History IA question: To what extent was Gorbachev’s leadership during the year 1985-1991 the main reason for the collapse of the Soviet Union on 1991?
A-Investigation plan
On Dec 26, 1991, Russia was brought to a standstill as the Soviet flag was lowered down from its pole. The day before, Mikhail Gorbachev officially resigned and transferred his power to Boris Yeltsin; these events marked the end of the Soviet Union and the Cold War; yet the beginning of a new age of democracy in Russia. I was interested by Gorbachev specifically because of how much of a polarizing figure he is in history. He was hated by a significant amount of the Russian public, yet loved for the sincerity behind his reforms, actions and bringing an end to the cold war. …show more content…
This will be done through considering the opinions of several viewpoints. One that states that Gorbachev is mostly responsible for the events that lead to the USSR’s collapse. And others that state that it was due to other factors beyond his control.
Gorbachev’s autobiographical book, “On my country and the world” (first published on 1999) will be used as a primary source along with the book “The collapse of a single party system, written by Graeme Gill and published by the Cambridge University Press.”. Both sources were written during the 1990s, giving an explanation of the Soviet Union’s framework, history and decline from differing perspectives while still agreeing on certain points.
B-Summary of …show more content…
On my country and the world. New York: Columbia University Press, 2000. Print.
This book is a commentary by Gorbachev on the ideology and history of the Soviet Union from its beginning to its collapse under his rule as the USSR’s leader. Here, Gorbachev also goes on to give an autobiographical account on his experiences as the leader of the Soviet Union and his policies. Gorbachev’s book is a valuable source of information when examining his own role in the Soviet Union’s collapse, presenting it from his own experience.
Considering the fact that this book was written by Gorbachev himself, there are certain limitations to the source. This source does contain bias, recounting events from Gorbachev’s point of view. Yet, it does give a valuable insight into the intentions and beliefs that influenced Gorbachev’s policies and leadership from a first person perspective, rather than from the viewpoint of a historian who may have not personally participated in the events that lead to the USSR’s collapse. For the same reason, this could pose a problem
A-Investigation plan
On Dec 26, 1991, Russia was brought to a standstill as the Soviet flag was lowered down from its pole. The day before, Mikhail Gorbachev officially resigned and transferred his power to Boris Yeltsin; these events marked the end of the Soviet Union and the Cold War; yet the beginning of a new age of democracy in Russia. I was interested by Gorbachev specifically because of how much of a polarizing figure he is in history. He was hated by a significant amount of the Russian public, yet loved for the sincerity behind his reforms, actions and bringing an end to the cold war. …show more content…
This will be done through considering the opinions of several viewpoints. One that states that Gorbachev is mostly responsible for the events that lead to the USSR’s collapse. And others that state that it was due to other factors beyond his control.
Gorbachev’s autobiographical book, “On my country and the world” (first published on 1999) will be used as a primary source along with the book “The collapse of a single party system, written by Graeme Gill and published by the Cambridge University Press.”. Both sources were written during the 1990s, giving an explanation of the Soviet Union’s framework, history and decline from differing perspectives while still agreeing on certain points.
B-Summary of …show more content…
On my country and the world. New York: Columbia University Press, 2000. Print.
This book is a commentary by Gorbachev on the ideology and history of the Soviet Union from its beginning to its collapse under his rule as the USSR’s leader. Here, Gorbachev also goes on to give an autobiographical account on his experiences as the leader of the Soviet Union and his policies. Gorbachev’s book is a valuable source of information when examining his own role in the Soviet Union’s collapse, presenting it from his own experience.
Considering the fact that this book was written by Gorbachev himself, there are certain limitations to the source. This source does contain bias, recounting events from Gorbachev’s point of view. Yet, it does give a valuable insight into the intentions and beliefs that influenced Gorbachev’s policies and leadership from a first person perspective, rather than from the viewpoint of a historian who may have not personally participated in the events that lead to the USSR’s collapse. For the same reason, this could pose a problem