CH: 01 END OF BIPOLARITY

Topics to be focused:

a) The Soviet System

b) Gorbachev and the disintegration

c) Causes and Consequences of disintegration of Soviet Union

d) Shock Therapy and its Consequences

e) New entities in world politics

•Russia •Balkan States •Central Asian States

f) India's relations with Russia and other post-communist countries

THE SOVIET SYSTEM

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) came into being after the socialist
revolution (Bolshevik Revolution) in Russia in 1917. This revolution took place
under the leadership of Vladimir Lenin. The revolution was inspired by the ideals
of socialism, as opposed to capitalism, and the need for an egalitarian society.
This was perhaps the biggest attempt in human history to abolish the institution
of private property and consciously design a society based on principles of
equality.
The Bolshevik party was based on centralising planning and state control. No
other political party or oppositioin was allowed to operate. It was even
implemented in the several East European state. The Bolshevik control was
known as' the Soviet system .

Many East European states under Fascist control were liberated by Soviet union
during the second world war. After the war these countries came under the
influence of soviet union. This bloc of countries was called, Second World, or the
Socialist bloc .( Military alliance called Warsaw Pact).

FEATURES OF SOVIET SYSTEM

The Soviet system/Economy has the following features:

• Soviet political system centred around the communist party and no other
political party or opposition was allowed to exist.

• Economy was planned and controlled by the state.

• The economy of Soviet union was more developed than rest of the world except
the U.S.

• It ensure a minimum standard of living toall citizens.

• Government subsidised the basic necessities including healthcare, childcare

and other welfare schemes.

• No unemployment and state ownership was a dominant form of ownership.After

the second world war the economy and political system of east European were
countries were modelled after U.S.S.R.

• The domestic consumers industry manufactured everything from a small pin to

bus.

Shortcomings/ loopholes of Soviet Union

Full of loopholes In spite of all perfection, the Soviet system was full of
loopholes. These included:

1. The system was bureaucratic and over-centralised making life difficult for
people.

2. It stifled the initiative of people due to lack of democracy and absence of

freedom of speech and expression.
3. Nearly all the Soviet Institutions needed reforms but the strict one party control
by the Communist Party made all the institutions unaccountable to the people.

4. The Communist Party even refused to give freedom to people of fifteen

different republics of Soviet Union to retain and manage their own affairs which
included cultural affairs.

5. Though Russian Federation was only one of the fifteen Soviet republics, it
dominated the helm of affairs, neglecting people from other regions and making
them feel oppressed.

GORBACHEV AND DISINTEGRATION:

•Mikhail Gorbachev, who had become General Secretary of the Communist Party
of the Soviet Union in 1985, sought to reform this system. He became president of
the country in 1988.

•He wanted to know the citizens of USSR and also wanted to be fully updated
about the technological revolutions taking place in the West.

•He wanted to normalize the relationships with the west and democratize and
reform the USSR.

•But this brought some effects which neither he nor anyone else anticipated:

1.East European countries started protesting against their own government and

USSR for democracy to be established. And one by one communist regimes

started collapsing.

2.At the same time economic system was of the USSR weakened which hastened

the disintegration.

3.Gorbachev initiated political and economic reforms and democratization within

the country but the reforms were opposed by the leaders withing the Communist
party.

4.And the leaders of communist party started a coup in 1991.

5.People now tasted the freedom and did not want to live in the old style.

6.Boris Yeltsin became the national hero as he won the election in Republic
Russia and opposed the coup.
7.Eastern Europe demanded independence and Central Asian republics wanted to
remain with Soviet Federations.

8.In 1991, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, the three major republics of USSR
declared that USSR has disbanded.

9.Capitalism and democracy were adopted for post- Soviet republics.

•USSR disintegrated, all states separated from Warsaw Pact and “Commonwealth
of Independent States” (CIS) was introduced and this was a surprise for Central
Asia republics.

•After disintegration Russia inherited the Soviet seat in the UN security

Council.Russia accepted all the international treaties of Soviet Union.

Q. What were the factors that forced Gorbachev to initiate reforms

in the U.S.S.R?

Ans:- Mikhail Gorbachev became the General Secretary of the Communist Party
of the Soviet Union in 1985 and introduced a series of political and economic
reforms in an attempt to reform the Soviet system. Gorbachev initiated the
policies of GLOSNOST (openness), PERESTROIKA (restructuring) and
USKORNI(improving the economy).

