The Collapse of the Soviet Union, 1985-1991

by Marples,David R.

• ISBN13: 9780582505995
• ISBN10: 0582505992
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2004-04-28
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

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 1980's 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. David R. Marples is Professor of History at the University of Alberta.

Author Biography

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

Table of Contents

Introduction to the Series	ix
Acknowledgements	x
Maps	xi
Chronology	xv
Preface	xx
Acronyms	xxii
Introduction	1	(6)
PART ONE: BACKGROUND	7	(18)
Gorbachev Comes to Power	9	(16)
Political Overview	9	(7)
Glasnost	16	(4)
Social, Environmental and Nuclear Power Issues	20	(5)
PART TWO: THE YEARS OF PERESTROIKA	25	(74)
Perestroika in Action	27	(21)
The Economy, 1985--90	27	(12)
Foreign Policy	39	(9)
The National Question	48	(17)
The Submerged Dilemma	48	(2)
Nagorno-Karabakh	50	(2)
The Baltic States	52	(5)
Georgia, Ukraine, and Belarus	57	(3)
The Plenum on National Policy, September 1989	60	(5)
Domestic Politics, 1989 to Mid-August 1991	65	(17)
The Congress of People's Deputies and New Presidency	65	(4)
The 28th Party Congress and Aftermath	69	(3)
The Referendum of 17 March 1991	72	(5)
Toward a New Union Treaty	77	(5)
The Putsch and the Collapse of the USSR	82	(17)
The Putsch, 18--21 August 1991	82	(8)
Administrative Changes	90	(1)
The Failure of the Union Treaty	91	(1)
Yeltsin Consolidates His Power	92	(1)
The Belavezha Agreement	93	(6)
PART THREE: ASSESSMENT	99	(12)
Why Did the Soviet Union Collapse?	101	(10)
PART FOUR: DOCUMENTS	111	(27)
Glossary	138	(5)
Who's Who	143	(4)
Guide to Further Reading	147	(10)
References	157	(1)
Index	158