2/17 RUSSIA

Mikhail Gorbachev- 1985-1991; goals were to energize economy and the political system by reformation; didn't intend to end communist rule, but his changes led to collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. his reformation was based on 4 ideas:

1. Perestroika- "re-structuring" by economic changes and decentralization/ small privatization of economy
2. Glasnost- "openness" relaxation of controls over public discourse(newspapers, magazines, etc.) led to development of interest groups and criticism
3. Democratization- to increase gov. responsiveness to their citizens; introduces competitive elections
4. New thinking- cuts back on military spending for the consumer sector; negotiations with U.S.

1990- Soviet constitution was changed; language taken out that said the communist party was the only party.
2 major devisive issues facing Gorbachev:

1. Republic autonomy by the 15 republics in the Soviet Union; they wanted to govern themselves; formed "ppular fronts" that became political parties
2. state of economy- perestroika reduced quality and quantity of products, inflation rises, economic decline, etc.

August 1991- attempted coup against Gorbachev fails, but by the end of 1991 the Soviet Union had collapsed anyways.

Boris Yeltsin- President of Russia; proclaimed loyalty to Western style democracy and the market economy, but because of economic decline he can't implement economic decrees, so Yeltsin goes radical in the market economy and privatizes almost everything, the industrial industries go through shock therapy (private citizens get vouchers so they own part of the industry) and gov. doesn't give out subsidies anymore. the GNP and industrial output of the country go down.

oligarchs- small opportunists who took advantage of free market reform movement and became very wealthy and a political force.

throughout 1992-1993, the executive branch (Yeltsin) and the legislative branch butted heads on almost everything. even the judicial branch began siding with parliament and everyone wanted Yeltsin gone.

In Dec. 1993 the referendum vote about Yeltsin's Constitution was passed and it is still the constitution today.