Mikhail Gorbachev, who became the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1985, wanted to modernize the system to keep up with the changes happening in the West. However, his efforts to improve relations with the West and reform the Soviet Union had unintended consequences.
In this article, we will delve deep into the topic of “Gorbachev and the Disintegration” from Chapter 1 of the NCERT Class 12 Political Science book. These notes are specially curated by an expert team at GeeksforGeeks for all the students.
Gorbachev and the Disintegration
- Mikhail Gorbachev, who became the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1985, wanted to modernize the system to keep up with the changes happening in the West. However, his efforts to improve relations with the West and reform the Soviet Union had unintended consequences.
- In Eastern European countries under Soviet influence, people started protesting against their own governments and Soviet control. Unlike before, Gorbachev didn’t intervene, and communist regimes collapsed one after another. This crisis added to the growing problems within the USSR, speeding up its breakup.
- Gorbachev introduced economic and political reforms and tried to make the country more democratic. However, some leaders in the Communist Party opposed these changes.
- In 1991, there was a coup attempt by hardliners in the Communist Party, but people didn’t want to go back to the old ways. Boris Yeltsin, who opposed the coup, became a hero. The Russian Republic, where Yeltsin won an election, started moving away from central control. Power shifted from the Soviet center to the republics, especially those in Europe, which saw themselves as independent states.
- While Central Asian republics didn’t seek independence, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus declared the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991. The Communist Party was banned, and capitalism and democracy became the new foundations for the post-Soviet republics.
- This declaration caught other republics by surprise, especially in Central Asia. But they were included in the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), with Russia as the successor state of the USSR. Russia took over the Soviet Union’s place in the UN Security Council and honored its international commitments. The Soviet Union was officially gone, and Russia became the leading nuclear power in the region.
Gorbachev and the Disintegration: Short Notes
- Mikhail Gorbachev, who became the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1985, aimed to reform the system.
- He introduced policies of economic and political reform known as perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness). However, later on, his policies faced criticism.
- In 1991, a coup was attempted by hardliners within the Communist Party. The people, tired of the old-style rule of the Communist Party, demanded freedom.
- In December 1991, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, the three major republics of the USSR, declared the disintegration of the Soviet Union. They adopted capitalism and democracy as the new foundations for the post-Soviet republics.
Conclusion
Mikhail Gorbachev’s attempts to reform the Soviet Union ultimately led to unintended consequences, including the collapse of the communist regime and the disintegration of the USSR. The coup attempt in 1991 and Boris Yeltsin’s opposition marked a turning point, leading to the declaration of independence by Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. This event reshaped the geopolitical landscape, establishing Russia as the successor state and ushering in a new era of capitalism and democracy in the post-Soviet republics.
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- Collapse of the Soviet Union
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- Russian Revolution: Cause, History, Timeline, Bolsheviks
- Stalinism and Collectivization in The Soviet Union
Gorbachev and the Disintegration- FAQs
Are these notes good enough to prepare for exams?
Yes, these notes are specially curated by an expert team at GeeksforGeeks for all the students and are good enough for their exam preparation.
What is Gorbachev and the disintegration Class 12?
The people of East European Countries started to protest against their own Government and Soviet Control. Gorbachev initiated the policies of economic and political reform and democratisation. Reforms were opposed by leaders within the Communist Party. A Coup took place in 1991.
What were the reasons for the disintegration of the USSR Class 12 notes?
Economic weakness, political stubbornness, and the growth of nationalism were the causes for the disintegration of the Soviet Union or the disintegration of the USSR.
What are the causes of disintegration of USSR Class 12?
The rise of nationalism and the desire for sovereignty within various republics including Russia. Baltic Republics (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), Ukraine, Georgia, and others proved to be the final and most immediate cause for the disintegration of the USSR.
Who was Mikhail Gorbachev was he responsible for the disintegration of the Soviet Union?
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (2 March 1931 – 30 August 2022) was a Soviet and Russian politician who served as the last leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to the country’s dissolution in 1991.