END OF BIPOLARITY

  • Bipolar: Two poles i.e., 2 superpowers

  • Bipolar World ended and Unipolar world started.
  • Berlin (i.e., Germany) was divided in 2 parts. East Berlin and West Berlin by the construction of Wall in 1961
  • Division led because of difference in ideologies. West Berlin supported Capitalism and East Berlin followed Communism.
  • 9th November 1989 wall between West and East Berlin was broken and everyone united and adopted Capitalism.
  • It was remarkable in the world history and Unipolar World started.
  • Many collapses like this happened and USSR disintegrated.
  • US became the superpower.

WHAT WAS THE SOVIET SYSTEM?

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) came into being after Russian Revolution in 1917.

1. Soviet Union POLITICAL SYSTEM:

  • COMMUNISM:
  1. Economy was planned and controlled by government.
  2. One party dominance and no opposition
  3. Communist party in USSR
  4. East Europe was part of USSR and followed same ideology of communism. And this group of countries was called the Second World or the “socialist bloc”.
  5. The military alliance (Warsaw Pact) held them together.
  6. The USSR was the leader of bloc.

2. The soviet economy was very developed than the rest of the world except US. Features being:

  • Had complex communication network, vast energy resources including oil and minerals.
  • Transport sector which connected its remotest areas with efficiency.
  • It had domestic consumer industry that produced everything from pins to cars, though their quality did not match to the quality of western countries.
  • Ensured minimum standard of living, all the basic amenities were provided by government.
  • No unemployment.
  • State ownership was dominant 

3. Problems of USSR or in USSR:

  • It was very bureaucratic and authoritarian i.e., strict rules and regulation imposed on citizens
  • No Democracy
  • No freedom of speech, people expressed their opinions through jokes and cartoons.
  • Communist party had tight control over institutions and was unaccountable to people of USSR.
  • And such institutions which needed reforms were ignored by government.
  • The communist party refused to recognize the urge of people in 15 different republics (Russia + 14 states) that formed the Soviet Union.
  • On papers 15 republics together constituted the USSR, but in reality, Russia dominated everything and people of other regions felt suppressed/ neglected.

4. In arms race USSR managed to match the US but USSR lagged behind from US in:

  • Technology
  • Infrastructure
  • Fulfilling the political or economic aspirations of citizens.
  •  USSR invaded Afghanistan in 1979 because of which the USSR’s system weakened.
  1. Wages continued to grow but productivity and technology got far behind.
  2.  Which led to shortage in customer goods.
  3. Food imports increased.
  4. And in the late 1970’s the Soviet economy became stagnant.