Fall+of+Communism

Charles Ensley

Decline

Detente – Calmness between United States and the Soviet Union Brehznev- promoted detente. Promoted Soviet industrial growth. Overall, industry declined. Gorbachev – Leader of the Soviet Union after Chernenko. Believed in perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness) “Nuclear war cannot be a means of achieving political, economic, ideological or any other goals.” Relieved majority of censorship. His policies failed in the long term.

Collapse

Poland – Wladyslaw Gomulka – Created stability in Poland. Edward Gierek – Golmulka's successor. Tried to solve debt with heavy borrowing from the West. Announced food price increase. The protests resulted solidarity movement led by Lech Walesa. Solidarity was backed by workers, intellectuals and clergy. Solidarity won concessions until Walesa was arrested, martial law instituted. Walesa released from prison, solidarity wins.

Hungary – Janos Kadar – Legalized small businesses “communism with a capitalist face lift”. Led to friendly relations with the West.

Czechoslovakia – Gustav Husak – Hardline communist, purged party and used heavy repression. People despised him and protested more. Civic forum – protest group became an official party. Vaclav Havel – playwright, became first president of the Czech Republic, grant.ed amnesty to 30,000 political prisoners.

Romania – Communist Peoples Democratic Front – Assumed leadership. Ceausescu – Leader of CPDF, repressed demonstrations of protest.

Bulgaria – Zhivkhov – Leadership led to fall of communism in his country.

Albania – Government collapse after Alia succeeds Hoxha.