47. Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, what are some of the major problems faced by many of the new countries?
Firstly, many of the new countries didn’t know how to become democratic. The people weren’t used to voting and being given a choice and they weren’t used to political parties. They lived in a country where people fought and struggled to get to the top, usually at the expense of others. They were only skilled in edging out their competitors, but knew little about making friends.
Secondly, the countries couldn’t change economies from a command economy to a free market. The government no longer controlled all policies and all businesses; People had to learn how to run a business profitably.
Citizens also had to develop their own initiative to earn a living rather than just sit back and let the state take care of them.
Countries such as Iran no longer look to a central country such as the US. They themselves wanted to be a central state that dominated other states.
These are all the major problems the new countries had to face after the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Is this alright?
Thanks
-MC
Iran? Iran was not part of the Soviet breakup.
You have covered it. The Soviet Union broke up because of economic collapse, and the new states also had to suffer through that agony. Corruption probably played a part also, under the Soviet state, corruption was a major part of government, and that culture persisted (even to this day).
The other factor the new states had to face was a free press, free speech, and assembly. Neither citizens nor the new states knew how to manage that (and the confusion persists today).
OK, thanks
-MC
What role has the concept of nationalism played in the life of Russia in the past and present?
Your explanation of the major problems faced by many of the new countries after the breakup of the Soviet Union is quite accurate. Here's a breakdown of the problems you mentioned:
1. Lack of Democratic Experience: The transition to democracy was a major challenge for the new countries. Many people were unfamiliar with the concept of voting, political parties, and the principles of democracy. The mindset of competition and struggle for personal gain, which existed under the Soviet regime, made it difficult for individuals to adapt to the values of cooperation and collective decision-making.
2. Transition to Free Market Economy: The new countries had to shift from a command economy, where the government controlled all policies and businesses, to a free market economy. This transition required learning new skills such as entrepreneurship, business management, and market competition. It also meant moving away from the state taking care of citizens' needs to individuals taking initiative to earn a living.
3. Changing National Identity: With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the new countries had to redefine their national identity. They no longer looked to a central authority like the US, but wanted to establish themselves as central states that could dominate others. This shift in perspective required the countries to develop their own political, cultural, and economic identities.
Overall, these challenges were significant and required the new countries to navigate unfamiliar territories in order to establish stable democracies, strong economies, and coherent national identities.