One of the key reasons Gorbachev is highlighted as the scape goat for the collapse of the USSR was his policy of ‘Glasnost’, through which he allowed greater intellectual freedom to the Soviet people who, by 1987, two thirds were living in cities, and most could now read and write. Many new editors were employed and a lot of information of a great scale, 1920’s and 30’s truths of Stalin came out through new technology, embracing not only the printed media but also radio, television and all areas of creative art. Although Gorbachev had originally stated he would continue the political ways of his predecessors he was openly attacking Stalin. He believed no blank pages should be left, thus when the truth about Stalin had been unravelled the citizens then moved towards the investigation of Lennin. “In 1986 new editors were also brought in to run Moskovskie novosti (Moscow News), Literaturnaya gazeta, Izvestiya, and the influential journals Novy mir and Znamya” (Martin McCauley)
The Russian citizens were highly attentive when in 16 December1986 Gorbachev released the father of the atomic H-bomb from exile and later released political prisoners.
Gorbachev told the Central Committee who elected him that when the people are elected, “the more consciencely they act, the more actively they support the party” (Steven White). With the knowledge of the past- information to define the good and the bad actions of the Soviet Union he believed the people would make a concerted effort in restructuring the economy and participating in reforming their country.
Many a critic views glasnost as fundamental in the USSR collapse. For seventy years the Soviet Union had withheld information and in doing so upheld their power, Gorbachev believed a slow, judicious release of information would jump start productivity and dig out the bureaucracy preventing economic growth. A catalytic factor in the downfall of the regime in favour of the newly available ‘information’. “Information, slew the totalitarian giant” (Scott Shane)
In essence, glasnost gave the people more freedom to be discontented with the system and the way the Government controlled their lives in general. Gorbachev implemented glasnost to enhance efficiency but in return the people merely voiced their discontent for the current government, Gorbachev’s movement spiralled out of control nudging the USSR to greater instability. Instead of added support the citizens branched into a nationalist forum with “one eye for independence” (Brown)
Gorbachev’s democratisation ran parallel to glasnost. Gorbachev had good reasons, he believed through democratisation power would be shifted from the \politburo to reformers who supported perestroika. In the 27th Party Congress Gorbachev is quoted saying, “Democracy is the wholesome and pure air without which a socialist public organisation cannot live a full bodied life.” (historyorb.com) His wording of a “socialist public reform” hints a movement shall occur away from communism and notes the party must reform in order to live.
In 1988 it was agreed democratic elections would be held the following year for the New Congress of People’s Deputies. In March 1989 when the elections took place many applicants stood unopposed but where this happened they still received few votes and the reformers came out on top. Representatives such as Boris Yeltsin, Andrei Sakharov and Baltic representatives, all rebellious activists against the Soviet Union, voiced a third of the Soviet Union. In such a speech Sakharov called for the abolition of the party’s leading role and Gorbachev was powerless to act against him. There was now a physical presence derived from the discontent released through glasnost. Gorbachev found himself answering to protests rather than introducing reform, yet the more democracy that was introduced the greater demand there was for reform.
Furthermore the Baltic nations now had a larger voice emphasising the case for the Soviet Bloc independence, the democratic rule contradicted the venture to disallow their independence.
Gorbachev believed, as he did with glasnost, democratisation would aid the legitimisation of the Communist Party’s power.
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Anticipating the Collapse of the Soviet Union
Heydar Aliyev's Speech
February 10, 1991
The culprit to be blamed is Gorbachev, who seized the power of the Central Committee of the Soviet Party along with all the power of the government. During the past five years, Gorbachev has made so many promises to the nation but has kept none of them. There is a void between word and action, and a gap between political leadership and the nation. This has resulted in skepticism and disbelief in the government and the people's disappointment in the future has increased to the extent that the influence of the Communist Party doesn't exist any more.
