Notes
- The term was interpreted in the west as "openness"
- -This policy shocked both his people and the west
- -For the first time since the Tsar a leader encourage open debate about the country
- -The results were:
- -Less censorship
- -A change of view of Soviet history
- -Andrei Sakharov was freed from exile (developed the hydrogen bomb in Russia)
- -Stalin was denounced
- -Gorbachev announced socialism still hadn't arrived
Perestroika, 1987
- -Gorbachev published a book with this title, which means "restructuring" it included:
- -Denouncing Stalin
- -Notion of one ideology one party
- -Admitted that Hungary, 1956 and Czechoslovakia,
- 1968 were mistakes
- -That he wanted to return to détente
- -He wanted reform
Gorbachev's Mistakes to Reform
- -Anti-alcohol campaign- cost state in revenue
- -Investment in Machinery and tool industry with little return
- -Glasnost Backfired in that people began hoarding common goods
- -Deficit grew annually
- -He continued the war in Afghanistan too long
- -His High ranking officials were based on loyalty rather than reform mindedness
Summary
Gorbachev was the first Communist Russian leader that actually talked about change and freedom. but many people did not believe that Gorbachev was serious, after he published Perestroika people took him a lot more seriously about his intent to change the way people thought about communism. but sadly Gorbachev's greatest downfall was his anti-alcohol campaign the really sealed his fate.
Video
Picture
Political Cartoon
Quote
Gentlemen, comrades, do not be concerned about all you hear about Glasnost and Perestroika and democracy in the coming years. They are primarily for outward consumption. There will be no significant internal changes in the Soviet Union, other than for cosmetic purposes. Our purpose is to disarm the Americans and let them fall asleep. - Mikhail Gorbachev
Subjunctive Question
Would there have been different thoughts if Glasnost had not written his book?