🄲🄷🄰🄿🅃🄴🅁 - 2
IN THIS CHAPTER WE WILL READ ABOUT--
1.What is Soviet union?
2. Political and economic structures
3.Disintegaration of soviet union
4. Consequences of disintegration
5. Shock therapy and its consequences
6. India and post communist countries
7.Arab Spring
8.Middle east crisis - Afghanistan, Gulf war
The chapter begins from the Berlin Wall which was built in 1961 and most importantly it separates East Berlin and West Berlin of Germany. this world symbolizes the division between the capitalist world and the communist world. It was 150 km long and stood for 28 years. Finally, on 9th November of 1989, the Berlin Wall was broken which marked the unification of two parts of Germany and the beginning of the end of the communist bloc.
BRIEF LOOK ON SOCIALIST REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA(1917)**
* The socialist revolution was inspired by the ideas of socialism as opposed to capitalism and the need for an egalitarian society.
* The union of the soviet socialist republic came into being after the socialist revolution in Russia in 1917.
* This was perhaps the biggest attempt in human history to abolish the institution of private property and consciously designed the society based on principles of equality.
* In doing so the main cause of the Soviet system given primacy to the state and the institution of the party.
W͜͡H͜͡A͜͡T͜͡ W͜͡A͜͡S͜͡ S͜͡O͜͡V͜͡I͜͡E͜͡T͜͡ S͜͡Y͜͡S͜͡T͜͡E͜͡M͜͡??
1.. After the second world war, the east European countries that the Soviet army had liberated from fascist forces came under the control of the USSR.
2.. The political and economic systems of these countries were modeled after the USSR. This group of countries is called the second World war the socialist bloc.
3.. The Warsaw pact, a military alliance, held them together. The USSR was the leader of the bloc.
D͜͡I͜͡S͜͡C͜͡U͜͡S͜͡S͜͡ T͜͡H͜͡E͜͡ P͜͡O͜͡L͜͡I͜͡T͜͡I͜͡C͜͡A͜͡L͜͡ A͜͡N͜͡D͜͡ E͜͡C͜͡O͜͡N͜͡O͜͡M͜͡I͜͡C͜͡ S͜͡T͜͡R͜͡U͜͡C͜͡T͜͡U͜͡R͜͡E͜͡ O͜͡F͜͡ U͜͡S͜͡S͜͡R͜͡?
Soviet economy-
* It had a complex communication network, vast energy resources including oil, iron, and steel machinery production, and a transport sector that connects its remotest areas with efficiency.
* It had a domestic consumer industry market that produced everything from pins to cars. But in comparison to the West, the Soviet Union Lagged in terms of technology, infrastructure, and most importantly in fulfilling the political and economic aspirations of citizens.
* The Soviet state ensures a minimum standard of living for all citizens and the government-subsidized necessities including health education child care and other welfare schemes. There was no unemployment.
* State ownership was the dominant form of ownership. land and productive assets were owned and controlled by the Soviet state.
Social and political structure-
1.. The Soviet system has single-party dominance that is only communist party rules and had tight control over all institutions was very bureaucratic and authoritarian in nature. Lack of democracy and the absence of freedom of speech stifled people who often expressed their dissent in-jokes and cartoons.
2.. Due to single-party dominance, the communist party was accountable to the people. the party refused to recognize the urges of people in the 15 different republics that form the Soviet Union to manage their affairs including their cultural affairs.
3.. Russia was only one of the 15 republics that together constituted the USSR but in reality, Russian dominated everything and people from other regions felt neglected and often suppressed.
4.. In the arms race, the Soviet Union managed to match the US from time to time but at a great cost. The Soviet Union flat behind the best in technology infrastructure and most importantly in fulfilling the political or economic aspirations of the citizens.
5.. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 weekend system even further. Though wages continue to grow productivity and technology fell considerably behind that of the west. This leads to the shortage of all consumers' goods.
The Soviet economy was faltering in the late 1970 and became stagnant.
G͜͡O͜͡R͜͡B͜͡A͜͡C͜͡H͜͡E͜͡V͜͡ A͜͡N͜͡D͜͡ T͜͡H͜͡E͜͡ D͜͡I͜͡S͜͡I͜͡N͜͡T͜͡E͜͡G͜͡R͜͡A͜͡T͜͡I͜͡O͜͡N͜͡...
Mikhail Gorbachev who had become general secretary of the communist party of the Soviet Union in 1985, sought to reform this system.
