GORBACHEV AND REFORM

GORBACHEV AND REFORM

GORBACHEV’S NEW POLICY - GLASNOST

•Glasnost was Mikhail Gorbachev’s policy of “openness”, which basically said that Soviet citizens should feel free to discuss what was going on in their society and suggest ways for improvement without fear of the government punishing them.

GORBACHEV’S NEW POLICY - GLASNOST

•This new policy lifted censorship, allowed churches to re-open, and allowed more freedom of speech and press.

GORBACHEV’S NEW POLICY - PERESTROIKA

•Perestroika was Gorbachev’s policy of economic restructuring, which allowed local leaders greater control over the economy, and also permitted small amounts of capitalism (you could own a small business).

GORBACHEV’S NEW POLICY - PERESTROIKA•Gorbachev made these changes because he wanted to make the economy more efficient, not because he wanted to get rid of communism.

PREDICTION

•What do you think the long-term effects of Gorbachev’s policies will be? Why?

GORBACHEV’S FOREIGN POLICY

•Gorbachev no longer wanted to compete in the arms race (the USSR couldn’t afford to).•Gorbachev encouraged other communist political leaders to be more open to new ideas and policies.

GORBACHEV’S FOREIGN POLICY

•Many countries that wanted democracy, but had not acted before because they were afraid of what the Soviet Union would do were now becoming more open to new ideas and changes.

GLASNOST & PERESTROIKA

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=595W4JJHa2U

POLAND SEEKS REFORM

•Solidarity a Polish workers union led by Lech Walesa began the first successful anti-communist movement.

POLAND SEEKS REFORM

•The government at first refused to recognize the union, but as it’s popularity increased they gave into their demands making Walesa a national hero.•The government tried to crackdown on the movement over the next year unsuccessfully.

POLAND BECOMES DEMOCRATIC

•The government crackdown on Solidarity made people more unhappy and defiant.

POLAND BECOMES DEMOCRATIC

•The Solidarity party was legalized and a democratic election was held.•Lech Walesa of the Solidarity party became the first democratically elected president of Poland.

HUNGARY REFORMS

•People of Hungary were inspired by the changes they saw in Poland.•Hungarian leaders made reforms to the communist system that allowed some private investment and a small stock market.

HUNGARY REFORMS

•An election was held and the Communists were voted out.•A socialist party and democratic party formed an alliance and continued to make changes to Hungary’s government and economy.

QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION

• What is your initial reaction to this article?• What do you think of the following quote,

“…Minorities…should not have the right to impose their views on the majority.”• Walesa is often considered a champion of

democracy. Do you think his views are democratic?• Do you agree with those that believe his

Nobel Prize should be taken away? (Even though the foundation won’t actually take it from him.)