starter activity

What has this got to do with Cold War? Why would the Soviet’s feel especially threatened? Read Sources F-H on p.162 to support your views.

Threat posed by Star Threat posed by Star WarsWars

Violated previous agreements – Violated previous agreements – Limited Test Ban Treaty (1963), Limited Test Ban Treaty (1963), Outer Space Treaty (1967), ABM Outer Space Treaty (1967), ABM Treaty (1972)Treaty (1972)

Destabilised mutual deterrence – Destabilised mutual deterrence – undermined MADundermined MAD

Placed strain on Soviet economy – Placed strain on Soviet economy – restarting and expensive arms racerestarting and expensive arms race

Placed strains on Soviet negotiators – Placed strains on Soviet negotiators – didn’t understand the new technologydidn’t understand the new technology

Why did the USSR Why did the USSR lose its grip over lose its grip over Eastern Europe?Eastern Europe?

To identify reasons why To identify reasons why Soviet control over Eastern Soviet control over Eastern bloc countries weakened in bloc countries weakened in

the 1980sthe 1980s

Aims

How strong were relations between USSR and E Europe by the early 1980s?

Cracks emergingCracks emerging

Romania developing own foreign Romania developing own foreign policypolicy

Marshal Tito pursued independent Marshal Tito pursued independent brand of Communism in Yugoslaviabrand of Communism in Yugoslavia

Hungarian Uprising (1956), Hungarian Uprising (1956), Czechoslovakian Crisis (1968) aka Czechoslovakian Crisis (1968) aka ‘Prague Spring’‘Prague Spring’

Strikes in Gdansk, PolandStrikes in Gdansk, Poland OstpolitikOstpolitik

Your taskYour task Read p.163-5 and list the factors that Read p.163-5 and list the factors that

were weakening Soviet control over were weakening Soviet control over Europe. You may wish to group them Europe. You may wish to group them under ‘political’ & ‘economic’under ‘political’ & ‘economic’

Which factor in your opinion was the Which factor in your opinion was the most important? Write a brief judgement most important? Write a brief judgement paragraphparagraph

Nicolai Ceausescu, Communist Leader of Romania until 1989

Janos Kadar, Hungary

Honecker, East Germany (GDR)

Economic factorsEconomic factors

State-run industries ineffective – State-run industries ineffective – shrotages of food & consumer goodsshrotages of food & consumer goods

Environmental problemsEnvironmental problems Poor managementPoor management Lack of credit & capital investmentLack of credit & capital investment Slow to develop new technologiesSlow to develop new technologies Differences in living standardsDifferences in living standards

Political factorsPolitical factors

Conflict between reformers and Conflict between reformers and hard-line Communistshard-line Communists

Repression & surveillance soiety –Repression & surveillance soiety –Stasi, SecuritateStasi, Securitate

Lack of national unityLack of national unity Growth of opposition, e.g. Solidarity Growth of opposition, e.g. Solidarity

in Polandin Poland International criticism – John Paul IIInternational criticism – John Paul II

Your taskYour task

You will be given a series of cards You will be given a series of cards explaining reasons why their was explaining reasons why their was growing resistance to the USSR in growing resistance to the USSR in many Eastern Bloc countries at this many Eastern Bloc countries at this time. Sort them into a ‘Diamond 9’ time. Sort them into a ‘Diamond 9’ formation.formation.

Your taskYour task Complete the skills builder task on Complete the skills builder task on

p.166.p.166.

George Bush regales the Pope with a witty speech during high level Vatican talks

Your taskYour task

Read p.167 and list the reasons why Read p.167 and list the reasons why the Soviet leadership was so weak in the Soviet leadership was so weak in the early 80sthe early 80s

Name the Soviet leaders

Weakening Soviet Weakening Soviet leadershipleadership

GerontocracyGerontocracy – rule by the elderly, – rule by the elderly, in particular Brezhnevin particular Brezhnev

Conservatism within Conservatism within PolitburoPolitburo Poor communication & inflexibility – Poor communication & inflexibility –

demonstrated by Korean airliner demonstrated by Korean airliner incident (1983)incident (1983)

Extension taskExtension task

Read p.404-411 on conditions in the Read p.404-411 on conditions in the USSR and the impact of the arrival USSR and the impact of the arrival of Gorbachev on the conduct of of Gorbachev on the conduct of domestic and foreign politics.domestic and foreign politics.

PlenaryPlenary

List 3 political & 3 economic factors List 3 political & 3 economic factors which were weakening Soviet which were weakening Soviet control over Eastern Europecontrol over Eastern Europe

Why is Poland so significant?Why is Poland so significant? What impact did changes in What impact did changes in

leadership have on Soviet foreign leadership have on Soviet foreign policy (positive & negative)policy (positive & negative)

HomeworkHomework

Read about Gorbachev’s new Read about Gorbachev’s new approach to foreign and domestic approach to foreign and domestic policy on p.167-8.policy on p.167-8.

Make a chart in your notes. On one Make a chart in your notes. On one side note down the characteristics of side note down the characteristics of Gorbachev’s New Political Thinking Gorbachev’s New Political Thinking and on the other the impact of his and on the other the impact of his ideas. Draw lines between the 2 ideas. Draw lines between the 2 columns to show any links.columns to show any links.