The Collapse of the Soviet Union, 1985-1991

1. Auflage 2004
ISBN: 978-0-582-50599-5
Verlag: Routledge

Buch, Englisch, 192 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 304 g

Reihe: Seminar Studies

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.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Marples, David R.

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Europäische Geschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Geschichte einzelner Länder Europäische Länder

Inhaltsverzeichnis

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

4. 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

5. 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
6. WHY DID THE SOVIET UNION COLLAPSE?

PART FOUR: DOCUMENTS
Chronology
Glossary
Who’s Who
Guide to Further Reading

Über Autor(innen)

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