This dissertation of limited scope traces the attempts by Gorbachev
(1985-1991) to reform an economic, political and social system which was in
a state of terminal decline.
The origins of its demise, it is argued, lay in the ossified command
economy inherited from Stalin. The enormous damage inflicted on Soviet
agriculture during collectivisation in the 1930s~ when millions of productive
peasants died, proved to be a fatal blow to that sector.
Tlms, Gorbachev followed a two-fold strategy ofrefonn. Glasnost
(openness) was introduced to allow constructive debate on economic and
social matters. Despite a hesitant beginning, the right to criticise allowed the
emergence of more radical campaigners, such as Yeltsin who demanded
greater democracy. Significantly, the revival of ethnic nationalist demands in
the republics led to disintegration.
Perestroika (restructuring) was intended to modernise and boost living
standards. The economy faltered but the market was not yet in place / History / M.A. (History)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:umkn-dsp01.int.unisa.ac.za:10500/1025 |
| Date | 07 1900 |
| Creators | Carlyle, Keith Cecil |
| Contributors | Dedering, Tilman |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Format | 1 online resource (92 leaves) |
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