Gorbachev initiated the policies of economic and political reforms and democratization within the country. These reforms were known as-
● PERESTROIKA (RESTRUCTURING)
● GLASSNOST (OPENNESS)
Reforms were necessary to keep the USSR abreast of the information and technological revolutions taking place in the West. However, Gorbachev's decision to normalize relations with the west and democratize and reforms the Soviet Union had some other effects that neither he nor anyone else intended to anticipate.
People's reactions--
* When Gorbachev carried out his reforms and loosened the system, he set in motion forces and expectations that few could have predicted and become virtually impossible to control. The policies of Gorbachev led to the rise of nationalism and the desire for sovereignty within various republics including Russia and the Baltic Republic. Ukraine, Georgia, and others provided to be the final and most important blow to the disintegration of the USSR.
* The people in the East European countries which were part of the Soviet bloc started to protest against their own Government and Soviet control.
* although many internal disturbances occurred still, Gorbachev initiated the policies of economic and political reforms and democratic nation within the country. These reforms were opposed by leaders within the communist party.
* A coup took place in 1991 that was encouraged by communist party hardliners. The people had tasted freedom by then and did not want an old-style rule of the communist party.
* Boris Yeltstin emerged as a national hero in opposing this coop movement, hence popular election begin to shake off centralized control. Power begins to shift from the Soviet center to the republic's especially in the European as they being the part of the Soviet Union saw themselves as neglected.
FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR DISINTEGRATION OF USSR
1- THE POLITICAL LIMITATION OF SOVIET UNION
1.. Bureaucratic and authoritarian rule
The Soviet system became very bureaucratic and authoritarian making life very difficult for its citizens.
Lack of democracy and absence of freedom of speech hushed people who often expressed their dissent in jokes and cartoons.
2..Unaccountable government-
Most of the institutions of the soviet state needed reforms: the one party system represented by the communist party of the soviet union had tight control over all institutions and was unaccountable to the people.
The party refused to recognize the urge of people in the fifteen different republics that formed the soviet union to manage their own affairs including their cultural affairs.
3.... Russian dominance -
although on paper Russia was only one of the fifteen republics that together constituted the ussr, in reality, Russia dominated everything and people from other regions felt neglected and often suppressed.
THE ECONOMIC LIMITATION:
4... in the arms race, the soviet union managed to match the US from time to time but at great cost.
The Soviet Union Lagged behind the west jn technology, infrastructure (e.g. transport, power) and most importantly in fulfilling the political or economic aspirations of the citizens.
5... the Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 weakened the system even further.
Through wages continued to grow, productivity and technology fell considerably behind that of the west. This led to shortage in all consumer goods. Food imports increased every year. The Soviet economy was faltering in the late 1970s and become stagnant.
6... the Soviet economy used much of its resources in maintaining a nuclear and military arsenal and the development of its satellite states in Eastern Europe and within the soviet system.
THE SOCIAL LIMITATION:
7... Gorbachev's reforms-
Gorbachev's reforms promised to deal with these problems. He promised to reform the economy, catch up with the west and lose, and the administrative system. His initiative was opposed by his own communist party members.
8....Rise of nationalism and desire for sovereignty-
the rise of nationalism and the desire for sovereignty with various republics( Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), Ukraine Georgia, and others prove to be the final and most immediate cause for the disintegration of the USSR.
C͜͡O͜͡N͜͡S͜͡E͜͡Q͜͡U͜͡E͜͡N͜͡S͜͡E͜͡S͜͡ O͜͡F͜͡ D͜͡I͜͡S͜͡I͜͡N͜͡T͜͡E͜͡G͜͡R͜͡A͜͡T͜͡I͜͡O͜͡N͜͡...
1... End of cold war confrontation:: first of all it meant that the end of cold war confrontations. the ideological dispute over whether the socialist system would beat the capitalist system was not an issue anymore.
2... End of arms race
3... End of bipolarity:: power relation in world politics changed and therefore the relative influence of ideas and institutions also changed.
4...The end of the cold war left with two possibilities- either the remaining superpower would dominant and create a unipolar system, or different countries or groups of countries would become important players in the international system thereby bringing in the multipolar system, where no power could dominant. As it turned out, the US became the sole superpower.
Us hegemony, IMG, world bank, liberal democracy, capitalism, new identity differences.
