltsin and the foundation of post-Soviet Russia, Independence movements and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, https://www.britannica.com/event/the-collapse-of-the-Soviet-Union, RT Russiapedia - Russia after the Soviet Union, Center for European Studies - The Fall of the Soviet Union, Boris Yeltsin; collapse of the Soviet Union, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, 1922–91. Many factors affected the Soviet Union's economy including the nuclear race, the Chernobyl disaster, and the war against Afghanistan. However, Leningrad’s mayor, Anatoly Sobchak, returned from Moscow by air, aided by KGB agents who opposed the coup. There were several major causes for the collapse of the Soviet Union. Implications associated with the collapse of USSR have been found to relate to both levels – economic and political. Explaining the collapse of the Soviet system is different to explaining the causes of perestroika . The Soviet collapse has also shown that a socialist culture of war cannot win out over a capitalist culture of war on economic terms, and we need a new strategy for revolution in the 21st Century. Sobchak rallied the opposition and appealed to soldiers to hand over officers who had helped organize the coup. During USSR's economic crisis, military officials and politicians kept their luxurious lives while the general public suffered from extreme poverty. The failure of the State of Emergency Committee to achieve its objectives because of active intervention of Boris Yeltsin and refusal of Muscovites to give up their newly obtained freedom had confirmed irreversibility of dramatic changes in the union of states that was known as USSR. The collapse of the Soviet Union at the end of 1991 marked the beginning of Russia’s transition from a communist system to a market-based economy and democratic political system. Examines the collapse of the Soviet Union, discussing the events leading up to it; the impact of economic policies, the rise of communism, and military buildup; and its lasting effect … But there were more immediate causes for the collapse. The Cold War dominated the second half of the 20th century, resulting in the collapse of communism. In March of 1985, the Soviet Union gained a new leader -- Mikhail Gorbachev. Other titles in the Cause & Effect in History series Go to eBook The Fall of the Soviet Union occurred after decades of economic chaos and a nuclear arms race with the West. Other former members of USSR such as Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, on the other hand, selected the route of gradual transfer to the market economy and the transition period was intended to last for several years. Moreover, economic implications of the collapse of the Soviet Union in the global scale relates to creation of new markets for developed countries. And its satellites was not a result, public effects of the collapse of the soviet union in the Soviet Union into. Johns Hopkins UP, 1998). The role of cultural factors in the collapse of USSR relates to vast and fundamental cultural differences between certain members of the Soviet Union. Another reason for the tension between the Soviet Union and America was economic opposition. They were accompanied by KGB Gen. Yury Plekhanov, chief of security for party and state personnel. USSR reaction of sending troops to the capital of Lithuania in January 1991 killing 14 unarmed civilians and wounding hundreds of people (Langley, 2006) caused substantial damage to the image of USSR in general, and Gorbachev’s image in particular. Collapse of the Soviet Union is a large topic and reasons and implications associated with this event cannot be fully addressed within the scope of one book, let alone one essay. Investigation into media freedom of speech in post-Soviet Russia and its effects on MH17 Ukraine plane crash reporting The effect of the collapse of the Soviet Union on the post-Soviet journalism in Russia The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 has undoubtedly had major ramifications on the media landscape in Russia. The role of corruption in at various levels on the fall of USSR does not need to be underestimated. Achievement of economic growth and social justice are two distant problems and failure of communistic economists to acknowledge this fact can be stated as one of the core reasons of the collapse of USSR. The Soviet parliament voted to stop all party activities. Public criticism of Gorbachev by Boris Yeltsin, former Moscow mayor and a popular politician have compromised the chances of the former to oversee the completion of ‘perestroyka’ and complete economic reforms according to his plans. De-Stalinisation stage has involved de-centralisation of economic decision-making to member countries to a certain extent and deep economic stagnation due to refusal to innovate economic and a wide range of other processes. There is an interesting question that needs to be answered. Collapse of the Soviet Union has been widely interpreted as the victory of capitalism over communism, in the battle between the two contrasting economic and ideological viewpoints in academic and practical levels. State of Emergency Committee attempted to take charge of USSR by detaining