2. Communism Fails Failures of Communism Most Communist countries were struggling by the 1980’s Economic failures Extreme poverty Food shortages Political (government) failures Corruption Harsh treatment of people Very few freedoms
3. Reform in the Soviet Union (1985-1991) Mikhail Gorbachev: leader who reformed the Soviet Union Perestroika: restructuring of Soviet economy and government Allowed some private ownership and profit Created a Soviet Parliament Glasnost: openness of government and freedom of speech Allowed people to openly criticize or disagree with the government Self-determination: people of Eastern Europe could choose their own governments The Soviet military would no longer be used to keep Communist governments of other nations in power
4. The Collapse of Communist Governments Changes in Europe Anti-Communist Revolutions begin in Eastern Europe (1989) The Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989) Germany is reunified under a democratic government (1990) The Breakup of the Soviet Union (1991) The Soviet Union split into 15 countries (Russia is the largest)
5. Changes in China By the 1980s, many people in China were unhappy with the ruling Communist government Tiananmen Square Massacre (1989) Hundreds of pro-democracy demonstrators were massacred by Chinese military China has relaxed its communist economic policies but it remains a totalitarian nation
