What are the circumstances that led to the disintegration of the USSR and the end of the Cold War? How did the end of the Cold War contribute to the spread of globalization across the world?
Main Body
In 1991, the second pole of the cold war, ie USSR disintegrated, leading to end of cold war and emergence of a unipolar world order, under American hegemony.
Reasons for disintegration of USSR:
Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of 'glasnost' and 'perestroika'
⇒ dynamic disturbance of the soviet economy.
Unvalued production system could not keep pace with the demand.
Widespread corruption and opacity in the soviet administration.
Lack of representation and disenfranchisement to the East European and brutal Asian parts of Soviet Union.
Appeal of western promises of development ⇒ fall of Berlin Wall (1989)
Division and discontent within soviet society ie East Europe and central Asia and Russia.
Widespread poverty and collectivisation of agriculture ⇒ no ownership of property.
Labour unrest due to failure of public sector enterprises.
Globalisation of world
Post 1991, the fall of soviet union symbolized the victory of 'capitalistic USA' ⇒ forced the world to adopt the 'free market model'.
Therefore, end of cold war and fall of soviet union, led to widespread penetration of globalisation.
— Ritika Chitlangia
- Clear chronological marker (1991)
- Identifies key policies (glasnost, perestroika)
- Systematic enumeration of reasons
Ritika Chitlangia
History of the World
Socialism and Communism
Disintegration of USSR and Cold War
237
Total words
9
Paragraphs
expository and analytical
Tone