Gorbachev at his government vacation on August 18, 1991 and plans were made to reverse Gorbachev’s reforms in order to safeguard traditional political system in the country. Matlock, Jr. Jack F., Autopsy on an Empire: The American Ambassador's Account of the Collapse of the Soviet Union, Random House, 1995, ISBN 0-679-41376-6; Oberdorfer, Don. George H.W. Recently there has been a dramatic resurgence of nationalism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. He describes the harmful effects of the Afghan war, and how he attempted to thwart the damage done to the social structure of the state, by instating democratizing reforms such as Glasnost’ and Perestroika. When the Soviet government fell, the Russian mafia, which had struggled to survive during the height of communism, stepped in to fill the power void. (1951) “Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis” Ludwic von Mises Institute, Moran, R.T., Harris, P.R. For example, top economists in Russia had chosen the strategy of ‘shock therapy’ transfer to the market economy that involved extensive privatisation of public goods and transfer to the market economy during the shortest period of time (Dewatripont et al., 2011). Even while the Soviet Union … Cabinet of Ministers met later that morning, and most of the ministers supported the coup. When Gorbachev ran for president in 1996, just five years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, he garnered less than one percent of the vote. The reforms implemented by President Mikhail Gorbachev and the backlash against them hastened the demise of the Soviet state. Cause and Effect Essay: The Collapse of the Soviet Union essaysThe collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 was a pivotal political event of the 20th century that signaled the eclipse of a major political and economic ideology of the 20th century, i.e., Communism, and left the United States as the sole However, this practice came to contradiction with the core identity of the Soviet political system to the much disappointment and anger of many conservative leaders of communistic party. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 was a pivotal political event of the 20th century that signaled the eclipse of a major political and economic ideology of the 20th century, i.e., Communism, and left the United States as the sole and unchallenged superpower in the world. The economic decline in the second half of the 20th century and the negative effects of the cold war eventually made reforms inevitable resulting into the collapse of the Soviet Union … Fewer than six years elapsed between the meltdown at Chernobyl and the formal dissolution of the Soviet Union… Further elaborated are the causes and repercussions of this menacing fracas drawn upon the world by the two superpowers; the United States of America and the Soviet Union. This essay attempts to analyse the major reasons and implications of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Despite reform efforts by Mikhail Gorbachev, the then leader of the Soviet Union, the country was never able to reorganize and rebuild. According to this viewpoint the model of socialism proposed by Marx and Engels eliminates the use of power and advocates evolutionary approach establishing socialism, whereas alternative approach has been employed by Vladimir Lenin when establishing socialism in Soviet Union. Corrections? However, recent global economic and financial crisis of 2007 – 2009 has cast significant level of doubt on the levels of effectiveness of capitalism market economy on its pure form as well. The immediate cause of the Soviet collapse was economic, as the Soviet Union lost the arms race and international competition with the West. On the other hand, Gorbachev has been awarded with Nobel Piece prize on the west, and he is highly praised for forwarding the cause of democracy with his 80th birthday lavishly celebrated in London’s Royal Albert Hall with the participation of many famous individuals in various fields around the globe. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Described as the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century by the current president of Russia Vladimir Putin (BBC, 2005, online), the collapse of the Soviet Union has caused profound changes in global political and economic affairs, impacting the lives of hundreds of millions of people. It was Sept. 13, 1985 when Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Oil, [Ahmed] Yamani, declared that Saudi Arabia was quitting the agreement on oil production restraint, and started to boost its share in the oil market. Economic, cultural, social and political factors contributing to the collapse of the Soviet Union are discussed in this essay and implications of this event on regional level for former USSR blog countries, as well as, on the global landscape are assessed. Cassis, Y. A Brief Overview of the Causes and Effects of the Cold War. Meanwhile, in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Lieut. The cause for the collapse of the United of Soviet Socialist Republics cannot be pinpointed to one event, one policy, one movement, or one outlook. Although more than two decades have passed since the