5...The emergence of new countries:: lastly the end of the Soviet bloc made the emergence of many new countries. All these countries have their own independent aspirations and choices. Some of them, especially the Baltic and the East European States, wanted to join the European Union and became part of the North Atlantic treaty organization.
S͜͡H͜͡O͜͡C͜͡K͜͡ T͜͡H͜͡E͜͡R͜͡A͜͡P͜͡Y͜͡ I͜͡N͜͡ P͜͡O͜͡S͜͡T͜͡ C͜͡O͜͡M͜͡M͜͡U͜͡N͜͡I͜͡S͜͡T͜͡ R͜͡E͜͡G͜͡I͜͡M͜͡S͜͡...
1... The process of transition from an authoritarian socialist system to a democratic capitalist system in Russia, central Asia, and East Europe was influenced by the world bank, and IMF came to be known as shock therapy.it was a painful transition. Each of the countries of the post-Soviet Union was now required to make a total shift from a capitalist economy to a democratic capitalist system.
2... It means now private ownership will be a dominant pattern of ownership of property.
3... collective farms were to be replaced by private farming and capitalism in agriculture.
4... Complete switch over to free trade and foreign direct investment, western economy now guide them.
5... Currency convertibility
6...Breakup of existing trade alliances among the countries of the Soviet bloc to maintain relations directly with the west.
C͜͡O͜͡N͜͡S͜͡E͜͡Q͜͡U͜͡E͜͡N͜͡C͜͡E͜͡S͜͡ O͜͡F͜͡ S͜͡H͜͡O͜͡C͜͡K͜͡ T͜͡H͜͡E͜͡R͜͡A͜͡P͜͡Y͜͡****
1.. the shock therapy ruined the economics and disaster upon the people of the entire region.
2... A large number of state-controlled industries were almost collapsed as about 90%of industries were put up for sale at throwaway prices. It was known as the largest garage sale in history.
3... The collective farm system was removed with no food security and Russia started to import food.
4... The value of the Russian currency ruble declined dramatically. The real GDP of Russia in 1999 was below what it was in 1989.
5...Old trading structures where are broken down with no alternatives.
6.. The old system of social welfare was systematically destroyed. The withdrawal of government subsidies pushed a large section of the people into poverty. The middle classes were pushed to the periphery of society.
7.. People lost all the savings due to the higher rate of inflation.
Mafia emerged in most of these countries and started controlling many economic activities.
8... Privatization lead to disparities. The post-soviet States especially Russia was divided between rich and poor regions unlike the earlier system there were now great economic inequalities between people.
9... The construction of democratic institutions was not given the same attention and priority as the demands of economic transformations.
10... The constitution of all this country's were drafted in a hurry and most including Russia, had a strong executive president with the widest possible power that rendered elected parliament relatively week.
11... In Central Asia, the presidents had given great powers and several of them become very authoritarian. For example, the president of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan appointed themselves to power first for 10 years and then extended it for another 10 years. No opposition was allowed.
12.. education culture and independence of the judiciary were yet to be established in most of these countries.
13... Disparities due to privatization between rich and poor in the regions of Russia.
14...Most of these economies especially Russia started reviving in 200 years,10 yrs after their independence. The reason for the revival was the export of natural resources like oil natural gas and minerals. Which were available in abundance in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. And from here pipelines crossed were paid on rent.
T͜͡E͜͡N͜͡S͜͡I͜͡O͜͡N͜͡S͜͡ A͜͡N͜͡D͜͡ C͜͡O͜͡N͜͡F͜͡L͜͡I͜͡C͜͡T͜͡S͜͡ I͜͡N͜͡ F͜͡O͜͡R͜͡M͜͡E͜͡R͜͡ S͜͡O͜͡V͜͡I͜͡E͜͡T͜͡ R͜͡E͜͡P͜͡U͜͡B͜͡L͜͡I͜͡C͜͡S͜͡**
there were tensions and conflicts in most of the former Soviet republics and many have had civil works and insurgencies.
Tajikistan witnessed a civil war for almost 10 years till 2001. The region had many sectarian conflicts.
Central Asia to become a zone of competition between outside powers and oil companies.
Czechoslovakia was divided into two, the Czechs and the Slovaks thus forming independent countries.
Yugoslavia broke apart with several provinces like Croatia, Slovenian, and Bosnia and Herzegovina declaring independence.
Countries and provinces like Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, and Georgia are fighting over water leading to instability and making life difficult for ordinary people.
