The Collapse Of The Communist Soviet Union Ultimately Led

The collapse of the communist Soviet Union ultimately led to the end of the cold war. The dissolution of the USSR in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. Thus highlighting the inferiority of communism and the superiority of western capitalism. The collapse of communism in Eastern Europe, however, was a result of both domestic and international factors including policies established by both the US and the Soviet leaders, most importantly Gorbachev’s ‘New Thinking’ reforms combined with the hard-line approach of Ronald Reagan. It has also been argued that the collapse of communism in eastern Europe was inevitable due to its moral bankruptcy, as well as the growing economic pressures which ultimately forced the Soviet Union to†¦show more content†¦Which quickly led to the dissolution of the Soviet bloc. But more importantly, these reforms contributed to the spread of nationalist oppositional groups which further weakened the Soviet Union. As a result, Gorbachev’s reforms undermined both communism and the Soviet Bloc leading to its rapid demise, contrary to his intentions. Consequently, hard-liners within the communist party attempted to stage a coup against Gorbachev in order to reassert their control over Eastern Europe. This coup, failed resulting in the Baltic states’ demands for independence. By December 1991, all 15 republics had declared their independence and subsequently, the Soviet Union seized to exist. It could be argued that the collapse of the Eastern bloc was inevitable due to the moral bankruptcy of communism. The communist ideology stresses the equality and necessity of protecting the working class. Yet, the corruption of the communist party was increasingly apparent. Thus, it could be argued that the inherent failures of the communist system itself contributed to collapse of communism in Eastern Europe. Moreover, this moral bankruptcy resulted in an alienated population. The lack of competition in industry and lack of incentives resulted in low productivity which contributed to the worsening of the Soviets’ economic system. Additionally, due to the quotas enforced by the government, it was not uncommon for managers to lie about the quantity of their production. The fact that there was littleShow MoreRelatedThe Beginning of the End for the Cold War1228 Words   |  5 Pageseconomy and diminishing legitimacy of the Soviet system at domestic level did play a crucial role , however, many realist believe that it was the US especially President Regan’s policies (Regan Doctrine) which concluded the Cold War contest with victory for the west. Kegley believes that by engaging Moscow in an arm race, the Soviet Union was dragged into a competition which exhausted their already fragile economy leading them initially into retrenchment and ultimately out of the contest. 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