Gorbachev’s proposed solution to the Soviet Union’s problems was called perestroika, or restructuring. At first, this meant reformation of the Soviet economy. Gorbachev wanted to modernize Soviet industrial technology and to meet the needs of the Soviet people. However, Gorbachev eventually realized that social and political changes had to be instituted in order to carry out these reforms effectively. This led to three major components of perestroika: glasnost , demokratizatsia, and novoye myshlenia.
Glasnost means “to make known something that was previously concealed” (Kerblay, 23). This openness allowed more criticism on Soviet institutions from the press and media. This led to the freeing of information on drug problems, prostitution, natural disasters, and an attempted hostage-taking. Though an attempted cover-up of the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant threw suspicion onto Soviet credibility, Gorbachev worked to ensure almost total disclosure on his country’s problems. The press was now allowed to criticize the Soviet leaders of the past, and to see that they were not as perfect as propaganda had once made them seem. The misdeeds of Stalin were brought to light, as were the Soviet Union’s current problems. The press was also allowed to criticize their current living conditions. Also, nearly 6,000 previously banned books and 100 movies were released in the Soviet Union. This glasnost was intended to stimulate the thought of Soviet citizens and free minds to reform the troubled nation. It would take away the obstacles to perestroika. (Kerblay, 25)
Demokratizatsia refers to “democratization,” though it was not intended to bring about a full democracy. This was an attempt to give the common Soviet citizens the power to vote on some of the Soviet Union’s decisions. Although the Communist Party still retained most of the power in the Soviet Union, the citizens were able to vote for 2,250-member Congress of People’s Deputies. Democratization also occurred in the Communist Party. Before, only select high-ranking officials could elect new officials. Now, all of the members of the Communist Party were allowed to vote for their officials. A “cleanup” of the Party was pursued, and corrupt and unqualified Party members were removed. (Kerblay, 26)
At first, demokratizatsia resulted in only minor reforms, but they soon led to more profound changes. In 1986, approximately 200,000 members of the Communist Party were prosecuted for corruption. For example, officials of the Trade Ministry were removed for illegal sale of imported goods. The entire Ministry for Cotton Production of Ubekistan was found guilty of falsifying statements. (Kerblay, 26) This cleared the Party of many of its corrupt members, thereby giving it credibility. Also, citizens could now vote between various candidates for some official positions, instead of being told who to vote for. This was also intended to reform the old bureaucracy, hopefully eliminating incompetent officials, and allowing more liberal ones that could possibly create innovative reforms. However, in the beginning, voters did not know many of these new candidates that were not from their local areas, and many candidates with ideas for reform were viewed as being too inexperienced.
Novoye myshlenia meant a “new thinking” towards foreign affairs. Gorbachev did not wish to contest with the Western powers any longer. The nuclear arms race had the possibility of bringing violent destruction to the Soviet Union, and had alienated Western nations. Gorbachev also needed resources to institute perestroika, but that would not be possible unless resources were freed from weapons development. In December of 1987, an arms control treaty was signed by Gorbachev and the United States president, Ronald Reagan, and by 1990, the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union had finally ended. Also, Gorbachev ordered Soviet troops in Afghanistan to stand down. The war with Afghanistan had begun in 1979 during the time of Brezhnev’s power, and had become a costly conflict economically and politically. Gorbachev also ended hostilities with China. Finally, in 1989, Gorbachev abandoned Brezhnev’s doctrine that stated that the Soviet Union could step into any conflict in a Warsaw Pact country militarily.
Gorbachev’s primary mission of perestroika was to institute changes in the Soviet Union’s stagnant economy. He attempted to institute more regulation and democracy in the Soviet industries. He supported an economy that was more market-influenced, rather than one totally dictated by the government. He also felt that the Soviet Union’s industrial technology should be modernized. However, Gorbachev was hesitant to institute some economic reforms, which resulted in strikes and shortages in supplies. These economic troubles damaged Gorbachev’s popularity, and Boris Yeltsin, who advocated more radical reforms, rose in power to challenge Gorbachev.
Gorbachev was constantly trying to keep the Soviet Union from falling apart, meanwhile having to please both the citizens and the conservative Party members. If the people were given too much power, then the several republics in the Soviet Union would become too influential, thereby destroying the USSR. Also, if changes were instituted too quickly, Gorbachev was afraid that the conservative elements within the Communist Party would attempt to overthrow him. However, if Gorbachev hesitated in spearheading initiative, as he did with the economic reforms, then the Soviet Union would remain in stagnation.
By 1990, the Soviet Communist Party had lost political dominance in the Soviet Union. There was no longer any organization to keep the Soviet Union from falling apart, and in 1990, the republic of Lithuania declared independence from the USSR. Gorbachev’s decision that the Soviets could not interfere in conflicts in Warsaw Pact nations led to communism being overthrown in Eastern European countries. Boris Yeltsin, elected president of the Russian Federation in 1990, became the opponent of Gorbachev, who was struggling to keep the USSR from collapsing.
By 1991, Gorbachev had decided that in order to save the union, he would have to cooperate with the republics. Conservative Communists and members of the KGB feared that the Soviet Union would collapse under this situation. In August of 1991, they attempted a coup d’etat and overthrew the central government. Although Yeltsin’s forces were able to defeat the coup, the credibility of the Communist Party was weakened even further. On December 8, 1991, the people of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus announced the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States, or CIS, and by December 21, eight other republics had joined the Commonwealth. This marked the end of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, with Mikhail Gorbachev resigning on December 25, 1991.
Although the reforms created by Gorbachev did not have the desired effect of preserving the Soviet Union, they did change political situations all over the world. His foreign policies won him a Nobel Peace Prize in 1990, and ended hostilities with several nations. In many countries, including Russia, communism gave way to a more socialist government. Although the collapse of the Soviet Union was caused by several factors, including the mistakes of previous leaders, Mikhail Gorbachev was the catalyst that that led to this historical event.