The Fall of Communism Chapter Notes | AP European History - Grade 9 PDF Download

Introduction

The late 20th century marked a seismic shift as the Soviet Union and its Eastern Bloc unraveled under political, economic, and social pressures. Once a formidable force, communism faltered amid repression and stagnation, culminating in the USSR’s dissolution in 1991. This chapter notes examines the reforms, revolts, and global consequences of this collapse, highlighting how Gorbachev’s policies inadvertently hastened the end of communism, reshaping Europe’s political and economic landscape.

After Stalin: Reforms and Revolts

De-Stalinization under Khrushchev

Following Joseph Stalin’s death in 1953, Nikita Khrushchev emerged as the Soviet Union’s leader and launched the process of de-Stalinization:

• Delivered the “Secret Speech” in 1956, condemning Stalin’s cult of personality and the harshness of his purges.
• Renamed Stalingrad to Volgograd as part of symbolic change.
• Freed thousands of political prisoners and closed the most notorious gulags.
• Eased censorship, fostering limited openness in cultural and artistic expression.

De-Stalinization: Sparked hope for reform across the Eastern Bloc but also exposed Soviet vulnerabilities, leading to uprisings in Hungary (1956) and Czechoslovakia (1968).

Despite these changes, Khrushchev’s economic policies lacked consistency. His mishandling of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and waning party support resulted in his ouster in 1964.

Brezhnev and the Stagnation Era

• Leonid Brezhnev succeeded Khrushchev, introducing a period of stability marked by repression:
  • Resisted liberalization and suppressed dissent.
  • Pursued détente with the West, improving U.S. relations in the 1970s.
  • Tightened control over satellite states, notably through the invasion of Czechoslovakia during the Prague Spring.
• However, under Brezhnev:
  • The economy experienced significant slowdown, termed Brezhnev Stagnation.
  • Innovation trailed the West, particularly in technology and consumer goods.
  • Corruption and inefficiency undermined the centrally planned economy.
• Brezhnev Doctrine: Declared the USSR’s right to intervene in socialist countries deviating from Marxist-Leninist principles.

Gorbachev’s Reforms and the End of Soviet Control

• In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became General Secretary and introduced sweeping reforms to revitalize the Soviet Union:
  • Perestroika (restructuring): Implemented market-oriented reforms and decentralized economic management.
  • Glasnost (openness): Promoted greater freedom of speech, press, and political discourse.
  • Ended Soviet involvement in the Soviet-Afghan War and pursued nuclear arms reduction with the U.S., including the INF Treaty with Reagan.
• These reforms had unintended consequences:
  • Economic output plummeted without effective centralized planning or a robust market system.
  • Public criticism surged, exposing decades of corruption and repression.
  • Satellite states began asserting independence, and Gorbachev refrained from military intervention.
• Glasnost and perestroika: Triggered widespread criticism and reformist fervor, rendering the Soviet state unmanageable.

In 1991, a failed coup attempt by hardline communists against Gorbachev discredited the Communist Party, hastening the Soviet Union’s collapse.

The Dissolution of the USSR and its Impact

On December 25, 1991, the Soviet Union officially disintegrated, and Gorbachev stepped down. The Cold War concluded, and the world entered a new geopolitical phase.

Consequences of the Collapse

• Germany reunified in 1990 following the Berlin Wall’s fall in 1989, symbolizing the end of communist dominance in Eastern Europe.
• Czechoslovakia peacefully divided into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, known as the Velvet Divorce.
• Yugoslavia fragmented into multiple nations, some embroiled in violent civil wars and ethnic cleansing.
• Many former Eastern Bloc nations transitioned to market economies and joined the European Union and NATO in the 2000s.

Conclusion

The fall of communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union stemmed from prolonged economic stagnation, unsuccessful reforms, and widespread discontent. Gorbachev’s policies of openness and restructuring aimed to preserve socialism but instead accelerated its demise. This led to a profound transformation of Europe, with new democracies, capitalist reforms, and the expansion of the European Union into former communist territories.

Key Terms

• Berlin Wall: A 1961–1989 barrier separating East and West Berlin, symbolizing the Cold War’s ideological divide between communism and democracy.
• Brezhnev Stagnation: A period of economic and social decline in the Soviet Union under Leonid Brezhnev (mid-1960s to early 1980s), marked by inefficiencies and stagnation, contributing to communism’s fall.
• Cult of Personality: A leader’s use of propaganda to create an idealized image, common in authoritarian regimes, impacting public loyalty and contributing to the decline of communist control.
• Cuban Missile Crisis: A 1962 U.S.-Soviet standoff over Soviet missiles in Cuba, heightening Cold War tensions and exposing Soviet vulnerabilities.
• De-Stalinization: Mid-1950s Soviet reforms to dismantle Stalin’s repressive policies and cult of personality, influencing Eastern Bloc dynamics and sparking uprisings.
• Eastern Bloc: Communist states in Central and Eastern Europe aligned with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, characterized by centralized economies and repression.
• European Union: A union of 27 European nations promoting peace and economic cooperation, expanding into former communist states post-Cold War.
• Georgi Malenkov: Soviet leader briefly after Stalin’s 1953 death, overseeing early transitions toward moderated policies, influencing the decline of Stalinist control.
• Glasnost: Gorbachev’s 1980s policy of openness, increasing government transparency and public discourse, contributing to the Soviet system’s unraveling.
• Gulags: Soviet forced labor camps under Stalin, symbolizing regime oppression, later reduced during de-Stalinization, exposing communist repression.
• Holodomor: A 1932–1933 man-made famine in Soviet Ukraine, killing millions, reflecting Stalin’s harsh policies and impacting post-communist historical memory.
• Joseph Stalin: Soviet leader (1920s–1953), known for totalitarianism and purges, whose legacy shaped post-war Soviet policies and de-Stalinization efforts.
• Lavrentiy Beria: Head of Stalin’s NKVD, influential in post-Stalin transitions, shaping early Soviet policy shifts toward reform.
• Nikita Khrushchev: Soviet leader (1953–1964), who initiated de-Stalinization and faced Cold War crises, impacting Soviet and European politics.
• Perestroika: Gorbachev’s 1980s economic and political reforms to revitalize the Soviet system, inadvertently accelerating its collapse.
• Ronald Reagan: U.S. President (1981–1989), whose anti-communist policies and diplomacy pressured the Soviet Union, contributing to communism’s fall.
• Secret Police: Covert agencies enforcing Soviet control through surveillance and repression, central to maintaining communist authority until its decline.
• Social Democrat: An ideology promoting social justice within capitalism, offering an alternative to communism in post-Cold War Europe.
• Soviet-Afghan War: A 1979–1989 conflict weakening Soviet resources and morale, contributing to the decline of communist influence.
• Stalingrad: Site of a 1942–1943 World War II battle, symbolizing Soviet resilience, later renamed Volgograd during de-Stalinization.
• Volgograd: Formerly Stalingrad, renamed during de-Stalinization, reflecting efforts to move away from Stalin’s legacy and symbolizing Soviet transformation.