which of the following best characterizes the situation in the soviet union in the 1970s and 1980s?
Which of the following best characterizes the situation in the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s?
Answer:
The 1970s and 1980s were a turbulent time for the Soviet Union, marked by various characteristics that defined the era:
1. Economic Stagnation: The Soviet Union experienced significant economic stagnation during this period. The centralized economic planning system proved inefficient, leading to technological stagnation, shortages of consumer goods, and a lack of innovation.
2. Political Repression: Despite the era of de-Stalinization following Khrushchev’s rule, political repression continued in the Soviet Union. Dissidents, intellectuals, and those challenging the Communist Party’s authority faced persecution and human rights violations.
3. Military Build-up: The Soviet Union maintained a strong focus on military expansion and defense spending during the 1970s and 1980s. This period saw the start of the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan and heightened tensions with the United States during the Cold War.
4. Glasnost and Perestroika: Towards the end of the 1980s, under the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev, policies of Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring) were introduced to reform the Soviet system. These reforms aimed to address corruption, inefficiency, and political repression but inadvertently led to the unraveling of the Soviet Union itself.
5. Dissolution of the Soviet Union: By the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Soviet Union faced increasing political, economic, and social turmoil. The Baltic States and other regions began seeking independence, eventually culminating in the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.