His decisions were guided by the following factors:

1. The Soviet system lagged behind the Western capitalist system in terms of
technology and infrastructure. Therefore, in order to keep in pace with the
technological revolution of the West, it was felt imperative to introduce reforms.

2. Mikhail Gorbachev also felt the need of normalising relations with the US, and
thus, decided to bring about reforms and democratise the system.

3. The Soviet system was characterised by rigidity, strict bureaucratic control and
authoritarianism. People did not enjoy any political rights or freedom of speech.
The system thus had failed to satisfy the political and economic aspirations of the
people.Therefore, reforms were considered essential to liberate the rigid
administrative system.

4. The system was under the control of one party that is the Communist party,
which neither tolerated any dissent or opposition, nor was responsible and
accountable to people. This further created resentment.
5. The invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 had weakened the Soviet system both
politically and economically. The USSR incurred heavy losses, thereby placing a
huge burden on the national economy. As a result, the Soviet Union later decided
to withdraw in 1988.

6. The grave economic crisis that had entangled the Soviet system with fall in
production and shortage of consumer goods created disillusionment among the
people.

CAUSES OF THE DISINTEGRATION OF SOVIET UNION

1. Economic Weakness:

The economic stagnation leading to severe consumer shortages of goods and

services. As a result, the public was not satisfied and started doubting and
asking questions openly, which was later followed by protests.

Reasons of weak and stagnated economy:

a) USSR used to spend money and resources in maintaining a nuclear and

military arsenal.

b) Spend money in development of satellite states in Eastern Europe and within

USSR (basically in 5 Central Asian republics).

C) People gained knowledge about the technological advancement in the West

and started comparing.

2. Political and Administrative cause:

•Communist party was ruling over 70 years and became authoritarian and was not
accountable to people.

•Corruption started at high rate; government could not stop/reduce it.

•The people did not know about the functioning about the government/ political
system i.e., lack of transparency between people and the government.

•Party bureaucrats gained privileges than ordinary citizens.

•People did not identify with the system and with the rulers and the government
lost popular backing.

3. Gorbachev's Reforms:
Gorbachev's program of reformation was the biggest cause of Soviet
disintegration. Gorbachev introduced PERESTROIKA (restructuring) and
GLOSNOST (openness) to reform the economy, democratize the political system
and bridge the gap with the west. Soon under the new atmosphere of freedom,
Liberty, various Soviet republics made a demand for more autonomy.

4. Rise of nationalism and Desire for sovereignty:

The rise of nationalism and desire for sovereignty within various republics
including - Russia, Baltic republic ( Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) Ukraine and
Georgia etc.this proved to be the final and most immediate cause of Soviet
disintegration.

5. Ordinary people became aware:

All become aware about economic advancement of the west, after being told
USSR was better than Western capitalism. The reality of its backwardness come
as a political and psychological shock.

Consequences of the disintegration of Soviet union

What were the major consequences of the disintegration of Soviet union?

Or

Asses the new world which emerged after the collapse of the Soviet union

Or

What were the major consequences of the disintegration of Soviet union for

countries like India?

Answer :- Disintegration of USSR had profound consequences on world politics.

Main effect or consequences of the disintegration of Soviet union were as

follows:

1. End of cold war and end of ideological battle:

End of cold war : A major consequences of the disintegration of Soviet union was
the end of cold war . It ended the atmosphere of fear, terror, insecurity and
apprehension of outbreak of nuclear war.

End of ideological war: ideological dispute over the superiority of capitalist and
socialist system came to an end. It seen as a victory of capitalism over socialism.
2. End of arms race:

Another consequences of the disintegration of Soviet union was the end of arms
race. Elimination of Soviet bloc also put restriction on military alliances and
encouraged disarmament.

3. Rise of free market model:

Dominance of Western institutions like IMF and World Bank in the global
economic governance pushed the developing countries to adopt neo-Liberal
economic policies. India adopted free market economic model in the form of LPG
reforms post 1991.

4. End of Bipolarity and emergence of unipolarity:

The disintegration of Soviet union ended bi-polarity in the world politics. The USA
became the sole superpower and no other country in a position to challenge the
supremacy of USA.

