...Amanda Dennis Dr. Knickman World History II 9 March 2013 Collapse of Communist Regimes In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the great communist regimes in Eastern Europe collapsed. All across Europe, in countries such as Germany, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Russia, the people and their governments were in constant struggle. These struggles eventually lead to a falling out in the communist governments, and the citizens won their victory. Because the people's needs were not met by the government, corruption in government and poor leadership, and the views on countries' economies were different, the communist regimes in Eastern Europe eventually collapsed. Communism was first developed by Karl Marx in the 19th Century; it is the theory of a society in which people take only what they need and give only what they can. Communism started out as a decent cause, but it evolved into a violent revolution in which the government controlled the people only through force. Communism took away people’s freedom in their separate economies, which caused anger to ripple through the people. Strikes were led by angry mobs, and by 1991, all communist regimes had completely collapsed in Eastern Europe. After years of revolt and protest, the official communist government positions had lost all popular support by the people and the Iron Curtain was dismantled, allowing Eastern Europe to become communist-free. In many countries, the people’s needs were rarely met by the government....
Words: 1561 - Pages: 7
...Factors That Culminated In the Eventual Collapse of Communism and the Demise of the Soviet Union Purnea Gillani Author Note This report was prepared for International Relations Practice, BS (Hons) Major in Political Science and Minor in Management, taught by Professor Sajaad Naseer ABSTRACT The collapse of the soviet empire is often heralded in the West as a triumph of capitalism and democracy, as though this event was a direct result of the policies of the Reagan and Thatcher governments. This analysis has little relation to measurable facts, circumstances and internal political dynamics that were the real historical causes of the deterioration of the Soviet empire. The key to understanding the reasons for the demise of the Soviet Union and communism in Eastern Europe is to be found not in the speeches or policies of Western politicians, but in internal Soviet history. Through our report we have attempted to discern the various complex factors that came together and led to the unraveling of the Soviet Union and the end of communism in Europe. This report contains an analysis of how social, political and economic factors culminated in the sudden and unprecedented collapse of the Soviet Union at the perceived height of its power. ACKNOWLEDGMENT We would like to thank … Contents ABSTRACT 2 ACKNOWLEDGMENT 3 INTRODUCTION 5 LITERATURE REVIEW 8 ROLE...
Words: 4852 - Pages: 20
...To what extent was the fall of the Berlin Wall a result rather than a cause of the end of the Cold war? The dismantling of the Berlin Wall in Nov 1989 was one of the most symbolic acts of the Cold War. It was a symbol of the changes that had swept through Europe in 1989 and of the end of the divisions that had marked the essential character of the CW: the ideological split between capitalism and communism. In 1989, the DDR was 4o years old and the East German leadership was prepared to celerbraite its anniversary. At what should have been an event to consolidate the country, the tide was turning against the regime. Gorbachevs reforms had important consequences for the existence of E germany as a separate country. The DDR was a product of Cold War tensions, which had prevented the unification of Germany after WW2. Without these tensions there seemed little reason for Germany to remain divided. Honecker recognized that the DDR could still have a reason to exist if it remained socialist and therefore different from W Germany. Honecker was not in favour of any reform, but the E german population could not be isolated from events in the rest of euope. Large numbers of East Germans had fled from the counrty via Hungary during the summer of 1989, but even more serious for the government were those who were staying put. Gorbys reforms of communism in the Usr had encouraged many E Germanys to push for change. Political groups were formed with huge crowds of demonstrators shouting...
Words: 2105 - Pages: 9
...5-6 ). It has been nine years since the start of the test and there are no signs in reducing its production and use. These weapons of mass destruction can destroy a single country and it could be the spark of a new world war. Ever since the victory of the allies after World War 2, Korea was divided into two countries. The North side became a communist country as for the south, it became democratic. The regime up in the north have been living in isolation from the world and is known as the “ hermit kingdom “ ( Fitzpatrick 7 ). The United States at the time was very anti-communism. They wanted to stop the spread of communism by helping east Asian countries. They had successfully stop communism from spreading into South Korea but failed with Vietnam. Because we successfully stopped communism from spreading into South Korea, we were able to become allies with them causing the North to show signs of animosity....
