Struggles for Democracy

Main Idea: Under Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet Union undertakes major reforms to open up the Communist system. Soviet bloc countries in Eastern Europe go a step further and throw off Communist rule completely. Reforms lead to unrest and the breakup of the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Poland, and Czechoslovakia face problems after becoming free of communism.

III. Collapse of the Soviet Union

A Gorbachev’s Reforms

1 1985: Gorbachev gains power

2 Promotes reforms to revive Soviet Union

a Glasnost: remarkable changes

b Perestroika: reforms economy

c Political system: democratization occurs

d Foreign Policy: signs INF Treaty

B Poland & Hungary

1 Among the first European nations to embrace reform

2 Poland—Polish archbishop becomes Pope John Paul IIèunion (Solidarity) sought recognition by gov’t; Lech Walesa union leader becomes hero; forces change and wins elections

3 Hungary—deposes of communist regime

C Communism Falls in East Germany

1 Protests break out despite official repression

2 Nov. 9, 1989: Berlin Wall opened

3 Reunification: Oct. 3, 1990—Faced many challenges in integrating the peoples and economies of the former East & West Germanies

D Democracy Spreads

1 Inspired by events in neighboring countries, Czechs also end Communist rule

2 Romania—1989, dictator Nicolae Ceausescu is killed and free elections are held

IV. Collapse of the Soviet Union

A Unrest

1 Soviet republics break away

2 Aug 1991, detained Gorbachev and demanded his resignation

3 Soviet Union dissolvesèCommonwealth of Independent States (CIS) formed

B Yeltsin Era

1 Boris Yeltsin takes charge of Russia

2 “Shock therapy” used to move Russia toward capitalism

3 Opposition grows to Yeltsin’s economic policies

a War in Chechnya

C Yugoslavia

1 Patchwork quilt of ethnic groups: Croats, Serbs, Muslims, Slovenes, Macedonians, Montenegrins

2 1980s: falls apart

a Slobodan Milosevic led YugoslaviaèSlovenia & Croatia declare independenceèSerbian-led Yugoslav army invade both republics; Slovenes held them off; Croatia: bloodier—Serb-Croat hatredèUN arranged ceasefire Jan 1992

b Bosnia & Herzegovina: independence; 1992: Bosnian Serbs enforced ethnic cleansing policy against Bosnian Muslims; peace agreement signed in 1995 (unrest continues)

c Yugoslavia: former Serbia & Montenegro

D Eastern Europe Faces Problems

1 Poland’s economy suffers, Poles vote Walesa out of office

2 Czechoslovakia’s economy also falters

a Jan 1, 1993: country splits