5. Decline in financial aid to other countries:

The financial aid to other countries like India, was significantly reduced due to the
disintegration of USSR.

6. Rise of central Asia :

Central Asia became the new centre of global interest particularly from Chinese
expansionist ambitions in the region.

Shock therapy

Q. Shock therapy in post Communist regime and consequences of shock therapy.

Shock therapy:- The collapse of communism was followed in most of these

countries by a painful process of transition from an authoritarian socialist system
to a democratic capitalist system. The model of transition in Russia, Central Asia
and east Europe that was influenced by the World Bank and the IMF came to be
known as „shock therapy‟.

Features of shock therapy

In this regard, the former communist regimes had to undergo the following
transitions:

a). These countries had to make a complete shift from the Socialist model to the
Capitalist model.
b). They had to adopt private ownership of property, encouraging private players
in the economy.

c). In place of collective farming and state control over economy, these former
Communist regimes had to adopt complete privatisation of means of production.

d). They were expected to discontinue alliances with the Soviet bloc and establish
close links with western countries. They were also expected to follow the
economic and political system of the West.

e). They had to encourage free trade and foreign investment, bring about
deregulation of economy and promote currency convertibility.

f). The former communist countries could not follow any alternate model or mixed
economy model of development.

Consequences of shock therapy

This indeed was not the best way to make transition from communism to
capitalism, because it had the following consequences in the post-communist
regimes.

1. The shock therapy model proved to be a disaster for the former communist
countries, bringing these state controlled economies (particularly the industrial
sector) virtually to a standstill, with a decline in production, price rise, shortage of
consumer goods and black marketing.

2. In Russia, state controlled industries collapsed, industries were put up for

sales to private individuals. These industries were undervalued and sold at throw-
away prices.This was referred to as the „largest garage sale‟ in history.

3. The fall in the Russian currency, Ruble, had a devastating effect on the
economy.The high inflation rate resulted in loss of savings. Moreover,
disintegration of collective farming brought about food insecurity in the country.

4. The social welfare system collapsed, with the withdrawal of state-led subsidies
creating widespread inequality.

5. Politically, these countries had to transform themselves and adopt the

democratic style of functioning. Constitutions of the post-communist regimes
were framed in a hasty manner, with overpowering the executive branch,
resulting in the rise of authoritarian regimes in many Central Asian countries.

In looking into the consequences and the pain these countries had to experience
both economically and politically, we may conclude that the Shock Therapy was
not an appropriate model of transition. Any change could have come gradually
and not with sudden transformation.

TENSION AND CONFLICT IN POST-SOVIET STATES

Bipolarity has come to an end in 1991 with the disintegration of USSR but
conflicts and tensions in the post-Soviet republics and East European nations
continued.These countries have been witness to worst of civil wars an
insurgencies. The growing involvement of outside powers has further
complicated the problem. Some of the examples in this context include:

1. In Russia the republics of Dagestan and Chechnya have witnessed violent

secessionist movements. Russia‟s technique of curbing the Chechen rebels by
indiscriminate bombings have led to severe human rights violations but failed to
alter the ambition for freedom.

2. In Tajikistan, a Central Asian country, civil war went on for ten years till 2001. It
also witnessed sectarian violence.

3. In Azerbaijan‟s province of Nagorno Karabakh, local Armenians want to secede

and join Armenia.

4. In Georgia, demand for independence by two provinces has led to a civil war.

5. In Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan and Georgia there has been rebellion against the ruling
elite. These countries are fighting over distribution of river waters leading to civil
war and instability.

6. In Eastern Europe, Czechoslovakia split into two states Czech and Slovaks
peacefully.

7. In the Balkan republic of Yugoslavia civil war broke out leading to separation
and declaration of independence by provinces like Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia -
Herzegovina. Ethnic Serbs opposed this leading to massacre of non-Serb
Bosnians. Inter-ethnic civil war was followed by NATO intervention and bombing
of Yugoslavia.

8. Central Asian Republics are rich in hydrocarbon resources. It has led to

outside intrusion in this region. The region is next to China, Russia, Afghanistan,
Pakistan and close to West Asia. After the World Trade Centre (WTC) attack on
USA on 11 September 2001, the US paid all Central Asian States to hire bases and
to allow airplanes to fly over their territory during the wars in Afghanistan and
Iraq. Russia, however, believes that these areas should be under Russian
influence as they are near to it while China has started developing interest in the
region due to trade and oil resource of the area.