Words: 574 - Pages: 3
...America and the World University of Phoenix There were a many causes of the Cold War and the United States feared the rise and spread of communism throughout the world. The Soviet Union’s Government, along with many communist governments, did not want the people of their country to have a voice and think for themselves. They were not allowed the the luxury of being able to vote and electing who they wanted as their leader. The United States had a completely opposite approach and did not want governments that were in opposition to democracy and freedom of choice. People in the Soviet Union did not have freedom of speech and the press was not allowed to print anything freely without severe repercussions whereas the United States does have a free press. The immediate causes leading to the cold war was conflict between the Soviet Union and the United States at the peace-time conferences. The conflict was intensified after President Truman declared the Truman Doctrine and launched the Marshall Plan.” President Franklin Roosevelt believed the Soviet Union was going to start setting up a freely-elected parliamentary government, but he died before that ever happened. President Harry Truman became President and did not believe that the Soviet Union would honor the agreement and set up elections up in Eastern Europe. The United States exploded the Atomic bomb successfully and Truman also figured the United States could have a stiff attitude towards Russian expansion into...
Words: 1801 - Pages: 8
...controversies about this war so far. These controversies are concentrated on the moral dimension of the war. In other words, the experts and the analysts are concerned about whether this war is just or not. The Vietnam War can’t be considered as just war when we evaluate it with the aid of the Jus Ad Bellum critters. It doesn’t meet the 6 critters such as just cause, comparative justice, legitimate authority, right intention, probability of success and last resort. First of all, the USA doesn’t have a just cause to declare a war against North Vietnam and Viet Cong. In this war, USA struggles against communism and wants to terminate the so-called dangerous activities of the North Vietnam and Viet Cong founded by Ho Min Cinh in South Vietnam. USA doesn’t correct a suffered wrong here although it regards communism as great public evil. Western countries which adopt liberalism disapprove communism and they think that communism have to be removed. In this war, USA exactly does this but it doesn’t show that United States has a just cause to go to war with North Vietnam. Anyway, if we scrutinize the Vietnam War we see that the ‘communism’ is not the main reason for USA to declare a war against North Vietnam. The USA concerns the situation in the South East Asia and it is afraid of to lose its dominance in this region. According to Jeffrey Record, the...
Words: 2328 - Pages: 10
...How Did International Relations in Eastern Europe Serve to Cause the Soviet Union’s Collapse? The Soviet Union also known as the USSR was a major world power during its existence. Which began with the Russian Revolution of 1917 and went on until its collapse in 1991. The United States and the Soviet Union were ultimately large rivals since the commencement of World War 2, which created conflict known as the “Cold War”. While we are so grateful that a nuclear war did not break out, some believe that billions could have been killed if nuclear war broke out between the two countries. (“What is The Soviet Union”) The ultimate start of the Soviet Union was in 1917, with the frustration and annoyance from the Russians with the monarchy, which was presided by Czar Nicholas II. With this new idea of communism, it was surprisingly embraced by some of Russia’s top intellectuals. Communism, which is the socialist philosophy, which was encouraged and promoted by a philosopher by the name of Karl Marx in his 1848 political campaign. Communism was set in place to hopefully institute a classless, stateless society where, the people owned all means of production. With constant change and improvements, which can be ultimately argued, the intellectuals eventually got their way. While looking and reading about communism on paper alone seemed like a great idea on paper, unfortunately the implementation of communism in the USSR was profoundly corrupt and inevitably deadly to many. After...
Words: 1138 - Pages: 5
...Edexcel A2 Political Ideologies 3 Socialism A Short-answer questions 1 Why did Marx believe that capitalism was doomed to collapse? • Capitalism is doomed to collapse because of its own internal contradictions. • Capitalism embodies its own antithesis, the proletariat, seen by Marx as the ‘gravedigger’ of capitalism. • Capitalism is defined by the creation of profit. This is only possible by the exploitation of the proletariat — that is, by the extraction of surplus value from the workers by the bourgeoisie. • Marx believed that the inherent contradictions of capitalism would cause the proletariat to achieve revolutionary class consciousness. This would occur as capitalism went through a series of deepening crises, leading to the immiseration of the proletariat. This would inevitably result in a proletarian revolution which was destined to overthrow capitalism. 2 Distinguish between fundamentalist and revisionist socialism. • Fundamentalist socialism rejects capitalism entirely and seeks to abolish it. It usually attributes the flaws of capitalism to private property for private profit, and seeks to establish socialism in the form of common ownership and very substantial equality of outcome. The Marxist or communist tradition is the clearest example of fundamentalist socialism. However, some fundamentalists pursue their goals by the parliamentary road — i.e. it is possible to be ‘fundamentalist democrats’ in the parliamentary sense. Eurocommunists...