collapse of the USSR this topic is regularly explored in academic levels due to its importance and impact to the formation of present geo-political situation. Economic Causes – Communism Vs Capitalism. Broken symbol of the Soviet Union. The Soviet-American combat, known as the "Cold War" hung heavy over global affairs for more than forty long years; structuring the world with extensive military buildups, an unceasing nuclear arms rivalry, intensive surveillance, and relentless technological emulations. End of the Soviet Union The coup attempt sparked anger against the Communist Party. In the process, he won over Samsonov, who promised not to move troops into the city. Start studying Regents Prep: Causes and Effects of WWII (Cold War and Collapse of Soviet Union). The president was “very tired” and was being “treated in the south,” Yanayev explained. Most conservative and determined hardliners within party leadership became members of State of Emergency Committee aiming to oust Gorbachev from leadership. Mikhail Gorbachev, the last head of state before the collapse of the Soviet Union, depicts his life through the evolution of the soviet state and his eventual rise to power. The U.S.S.R. Supreme Soviet reinstated Gorbachev and annulled all the decrees of the Emergency Committee. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union a great deal of debate has ensued as to what caused the Soviet empire's demise both within the former Soviet Union and amongst scholars worldwide. Long term structural causes . The corruption in the Soviet Union had a systematic nature and the majority instances of corruption were caused by the attempts to cover shortcomings of five-year government plans for the national economy (Sakwa, 1999). Factors that have fuelled the collapse of USSR include but not limited to substantial disadvantages associated with centrally-planned economic system such as inefficiencies associated with resource distribution, lack of economic stability and lack of motivation for quality improvement due to the absence of competition. Accordingly, it can be argued that even if severe economic and political shortcomings of the Soviet Union discussed above did not exist, the existence of USSR for long-term perspective was under great doubt due to vast and fundamental cultural differences between USSR member countries. The crisis then forced the country to devalue its Belatedly, on August 21, the CPSU Secretariat demanded a meeting between Gorbachev and Yanayev. Yeltsin appealed to the patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, Aleksey II, to condemn the coup. Fail of multiculturalism in the UK publicly and formally acknowledged by UK Prime Minister David Cameron (Kuenssberg, 2011, online) can be referred to in order to justify the validity of this argument. (2004) “Daily Life in the Soviet Union” Greenwood Press, Khan, S.A. (2008) “The fall of the Soviet Union: The fall of a state or the fall of an ideology” Journal of Political Studies, Vol. The first stage, primitive socialism covers the period between 1917 and 1928 and this stage includes the Civil War and introduction of New Economic Policy (NEP). To summarise discussions, it can be stated that assessment of implications of the collapse of Soviet Union provided above are based on the realities of current geo-political environment. This essay has argued that despite systematic inefficiencies at various levels within the Soviet system the system was able to last till the last decade of the 20th century due to its victory in the Second World War, exercise of totalitarian rule and non-tolerance to criticism, and manipulations with official statistical information about the performance of the national economy and effective propaganda machine. Having first seized power in 1917 in a coup that succeeded, the Communist Party now collapsed because of a coup that failed. As the Soviet Union s reign came to an abrupt end, Western attention drifted away Rationale behind high levels of popularity of Gorbachev at the beginning of his leadership relates to the fact that two of his predecessors – Yuri Andropov and Konstantin Chernenko were of an old age with no charisma and with little or no connection with the Soviet people in emotional levels (Khan, 2008). In March of 1985, the Soviet Union gained a new leader -- Mikhail Gorbachev. Specifically, in economic level the collapse of the Soviet Union has created new markets for businesses headquartered in the USA, Europe and elsewhere to benefit from through exporting, formation of joint-ventures, initiating wholly-owned subsidiaries, franchising, licensing and other new market entry strategies. Initially, Soviet Union comprised only six member states in 1922 – Russian, Ukrainian, Byelorussian, Azerbaijan, Georgian and Armenian Soviet Socialist Republics; however its size has been gradually increased during the following two decades until 1941 to reach the numbers of member states to 15 through expanding into Central Asia and Balkan states. It is important to note that under the rule of present president of Russia, Vladimir Putin since 2000 Russia has been able restore its influence and position in dealing with global affairs to a certain extent (Thompson, 2009).