1.The ussr in the 70-s

"Stagnation" of the 70-s. It was the time of L .Brezhnev power. This decade was successful for economic rival with the USA: the SU surpassed the USA in the production of: coal, oil, iron and manganese ores, pig-iron, steel tubes, etc. In the 70-s life standard of the Soviet people was improved. But crisis began from the end of the 70-s -beginning of the 80-s.

Achievements in foreign policy: détente in the relationships between the USSR and France, USSR and West Germany. In 1972 US President R. Nixon and L. Brezhnev signed the treaty on Strategic Arms Limitation. In 1975 in Helsinki 33 countries signed the Final Act that approved the postwar situation.

Crises in economy- tempos of economic growth slowed down from 41% in the 70-s to 17 % in the 80-s.

Situation in agriculture was very bad: collective farms were not profitable, the country had not enough meat and grain. In 1970-87 import of meat increased 5,2% times, fish-12,4 times, grain- 13,8 times, sugar- 6,9 times, butter- 183,2 times.

Reasons of economic crisis:

1

2

3

4

5

Command-administrative method of management in economy was ineffective.

**Crisis in national relations.

Kazakhstani enterprises had income in 15 billion rubles, but only 30 mln came into the republican budget Each republic had no right to use all its industrial production: Russian Federation had at its disposal only 4% of its industrial production, the Ukraine-5%, Byelorussia- 7%,Ciscaucasus- 6-10 % , Baltic-7-9%, Central Asia and Kazakhstan – 10 %. Life standards were higher in the Baltic republics.

***Crisis in social sphere:

***Morality and culture-

The problem of foreign policy-Afghanistan.

2. Perestroika in the ussr

In 1985 M. Gorbachev became the General secretary of the CPSU. New leadership began a series of reforms.

*Aim of reforms:

1 stage of reforms: 1985-1987 –

2 stage- 1987-1988 –

3 stage- 1988- 1991 –

The process came out of control.

In August 1991 republics should sign new treaty, but putch of the group of political leaders who wanted to restore the CP power dramatically changed the situation.

In December 1991 new union of Commonwealth of Independent States ( CIS) was formed.

Questions for test

a. Economy of the USSR in the 70-s

b. Achievements in foreign policy in the 70-s

c. Causes of the economic crisis in the 70-s

d. Perestroika in the USSR

The leader of policy of “ perestroika” in the USSR was:

A) Gorbachev

B) Brezhnev

C) Khrushchev

D) Molotov

After the collapse of the USSR socialism

A) did not exist anywhere

B) remains in China, North Korea, Cuba

C) is in China, Cuba, Chili

D) is in Latin America

Date of the collapse of the USSR:

A) 1992

B) 1993

C) 1989

D) 1991

Glossary

To fall behind –отставать to rehabilitate- реабилитировать

To surpass – превосходить personal cult- культ личности Thaw -оттепель waste land( tselina)- целина

Reference

Отечественная история, любое изд.

Боффа И. История Советского Союза, т.2. М. 2000, гл.6