Parsing the Past: Fall of the Soviet Union 📜

Welcome to Parsing the Past, North East Culture & Conversation’s History Club!

👑📜

We’ll meet each month to discuss an exciting era and some intriguing figures from ye old days of yore, hopefully learning a thing or two from one another, in the historic Town Wall.

The Town Wall is on the site of the old Gunner Tower, and inside the home to famed naturalist Thomas Bewick; it is located right in the heart of Newcastle city centre, close to the train station, on Pink Lane.

If you get hungry whilst we’re chatting, the bar serves food as well as wide range of drinks! 🍔🍷🍮

This time, we’ll be diving into the fall of the Soviet Union.
Feel free to research as much or as little as you like - just come prepared for a chat!

Background: The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of a major geopolitical entity and reshaped the global order. Our event seeks to explore the complex and multifaceted reasons behind the Soviet collapse.

Come along to take part in discussions addressing the political, economic, social, and cultural factors that contributed to the disintegration of the USSR.

⭐Suggested Topics to Research⭐

1. Economic Stagnation 💰💹: How did the planned economy and inefficiency in resource allocation contribute to the USSR’s eventual downfall?

2. Political Factors and Leadership 🕴: The impact of leadership changes from Lenin to Stalin, Brezhnev, and Gorbachev.

3. Nationalism and Ethnic Tensions 👨🏽👳🏽‍♀️👨🏻‍🚒: How did growing nationalist movements and demands for independence in the Soviet republics contribute to the breakup? The role of significant republics like Ukraine, Georgia, and the Baltic States in the collapse.

4. Cold War Pressures and External Factors💣: The impact of the arms race and the strain of military spending on the Soviet economy. How did the Soviet Union’s competition with the U.S. and the Western bloc contribute to internal weaknesses?

5. Ideological Shifts and Public Disillusionment📢: The decline of Communist ideology and the growing sense of disillusionment among Soviet citizens. The role of Western culture and ideas of democracy and capitalism in influencing Soviet citizens’ views.

6. The Role of the KGB and Military 🎖: The influence of security forces in maintaining power and their eventual loss of control during critical moments leading to the collapse.

7. International Influence🌎: The role of international diplomacy and foreign policies, including the influence of Reagan’s presidency and Western sanctions.

8. The Role of Technology and Media📺: How changes in technology, media, and communication helped spread information and public opinion against the Soviet system.

This event will encourage participants to think critically about historical events and the intersections of politics, economics, and culture in shaping global history.

If you want books to explore, then some highly reviewed options are (I've not read any of them and some are very long!):

• Stephen Kotkin - Armageddon Averted: The Soviet Collapse, 1970-2000
• David Remnick - Lenin's Tomb: The Last Days Of The Soviet Empire
• Serhii Plokhy - The Last Empire: The Final Days Of The Soviet Union
• William Taubman - Gorbachev: His Life And Times

In terms of documentaries, some options could be:

• The End Of A Superpower (by German TV channel DW)
• My Perestroika (2010)
• Russia 1985-1999: Traumazone (BBC iPlayer - Adam Curtis documentary series using unearthed archive footage from the period)

If you come across any other interesting source materials, feel free to examine those instead and share your findings with us! And if all else fails and you’re short on time but still want to come along for the chat and the chips, there’s always Wikipedia 😉 …