My Essay

    Many of the changes that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union occurred when Mikhail Gorbachev came into power in the mid-1980's. Gorbachev attempted to make domestic, as well as foreign reforms. Many of the problems from the past that were hidden, now resurfaced. With all of these ingredients together at the right time, radical change was evitable.

    One of the largest reforms proposed by Gorbachev was his policy of perestrioka, or "restructuring." These reforms were to be based on communication and understanding, not through war. Gorbachev did not want to give society ready made plans or tell people how to live their lives. Rather, he wanted society to publicly discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the Union. This was known as glasnost, or "openness." People would be able to see how the government was operating and the decisions that were being made. This policy was to aid Gorbachev in his reforms, but instead ethnic groups took advantage of glasnost. Ethnic groups saw this as a time to break away from Soviet control. Many of the different countries within the Soviet Union called for sovereignty and independence. One by one these countries voted for independence. This led to the formation of The Commonwealth of Independent States in August of 1991. The way elections were being held was changed. In the past, society was presented with one candidate to vote for. Now, there were two or more candidates. "We never had anything like it before-discussions, debates, fighting. Before people dropped a piece of paper in a slot. You couldn't describe it as a choice." ( 1) Gorbachev also decreased the authority and power of the Communist Party. He created the Congress of People's Deputies. Two-thirds was elected by universal suffrage and the remaining one third by different organizations within the country. He wanted to do away with the oligarchy so that he could exalt his own power. This party was the base for keeping the Union together. This decrease in power was leading to the Union's collapse.

        The Soviet Union's economic conditions were not good. For the past forty years, the United States and the USSR were engaged in the Cold War, competing to see who was the world's superpower. The USSR was spending tremendous money on nuclear weapons and on space technology. The Soviet's economy was declining because of the Cold War. With a centralized, command economy, the means and amount of production were predetermined. "…This means that the economy "works" because--and only to the extent--thequality, quantity, size, weight, and selling price of every nut, bolt, hinge, beam, tractor, and hydroelectric turbine have been previously determined…" ( 2 ) Factories had a quota to meet, but alcoholism hampered this. Workers would go to work drunk and not be able to do their jobs. Gorbachev proposed a campaign against alcoholism, but it failed. He called an end to the arms race because it was wasting to much time and money. His biggest proposal was the free-market system. This transition from communism to partial democracy would not come easily. Some people would have to give up certain commodities such as free housing and education, for guaranteed jobs, higher wages and pensions. Collective farming was done away with. These two changes would lead to more poor living conditions and more suffering because the people were always used to having the government control and support them from cradle to grave. They lacked the necessary skills to be on their own. In April of 1978, a communist government came to power in Afghanistan. The USSR saw this as a opportunity to try to put her own power over this country just like with the other countries within the Union. Reforms were made that went against the Afghanistanian's religious beliefs. The people felt they were being ruled by a puppet government in Moscow. The two rulers were fighting with each other and there were uprisings in Afghanistan. The USSR invaded on December 1979. On February 1988, after nine years of wasting time, money, and shedding innocent blood, the Soviet's government finally decided to take the troops out. May of the same year the troops began to depart.

        Gorbachev used glasnost to bring about some changes regarding human rights. Greater freedom of speech and of the press was allowed. Emigration rules were relaxed and people were freer to travel around the country. The cold war brought disastrous effects to the environment. On April 26, 1986, there was an explosion at the Soviet nuclear planet at Chernobyl. The government was trying to prevent the world from discovering this. Gorbachev finally took the initiative of announcing the explosion on television to the entire world. This explosion proved how much effort the past leaders put into the well being of the people and the environment. In the past, the government would determine were a person would stand in life at a young age. Some families would meet a special quota and their children would receive a free education through college. If the children were smart, they could continue their education. Children who were not that bright were often forced to take up the arts or sports.

           Even though communism has collapsed, it's effects are standing in the way of the nation'squest for democracy. There is no guarantee that the Union would remain both united and democratic. There are many divisive forces in Russia like ethnic factions, religious differences, generational conflicts, etc.  One thing is certain though, communism died where it was born.

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