I͜͡N͜͡D͜͡I͜͡A͜͡ A͜͡N͜͡D͜͡ P͜͡O͜͡S͜͡T͜͡ C͜͡O͜͡M͜͡M͜͡U͜͡N͜͡I͜͡S͜͡T͜͡ C͜͡O͜͡U͜͡N͜͡T͜͡R͜͡I͜͡E͜͡S͜͡****
India maintained a cordial relationship with all the post-communist countries. The strongest relation of India is still with Russia
Indo- Russian relation is an important aspect of Indian foreign policy. Both the countries share revision of multipolar world order.
India got benefits from Russia over issues like Kashmir, energy supplies, access to Central Asia, balancing its relation with China.
Russia stands to benefit from this relationship because India is the second-largest arms market for Russia. Both the countries have collaborated over many scientific projects
A͜͡R͜͡A͜͡B͜͡ S͜͡P͜͡R͜͡I͜͡N͜͡G͜͡***
The Arab Spring was a series of anti-government protests, uprisings, and armed rebellions that spread across the Middle East in early 2011. But their purpose, relative success, and outcome remain hotly disputed in Arab countries, among foreign observers, and between world powers looking to cash in on the changing map of the Middle East.
Spring movements towards democracy
Western media begin popularising the term Arab spring in 2011.
The 21st century witnessed the emergence of a new development of democracy in and democratic nation in West Asian countries one such event is characterized as the Arab spring that began in 2009.
In Tunisia (North America) the Arab spring took its root where the struggle against corruption and unemployment and poverty was started by the public which turned into a political movement because the people consider the existing problem as the outcome of autocratic dictatorship. The demand for democracy that started in Tunesia, spread throughout the Muslim-dominated Arab countries in West Asia.
How did Arab spring started in Tunesia?
The Arab revolution started because of the self immolation of a poor man named Mohammed Bouazizi.
What was the problem?
He has applied for licence of a shop near the town hall but he was not able to get it.
On December 17, when he reach the same place where he used to sell fruits everyday is saw that someone else was selling his goods there.
He talked to the person and tried to remove him from there and when he did not agree, he talked to the police.
but the police took away his fruits and his belongings and insulted him as well as beer beat.
due to all the things, he became very sad and in anger, he is sprinkled kerosene on himself and set himself on fire and committed suicide.
people tried to save him but he could not survive.
while committing self immolation, his cousin Ali made a video of this incident and this video became viral on social media because of Facebook.
he died on 7th January and 2011 and people attendent is related.
After the death of Bouazizi
No strong step taken due to which anger if people increased.
People started protesting in large numbers.
Due to hike in protest, curfew was imposed and letter emergency was also imposed.
But in the end finally Ben Ali resigned from his post and finally the authoritarian rule came to an end.
The Arab spring was a closely related group of protests that ultimately resulted in regime changes in countries such as Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya.
In addition, the influence of Arab spring could also be seen in Yemen, Bahrain, Libya, and Syria where similar protests by the people led to democratic awakening throughout the region.
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■
🅦︎🅞︎🅡︎🅓︎🅢︎ 🅣︎🅞︎ 🅡︎🅔︎🅜︎🅔︎🅜︎🅑︎🅔︎🅡︎
The Soviet system was introduced after a central valuation in 1917 based on the principles of egalitarian society and a planned economy controlled by the state socialist block. The aged European countries were known as a socialist block because these countries were liberated from the fascist forces.
Collective security : a system in which an attack on any country is regarded as a threat to all countries and requires a collective responses.
The capitalist economy refers to an economic setup in which land and productive assets are owned and controlled by the capitalists.
Egalitarian society believes that all people are equally important and should have the same rights and opportunities in life.
Large largest garage sale-. it was resulted due to shock therapy to undervalued the valuable industries of the USSR to sell them at throwaway rises prices.
Shock therapy - refers to sudden release of price and currency controls, withdrawal of state subsidies and immediate trade liberalization within a country, usually also including large scale privatization of previously public owned assets. This situation occurred in USSR( a process of transition from an authoritarian socialist system to a democratic capitalist system)
Vladimir Lenin- he was the founder of the bolshevik communist party and the leader of Russian revolution ,1917. He was the founder head of USSR.
Glassnost- refers to openness in the political system.
Perestroika- means restructuring the economy.
Boris Yeltstin - he was the elected president of Russia. He played a key role in dissolving the Soviet union.
0 Comments
Give your valuable feedback