Words: 839 - Pages: 4
...Greece is drowning in despair Americans may not even think anything is going on. This is what was going on in the beginning of the Cold War just two years after WW2, 1947. Though what do people living during 1960 or even the children of the baby boomers know about the Cold War? I believe that the American Perception of the Cold War is very different from what was going on. The first person I interviewed was my father in law Dan Faris. Dan said “ To know about the Cold War all you have to know about is the Iron Curtain cause they could be synonymous. This is very true the Iron Curtain is defined by the Eastern and Western separation of Europe by Communism. This is what started the Cold War. During the European Financial Collapse people would kling to whatever promises people could make them to get them out of their poverty. Stalin came in and promised a better tomorrow and communism spread. The United States saw this as a threat and they wanted to stop Communism therefore Truman employed Marshall and henceforth Marshall aid was offered to the people in those European countries. Which in turn threatened Stalin. Dan said that this all started in 1957 which is actually not true though since he was born in 1955 may have been what he perceived. All of this actually started in 1945. During these games that the Russians and U.S. was playing with each other soon it turned ugly when bombs were placed in Cuba which was called the Cuban Missile Crisis. Dan’s perception said” I know a...
Words: 659 - Pages: 3
...Marxism grants social and political theorists a most realistic, dynamic, and comprehensive framework that allows the study of the causes of war in its ‘totality’; which crosses the boundaries of each theory of international relations and encompasses the political, social, and economic aspects of the causes of war.<!–[if !supportFootnotes]–>[2]<!–[endif]–> Marxist theory applied in conjunction with the ‘three levels’ of analysis, which are, the individual, the state, and the international system, is relevant and significant to the study of international relations. In particular, Marxism as an analytical tool has been able to evolve within and adapt to the altering environment of international relations, especially with concerns to global conflict. An examination of Marxism, from its rudimentary forms and its progression into its modern day applications proves that Marxism offers an extremely viable basis for analysing the causes of war. Marxism accepts that capitalism, hence, the capitalist mode of production gives birth to two classes in society, the owning bourgeoisie and the working proletariat, which are inherently antagonistic towards each other’s existence and prone to class conflict. Also, the capitalist states represents the interests of the bourgeoisie, and as the ruling class, the bourgeoisie controls the means of production, which is basically the states material power and economic foundations. Marxists embrace the materialist conception of history,...
Words: 2232 - Pages: 9
...Glasnost': The Decimation of the USSR April 16, 2002 I) Since the beginning of mankind the world has been under various ruling powers with only one goal in mind. A) This led to the rise of monarchies with their kings and queens, the socialists with their presidents, and the communists with their tsarist rulers. B) In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev brought upon the world the idea of Glasnost', which led to the changing of the largest ruling power in the world to a new power benefiting everyone. II) The Former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics before Glasnost'. C) Different styles of Soviet government from the early 1900s up to 1985. 1) Leninism to Stalinism to Khrushchev to Brezhnev. D) Coups and the Great Purge III) What lead to Glasnost' and what it is. E) In 1986, Gorbachev dismayed at the slow process of reform being conducted in the country proposed to the citizens of the USSR and the entire world a two new ideas to help bring reform to the country in a much more radical direction. F) Gorbachev called for a glasnost’ (openness or candor) in the media and culture. IV) Changes within Russia and Foreign changes. G) Banned works and speaking out are no longer dangerous crimes against the state. 2) Criticizing the government led to the formation of a large number of independent nationalistic movements in the USSR. 3) Scholars and scientists are allowed to share their findings with others...