INDIA AND POST-COMMUNIST COUNTRIES:

 In the Bipolar World, India had good and cordial relations with all the
communist states including the Soviet Union. The close proximity of India
and USSR during the Cold War era in political, economic, military and
cultural fields is well known.
 In the post-bipolar world, India has maintained good relations with all the
postcommunist states. However, the strongest point over here is India‟s
relations with Russia.
 India-Russian relations are wedded to a destiny of trust and mutual
interest. Most Indian heroes from Raj Kapoor to Amitabh Bachhan are
popular in post-Soviet States.Hindi film songs are popular all over the
region.
 Both India and Russia show a common vision of the post-cold war
multipolar world. They believe in the co-existence of many powers in world
politics. They believe in coexistence, collective security, greater
regionalism, autonomous foreign policy for all states, settlement of all
international conflicts through negotiations and democratisation of
decision making bodies like U.N.O. Both India and Russia have signed over
80 bilateral agreements as part of the strategic agreement of 2001. The
establishment of BRICS (a grouping of Brazil, Russia, China, India and
South Africa) is a testimony to the facts mentioned above.
 With Russia, India stands to get a vital support on Kashmir. Likewise,
international terrorism, energy supply, access to Central Asia and a
balanced relationship with China are other key areas of increasing Indo-
Russian relationship.
 In the similar manner Russia would also be benefited as India is the second
largest buyer of arms from Russia. Indian army gets most of its military
hardware from Russia. Russia has always helped India whenever there is a
shortage of oil, since India is an oil importing country.
 India stands to increase its energy imports from Russia and the republics
of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. Likewise India‟s nuclear energy and
space programme cannot reach their culmination without the aid of Russia.
Russia in 2009 has agreed to support peaceful use of nuclear energy by
 giving nuclear fuel to India. India, therefore, shares a close and strategic
partnership with all the former Communist states.

Arab Spring

 The 21st century witnessed emergence of new developments for

democracies and democratization in West Asian countries, one such event
is characterized as Arab Spring that began in 2009. Located in Tunisia, the
Arab Spring took its roots where the struggle against corruption,
unemployment and poverty was started by the public which turned into a
political movement because the people considered the existing problems
as outcome of autocratic dictatorship. The demand for democracy that
started in Tunisia spread throughout the Muslim-dominated Arab countries
in West Asia.
 Hosni Mubarak, who had been in power in Egypt since 1979, also collapsed
as a result of the massive democratic protests. In addition, the influence of
Arab Spring could also be seen in Yemen, Bahrain, Libya and Syria where
similar protests by the people led to democratic awakening throughout the
region.

Common wealth of independent states (CIS)

Answer: commonwealth of independent states (CIS) :- The Soviet Union was

dissolved in 1991 leading to the foundation of the Commonwealthof Independent
States (CIS).It is a regional intergovernmental organization of the formerSoviet
Republics which was formed on December 08,1991 by Russia, Ukraine and
Belarus.

focused on cooperation in the following aspects:

•Political,Economic, Environmental, Humanitarian, Cultural and Other Issues

 The remaining republics of the Soviet Union joined the Commonwealth of

Independent States after signing the Alma-Ata Protocol(21 Dec.1991). Now,
the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has the following countries
as its members:

•Russia, Belarus & Ukraine(founding members)

•Armenia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Moldova

and Kyrgyzstan, Georgia(leave 2009).

Objectives
1.Supporting economic and social developments in the member countries with a
common economic space.

2.Ensure human rights and fundamental freedom as per the principles recognized
universally.

3.Ensure international peace and security to facilitate cooperation between the

member states.

4.Peacefully resolve disputes and conflicts between the member states.

 The CIS has its headquarter at Minsk,Belarus.

Q. WRITE AN ESSAY FOR OR AGAINST THE FOLLOWING PROPOSITION “With

the Dis-integration of USSR India should change its foreign policy & focus more
on friendship with the US rather than with friends like Russia?

ANS;-After the collapse of USSR (2nd world, or soviet union) many scholars are
of the view that India should change its foreign policy & focus more on friendship
with the US rather than with Russia

 Arguments in favour of Indians friendship with USA rather than with

Russia;;

1) India & USA are two biggest democratic countries of the world . Both share a
love for Human rights, liberty, equality, justice & peace.

