The Soviet Union

 

The Soviet Union was the world's largest country on January 1, 1991. It had a population of over 290 million people . 

The Soviet Union ceased to exist within a year. Various factors caused the Soviet Union to collapse and for various reasons. It was a lengthy process with economic, political, social, and military implications. 

The stagnant economy and failed Gorbachev reforms resulted in a food shortage and a goods deficit. The second cause was a lack of leadership political stability, political opposition, and ineffective central planning. Nationalism was the third cause. Soviet republics with their own countries desired independence. The military was the fourth reason. 

Finally, there was greater political and social freedom, as well as public discontent, particularly among the elite and in the Baltic countries, which led to open criticism of the Soviet regime . The collapse of the Soviet Union benefited the elite and political leaders.

The Soviet economy became stagnant, the Soviet economy devoted a large portion of its resources to maintaining nuclear and military arsenals.

 The Soviet economy was focused on developing its satellite states in Eastern Europe, particularly the five Central Asian republics. This resulted in a massive economic burden for people to bear. 

Ordinary citizens gained a better understanding of the West's economic progress and the Soviet system's backwardness . The second cause was the political instability. Khrushchev was in charge of destalinization and the Thaw. 

He instituted political reforms and prioritized social investments such as housing. He gave artists more flexibility. The totalitarian regime was deteriorating. There was some freedom of expression and, to some extent, democratization. 

He put an end to mass purges and the use of terror by releasing more prisoners from camps. The use of forced labor has been reduced. However, the secret police are in charge. Khrushchev prioritized agriculture. Cattle ownership was prohibited for residents in 1959 . 

This policy has exacerbated the plight of the peasantry. He split the Party Committees into two levels: industrial and agricultural. It resulted in poor harvests.

Brezhnev (1964-1982) was the creator of the Stagnation Era. In terms of high technology development, the Soviet Union lagged behind Western countries. At the time, the Soviet Union faced issues such as a lack of various goods and labor shortages. Because of the deficit, the line for soup in the streets was longer, and the record of goods was shorter. 

Political stagnation: lack of effective central planning, failure of new reforms were factors that contributed to economic problems. There were no particular ideological objectives. Due to liberalization, political and social freedoms, several Soviet republics began to resist central government. 

Weaknesses in the central government allowed local regional mafias to boost their power in the party-state apparatus. Ex-soviet countries with their own ethnic populations, such as the Baltic republics, Ukraine, Georgia, and others, had a strong desire to develop their own culture and governance.

The Soviet community has long been dissatisfied with the Soviet regime's purges, lack of free speech, and compulsory collectivization. After Stalin's death, especially after 1985, there appeared to be liberalization and freedom of expression. 

Formation of private farming, formation of co-operative societies, transition of collective farms capable of adapting to market conditions resulted in the discrediting tactic and the strengthening of political leaders' and elite's ambitions.