#50. What were the factors that played a significant role in the collapse of Russian control over Eastern Europe?
my answer:
There were a few factors that played a significant role in the collapse of Russian control over Eastern Europe, corruption and inefficiency being two of the biggest ones. Under the Soviet System, a few of the leaders had established a Communist dictatorship. The Soviet Union had a command economy which is one with a central authority deciding on what goods will be produced. Most Russians believed that communism would improve their lives, since most of them had a bad history of being poor peasant farmers. Instead, they found that the Communists had become their new masters. People remained poor, and moreover, had no freedom to make personal decisions or express their opinions. The state controlled their lives and economy. The millions of people who resisted or objected them were either sent to prisons or forced-labor camps. Many more were executed. Terror was the key part of life under communism.
Industry and agriculture was also gone corrupt. Under Soviet rule, farmland was recognized into state farms and collective farms. Most of the farmers were forced to work on them. On state farms, workers received wages as they would in factories, while on collective farms, workers shared any surpluses that remained after products were sold and expenses were paid. Almost all the time, Soviet agricultural production and distribution remained low because of the few reasons for the farmers to work quicker. Despite strict control, many Soviet farmers were permitted to cultivate gardens on small plots of land, and soon these gardens became major sources of fruits and vegetables.
Joseph Stalin’s policies also emphasized on the development of heavy industry, which is the production of goods that are used in other industries such as machines or steel. Sometimes workers were assigned to factory work far away from their homes.
Soviet Union was the second largest producer of iron and steel in Europe by 1940. However, the costs of industrialization were very high. As a result, everyday items such as clothing and food were scarce. People got in the habit of waiting in long lines to buy something they could use or trade.
A lot of the decisions made by the Soviet central planners were wasteful and inefficient. Their extreme effort to industrialize used up a lot of resources and also hurt the environment.
Near the end o the 1980s, a new leader named Mikhail Gorbachev began a series of radical reforms. The policy of glasnost (openness) allowed Soviet citizens to say what they wanted without fear of government persecution. The government also eased censorship, and newspapers and television programs began to report openly on issues such as crime.
This is specifically from the pages my teacher told me to look at. I don't know what else to add to it.
In my opinion, your last paragraph answers this question.
You could add a little information about the part perstroika played in the break up of the Soviet Union.
http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/soviet.exhibit/perest.html
He also offered a plan for economic restructuring, or perestroika. This plan called for a gradual change from a command system to private ownership. Under this plan, the government began to allow factory managers rather than central planners to decide what to produce and how much to charge for the goods. Several factories were also converted by the government from the production of military goods to the production of consumer goods.
Farmers were started to be granted long-term leases on land. The new leader hoped to increase food production, and for the first time in decades, people were allowed to set up independent businesses. With all this freedom, many people called for an end to communism and the domination of the central government.
How's this for an addition?
Great!
y9124, do you go to keystone? If you do can u pls tell me what pages from the text book you found that?
thanks :)
To explain the collapse of Russian control over Eastern Europe, it is important to analyze various factors that contributed to this event:
1. Corruption and Inefficiency: The Soviet system was plagued by corruption and inefficiency, leading to economic stagnation and poor living conditions for the people. The centrally planned economy resulted in mismanagement of resources and a lack of incentives for productivity. This led to shortages of essential goods, long waiting lines, and a decline in the standard of living.
2. Repressive Communist Rule: The authoritarian nature of the Soviet regime, characterized by a Communist dictatorship, suppressed political dissent and curtailed individual freedoms. People were denied the right to express their opinions or make personal decisions. Any opposition or disagreement with the regime often resulted in severe punishment, including imprisonment or death.
3. Agricultural and Industrial Failures: The Soviet agricultural system, with its state and collective farms, was inefficient and unproductive. Farmers lacked incentives to increase production, resulting in low agricultural output. Additionally, the emphasis on heavy industry by leaders like Joseph Stalin led to the neglect of consumer goods, causing scarcity and a decline in living standards.
4. Environmental Degradation: The Soviet Union's rapid industrialization came at a great cost to the environment. The focus on heavy industry led to pollution, deforestation, and the degradation of natural resources. This not only affected the well-being of the population but also contributed to long-term ecological damage.
5. Reforms and Changing Leadership: In the 1980s, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev implemented reforms aimed at increasing transparency and openness within the system (glasnost). This policy allowed for greater freedom of speech and press, and exposed the failures of the Soviet regime. These reforms also contributed to a loss of control over Eastern Europe, as they inspired popular movements for independence and democratic reforms in countries within the Soviet sphere of influence.
It is important to note that the factors mentioned above are just a few major contributing factors to the collapse of Russian control over Eastern Europe. The topic is complex and nuanced, with a multitude of interconnected factors at play. To further explore this subject, one can study historical documents, scholarly articles, and books that delve deeper into the topic of the Soviet Union and its relationship with Eastern Europe during that period.