Re: Why did the USSR NOT Fall? was Re: capitalism = progressive?
Look, I don't think it's any great mystery why the USSR fell apart. The USSR was probably the most multicultural, multiethnic country in the world, containing everyone from Balts to Tajiks. The CPSU instituted glastnost' and perestroika in attempt to develop the country. Perestroika created an economic crisis. Glastnost' created a political opening in which nationalist and secessionist voices could air their views. Nationalists blamed the economic crisis on the Soviet system. They pointed to the aborted GKChP coup (whihc may BTW have been instigated by Gorbachev) as indicating that, if things weren't changed radically, hardcore conservatives would come to power, so we have to break up the Union to keep it from happening (with teh subtext being we can always reform it again if we want to). Lots of people believed them. Case closed. Not very complicated really.
Why did the USSR NOT Fall? was Re: capitalism = progressive?
Why did it NOT fall in 1918? Why did it NOT fall in 1921? Why did it NOT fall in 1925? Why did it NOT fall in 1931? Why did it NOT fall in 1937? Why did it NOT fall in 1942? Why did it NOT fall in 1949? Why did it NOT fall in 1953? But you get the idea. This thread has been asking the wrong question. Of course the USSR failed, fell, whatever. That calls for no particular explanation. What needs explanation is why it took so long? What was the element of toughness that let it endure so many decades of external and internal pressures? The reasons for its fall are anitquarian curiosities. The reasons for its tremendous success we may need to know. Carrol Devine, James wrote: BTW, here's another addition to the list of why the old USSR fell: Chernoble. JD I've only followed this thread casualty
