HI109 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Mikhail Gorbachev
Document Summary
It seemed like it could never collapse and it was a huge shock when it did. Three acts of gorbachev"s time in power: 1985-1987: promises and sanctions. Gorbachev- law degree (and his wife- sociology degree; she is hated because she acts like a westerner) were of a different generation; generational shift. He wants to get the state moving as well as get out of any arms race with the us while retaining the hegemony of power the state has. Promise of housing, and a call of responsible accounting. Call for hard work and support for the church. Anti-alcohol campaign related to the decline of male life expectancy; destruction of vineyards and to stop homebrew he banned the sale of yeast, also closed most liquor store. He used the word perestroika= rebuild; many people did not believe this though, if anyone was going to gain it was going to be the elite: 1987-1989: glasnpst" and perestrioka (backfire)