2) When China attacked India on 20th Oct 1962 it was America which helped India
by Supplying latest arms.

3) India has set up Tarapur atomic power plant with the help of USA.

4) Both have firm faith in the notion of world peace & they stand against
terrorism.

5) US had agreed to the nuclear deal with India because both sides stood to
benefit from it.

 Arguments against Indians friendship with USA rather than with Russia;;

1) In the UN, USA fully supported Pakistan, USAs attitude on Kashmir was not in
favour of India.

2) America supported Pakistan on Bangladesh issue as against the wills & wishes
of India, sends its 7th fleet in the Bay of Bengal to pressurize India.
3) When India conducted 5 nuclear tests at Pokhran in 1998 A.D. American
President ordered tough sanctions against India in retaliation for its underground

nuclear tests.

4) America is constantly pressing India to sign NPT & CTBT but India is not ready
to sign these treaties.

CONCLUSION:-to conclude we can say that India should have close & friendly
relations with U.S.A but not at the cost of Russia, because Russia has always
helped India during the hours of need.

Q. WRITE A SHORT NOTE ON INDO SOVIET TREATY OF 1971?

ANS:- The indo soviet treaty known as treaty of peace, friendship & co-operation
was signed by India & USSR on 9th August 1971 at Moscow for twenty years this
treaty was the first political treaty concluded by India with one of the
superpowers. The treaty contains articles:-

1) Both the countries are desirous for maintaining & developing the present
mutual friendly relations.

2) Both the countries believe that mutual friendship & co-operation will be in the
interest of Asia & world peace, apart from the mutual benefit of both the
countries.

3) Faith in the peaceful consistence & co-operation.

4) Solution of international problems through negotiations.

Q. WHAT IS MEANT BY UNIPOLARITY & BIPOLARITY?

ANS:-1} Unipolarity means dominance of one major power in the world.

Disintegration of USSR changed the world into Unipolarity.

2} Bi-polarity:-Bi-polarity means dominance of two major powers in the world

.Before the disintegration of USSR the world was bipolar (USA& USSR) but after
the disintegration of USSR the world became uni-polar.

Q. EXPLAIN THE FOLLOWING IN FEW SENTENCES:

{1} BALKAN STATES

{2} CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES

{3} BALTIC STATES.

ANS:- {1}Balkan states:- are those states which are bordered by Balkan Peninsula
in Eastern Europe. These are as: Albania, Bosnia, Croatia, Herzegovina, Greece,

Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia .

{2}Central Asian countries:- Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,

Azerbaijan, & Tajikistan.

{3} Baltic States;- are those states which are very closed & share their borders
with Baltic sea, these are the Eastern most states of Europe. These are as Latvia,
Lithuania and Estonia.

TIMELINE OF DISINTEGRATION OF THE SOVIET UNION

•1985 March: Mikhail Gorbachev elected as the General Secretary of the

Communist Party of the Soviet Union; appoints Boris Yeltsin as the head of the
Communist Party in Moscow; initiates a series of reforms in the Soviet Union

•1988: Independence movement begins in Lithuania; later spreads to Estonia and

Latvia

•1989 October: Soviet Union declares that the Warsaw Pact members are free to
decide their own futures; Berlin Wall falls in November

•1990 February: Gorbachev strips the Soviet Communist Party of its 72-year-long
monopoly on power by calling on the Soviet parliament (Duma) to permit multi-
party politics

•1990 March: Lithuania becomes the first of the 15 Soviet republics to declare its
independence

•1990 June: Russian parliament declares its independence from the Soviet Union

•1991 June: Yeltsin, no longer in the Communist Party, becomes the President of
Russia

•1991 August: The Communist Party hardliners stage an abortive coup against
Gorbachev

•1991 September: Three Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania become
UN members (later join NATO in March 2004)

•1991 December: Russia, Belarus and Ukraine decide to annul the 1922 Treaty on
the Creation of the USSR and establish the Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS); Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan join the CIS (Georgia joins later in 1993); Russia
takes over the USSR seat in the United Nations

•1991 December 25: Gorbachev resigns as the President of the Soviet Union; the
end of the Soviet Union