Words: 2288 - Pages: 10
...theories. Marx died in 1883, and in that same year, the birth of Keynes passed. Born in England, Keynes grew up in a comfortable English social class. Throughout his life, Keynes enjoyed success and great accomplishment. His books Economic Consequences of the Peace and The General Theory made his ideas and thoughts on economics and his view on protecting capitalism notorious. Marx and Keynes, two very different economists with distinctive proposals, share some similarities, but overall, the two possess totally different concepts on capitalism. Marx and Keynes differ in their broader economic views, but they still agree on some levels. Both economists attempt to devise an economic theory that will explain the problems of the real capitalist world in which they lived in during their respective times. Both predict an unstable capitalist system, since they both believe that a perfect capitalistic system rises and falls periodically. Marx supposes that by raising the national product over the long run will cause an ultimate collapse of the system and allow it to fail and bring about socialism. Likewise, Keynes reasons that the level of private capital investment will determine the irregular patterns of growth, slump, and stagnation of the economy. Both Marx and Keynes view the free market system in a pessimistic manner; they believe that the system will not adjust itself automatically, and so, the system will not ensure long-run stability or...
Words: 1144 - Pages: 5
...GCE History |Contents |Page | | | | |Unit A2 1: Option 1, Anglo–Spanish Relations 1509–1609 |5 | |Unit A2 1: Option 2, Crown and Parliament in England 1600–1702 The Changing Role and |17 | |Status of Parliament | | | |37 | |Unit A2 1: Option 3, Liberalism and Nationalism 1815–1914 | | |Unit A2 1: Option 4, Nationalism and Unionism in Ireland 1800–1900 |51 | |Unit A2 1: Option 5, The Clash of Ideologies in Europe 1900–2000 |67 | Introduction CCEA has developed new GCE specifications for first teaching from September 2008. This scheme of work has been designed to support...
Words: 15150 - Pages: 61
...Michael Oswald Antoinette Countryman English 152 22 February 2014 The Causes of the Vietnam War The Vietnam War is now considered as one of the most distressing moments during the 20th Century. The Vietnam War was caused by many factors that contributed to the war in Vietnam during the years of 1959 to April 30, 1975. This war just prolonged the struggles between nationalist forces attempting to unify the country of Vietnam. Most of the factors that contribute to the war were the beliefs by a lot of people who wanted to prevent Vietnam of becoming an Independent Country. There are many people who suffered a lot due to this war going on and still due to this day people still picturing how they fought the war. What were the causes of the Vietnam War? Why did the United States become involved in this war? Why did the Vietnam War have such a huge impact both on the Vietnam and the United States? What was the impact that Ho Chi Minh had during the War? One of the most important features when describing the Vietnam War was why the United States became involved in the war, and their reasons for conflict amongst the Vietnamese in the North of the 17th Parallel. It is known that the US was involved for many reasons, particularly their belief in the Domino theory where if one country fell to Communism, the rest of South-East Asia would fall along with it. There are many other reasons why the United States became involved in this war. There are many reasons why the United States...
Words: 2042 - Pages: 9
...Chinese involvement in the Korean War was merely an instrument of Stalin’s foreign policy rather than as a force for spreading communist revolution. How far do you accept this interpretation? Chinese involvement in the Korean War was largely due to Stalin’s use of manipulation and encouragement towards Mao, convincing him to join the war. To a large extent, Stalin’s motivation behind encouraging Mao to join the war could be due to the possibility of increasing communist influence in Asia. China is a large and, in comparison to other Asian countries, powerful place. With their help, North Korea’s chances of winning the war and therefore increasing communism in Asia was much more likely. The other possibility is that Stalin encouraged China’s involvement due to his foreign policy which meant that communist countries such as China and the USSR should help other communist countries (i.e. North Korea) in disputes whereby Nationalists and Communists are fighting. The idea of Chinese involvement in the war seems possible, to a small extent, to be due to Stalin’s policy when we look at his involvement in the decision. The military campaign against South Korea was agreed between Stalin and Kim Il-Sung, showing Stalin’s genuine interest in helping North Korea in the dispute. Stalin’s enthusiasm in Chinese involvement also suggests that he was motivated by his foreign policy and helping a fellow communist state as he was aware of China’s power in Asia. He knew that China were much larger...
Words: 1049 - Pages: 5
