POLI 419 Chapter Notes -Glasnost, Mikhail Gorbachev, Totalitarianism
15 Oct 2013
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Document Summary
Beissinger: explanations for the collapse of the soviet union tend to revolve around two theories: 1) inputs of gorbachev and ambition of yeltsin; 2)or predetermined quality of the ussr that dooms it, be it imperial , totalitarian, or ethnofederal. Forging of conncections between various acts of mobilization is the critical process that produced the tide of nationalism. Even though diff groups had different capacity to mobilize: language, urban vs rural, size of the population, etc. Interaction between various nationalist groups was critical and it was made possible by glasnost! Nationalism has an ability to function both as cause and effect, argues beissinger. Cornell: granting of autonomy may in fact increase the likelihood of conflict, instead of decreasing it. Under certain conditions autonomy promotes the separate identity of a group and increases its motivivation and capacity to detach from central state. It does so thru establishing: state-like institutions, leadership, economic viability, and external support.
