- "The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the process of internal disintegration within the Soviet Union (USSR), which resulted in the end of the country as a sovereign state and its federal government."
This topic describes the events and developments that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The Origins of the Cold War: The political, economic, and ideological differences between the United States and the Soviet Union that led to the Cold War.
The Nuclear Arms Race: The development and deployment of nuclear weapons by the United States and the Soviet Union that defined the Cold War.
The Space Race: The competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to explore space and the use of space as a symbol of national pride.
The Cuban Missile Crisis: The conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union over the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba, which came close to nuclear war.
The Vietnam War: The war fought by the United States in Vietnam as part of its larger strategy to contain communist expansion.
The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan: The Soviet Union's decision to invade Afghanistan in 1979, which contributed to its eventual downfall.
Reaganomics: The economic policies of President Ronald Reagan, including deregulation, tax cuts, and increased military spending, which impacted the Cold War.
The Solidarity Movement: The labor movement in Poland that challenged the communist government and contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Gorbachev's Reforms: The policies of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, including perestroika, glasnost, and democratization, which led to the downfall of the Soviet Union.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall: The dismantling of the Berlin Wall in 1989, which symbolized the end of the Cold War.
The Reunification of Germany: The reunification of East and West Germany in 1990, which marked the end of the Cold War in Europe.
The Dissolution of the Soviet Union: The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the impact it had on global politics.
The New World Order: The term used to describe the post-Cold War era and the changing dynamics of global politics.
Political End: The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to the end of the Cold War era, where the Soviet Union no longer posed a threat to the United States, Western Europe, and their allies.
Economic End: The end of the Cold War ended the Soviet Union's long-standing role in the global economy as a counterbalance to the United States, leading to significant economic changes in many countries.
Ideological End: The end of the Cold War signifies the triumph of a liberal democratic ideology over communist ideology, signifying a significant shift in world politics.
Geopolitical End: With the end of the Cold War resulted in a significant change in the international world order and the emergence of a unipolar world order.
Technological End: The Cold War era was dominated by rapid innovations in military technology, from nuclear weapons to space exploration, and with the end of the Cold War, technology played a significant role in the geopolitical shift.
Psychological End: The end of the Cold War marked a significant psychological shift, as citizens and leaders were needed to re-imagine a world without nuclear threats and the need for constant military readiness.
Diplomatic End: The Cold War marked a long period of intense diplomatic tension and mutual hostility between the two superpowers, and the end of the Cold War ended this hostility and marked the beginning of new diplomatic relations between many nations.
- "It brought an end to General Secretary (also President) Mikhail Gorbachev's effort to reform the Soviet political and economic system."
- "The Soviet Union had experienced internal stagnation and ethnic separatism."
- "By late 1991, amid a catastrophic political crisis, with several republics already departing the Union and the waning of centralized power, the leaders of three of its founding members declared that the Soviet Union no longer existed. Eight more republics joined their declaration shortly thereafter."
- "Estonia was the first Soviet republic to declare state sovereignty inside the Union on 16 November 1988."
- "Lithuania was the first republic to declare full independence restored from the Soviet Union by the Act of 11 March 1990."
- "In August 1991, communist hardliners and military elites tried to overthrow Gorbachev and stop the failing reforms in a coup but failed."
- "The Belovezha Accords were signed on 8 December by President Boris Yeltsin of Russia, President Kravchuk of Ukraine, and Chairman Shushkevich of Belarus, recognizing each other's independence and creating the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to replace the Soviet Union."
- "Kazakhstan was the last republic to leave the Union, proclaiming independence on 16 December."
- "On 25 December, Gorbachev resigned and turned over his presidential powers—including control of the nuclear launch codes—to Yeltsin, who was now the first president of the Russian Federation."
- "That evening, the Soviet flag was lowered from the Kremlin for the last time and replaced with the Russian tricolor flag."
- "The following day, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR's upper chamber, the Soviet of the Republics formally dissolved the Union."
- "The events of the dissolution also marked the major conclusion of the Revolutions of 1989 and the end of the Cold War."
- "Several of the former Soviet republics have retained close links with Russia and formed multilateral organizations such as the CIS, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and the Union State, for economic and military cooperation."
- "On the other hand, the Baltic states and most of the former Warsaw Pact states became part of the European Union (EU) and joined NATO."
- "Some of the other former Soviet republics like Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova have been publicly expressing interest in following the same path since the 1990s, despite Russian attempts to persuade them otherwise."