Gorbachev’s Failed Attempts to Reform the USSR

Gorbachev’s Failed Attempts to Reform the USSR

Mikhail Gorbachev, who came to power in March 1985, was the most

gifted and dynamic leader Russia had seen for many years. He was

determined to transform and revitalise the country after the sterile

years following Krushchev’s fall. The two key ideas were glasnost

(openness) and perestroika (restructuring). Gorbachev did not want to

end communism; he wanted to replace the existing system, which was

still basically Stalinist, with a socialist system that was humane and

democratic. He did not have great success at home. Why his attempts to

reform the USSR failed, will be discussed in the following paragraphs.

First of all, there was opposition from within the communist party;

radicals such as Boris Yeltsin felt that the reforms were not drastic

enough, while conservatives like Yegor Ligachev felt that the changes

were too drastic and that the party was in danger of losing control.

The conservatives were in a large majority and got elected for the new

Supreme Soviet, whilst Yeltsin and many other radicals were not

elected. This led to massive protest demonstrations in Moscow, where

Yeltsin was a popular figure. Demonstrations would not have been

allowed before Gorbachev’s time, but glasnost was now in full flow and

was beginning to turn against the communist party.

Second, the economic results were disappointing; the economic reforms

did not produce results quickly enough.

Basic goods were in short supply and the queues in the towns got

longer. Having had their expectations raised by his promises, people

became outraged at the shortages. A huge strike was held by a group of

coal...

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... This last attempt by the Communist Party to save the USSR had failed.

A few days later, Gorbachev returned to Moscow. He might have survived

the coup, but it had not strengthened his position as Soviet leader.

He had to admit that the USSR was finished and he with it.

In a television speech on 25 December 1991, Gorbachev announced the

end of the Soviet Union.

There are four reasons why Mikhail Gorbachev’s attempts to reform the

USSR failed: first, there was opposition from within the communist

party (the radicals vs. the conservatives). Second, the economic

results were very disappointing. Third, the different republics within

the USSR wanted independence, and last, there was rivalry between

Gorbachev and Yeltsin.

After the coup in August 1991 Gorbachev had to admit that the USSR was

finished and he with it.