Answer:
(a) Economic Stagnation: The Soviet Union maintained a huge nuclear and military arsenal which was used to develop and maintain its satellite states in Eastern Europe and it?s Soviet Republics particularly the five central Asian republics. It led to a huge burden on its economy and resources. People on Soviet Union could not advance as rapidly as their western adversaries. (b) Political and Administrative Stagnation: Soviet Union also suffered from political and administrative stagnation. The ruling CPSU (Communist Party of Soviet Union) was unaccountable to the people. People felt alienated by the stifling administration. There was rampant corruption and the political elites did not try to rectify their mistakes by allowing openness in the government and decentralization of authority on a vast land. (c) Role of Gorbachev: Gorbachev?s overzealous program of reformation was the biggest cause of Soviet disintegration. Gorbachev introduced Perestroika and ?Glasnost? to reform the economy, democratize the political system, loosen the strings of administration and bridge the gap with the west. Though Gorbachev was right in initiating reforms, in reality when the reformation process set in, it loosened the system and set in motion factors and forces that few could control. (d) Rise of Nationalism and Desire for Sovereignty: A major reason for collapse of Soviet Union was the rise of nationalism and desire for sovereignty within various Soviet republics like Russia, Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Ukraine, Georgia, etc. This proved to be culminating point in the disintegration of Soviet Union. Opinionists are divided over this factor.
You need to login to perform this action.
You will be redirected in
3 sec
