Dissolution of the Soviet Union

GS2 INTERNATIONAL RELATION

Background

Lithuania’s Independence: Lithuania became the first nation to break away from the Soviet Union in 1991, marking the beginning of the U.S.S.R.’s disintegration.

Lithuania

• Geographical Location: Situated in the Baltic region of Europe, Lithuania shares its borders with Latvia, Belarus, Poland, and the Baltic Sea.
• Baltic States: It is one of the three Baltic nations, along with Latvia and Estonia.
• Capital: Vilnius
• EU & NATO Membership: Joined both the European Union and NATO in 2004.

Overview of the Soviet Union

• Official Name: The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.), a socialist state that lasted from 1922 to 1991, with Moscow as its capital.
• Territorial Extent: The largest country in the world by land area, spanning from the Baltic and Black Seas to the Pacific Ocean. It was composed of 15 republics:
  • Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
• Political Structure: A one-party system dominated by the Communist Party, with a centrally planned economy.
• Role in the Cold War: Played a pivotal role in global politics, competing with the United States during the Cold War era.
• Dissolution: The Soviet Union officially collapsed in 1991, leading to the independence of its constituent republics.

Reasons for the Soviet Collapse

1. Economic Decline:
   • The centrally planned economy was unable to compete with Western economies, resulting in stagnation, inefficiencies, and shortages.
   • Economic strain was exacerbated by an arms race with the United States and international sanctions.
2. Gorbachev’s Reforms:
   • Perestroika: Economic restructuring efforts to modernize the Soviet system.
   • Glasnost: A policy of openness that reduced Communist Party control but also exposed weaknesses in governance.
3. Nationalist Movements:
   • Growing independence demands from republics such as Lithuania, Ukraine, and Georgia weakened the central government’s authority.
4. Afghan War (1979–1989):
   • The prolonged Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan drained economic resources and reduced its geopolitical influence.
5. Collapse of the Eastern Bloc (1989):
   • The fall of communist governments in Eastern Europe diminished the Soviet Union’s dominance, inspiring independence movements within its own borders.
6. August 1991 Coup Attempt:
   • A failed coup by hardline communists further destabilized the Soviet government, accelerating the disintegration process.

Final Dissolution

By December 1991, the Soviet Union had officially ceased to exist, marking the conclusion of the Cold War. The dissolution resulted in 15 newly independent states, with Russia, under Boris Yeltsin’s leadership, emerging as the largest successor state.

The Cold War (1947–1991)

• Definition: A geopolitical and ideological standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union following World War II.
• No Direct Warfare: The conflict was characterized by political, economic, and military tensions without direct military engagement between the two superpowers.

Key Aspects of the Cold War

1. Ideological Rivalry:
   • USA: Advocated democracy and free-market capitalism.
   • USSR: Promoted communism and state-controlled economies.
2. Military Alliances:
   • NATO (1949): A Western defense alliance led by the U.S.
   • Warsaw Pact (1955): A Soviet-led military coalition countering NATO.
3. Proxy Wars:
   • Conflicts in various regions, including Korea (1950–1953), Vietnam (1955–1975), and Afghanistan (1979–1989), where the U.S. and U.S.S.R. supported opposing factions.
4. Arms Race:
   • Development of nuclear arsenals and military buildup, including critical events like the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962).