ELI5- How did the Soviet Union collapse?
In: Other
A LOT of reasons, firstly biggest devastation during WWII, including USRR and it’s later satelite states (like poland, east germany, ukraine etc.) They were on backfoot from the start.
Secondly, global ambitions, competing in ideological war against country, which suffered literally no industrial losses during WWII and even before that was a massive behemot.
Thirdly, economy. While authoritarian was massive advantage during times of war, due to speed and authority of governance, it was really bad in times of peace, due to tunnel vision. There’s just no way for goverment to focus on all aspects of life.
Next, costly arms race and sending unbelivable amount of goods to spar revolution in different countries around the globe, while their economy didn’t rebuild (even today, Russia didn’t recovered losses suffered almost 100 years ago)
Next, costly super-projects which didn’t provide economic growth and even dampered it.
Also, Charnobyl. Cost of similar catastrophy would cripple even USA, it sort of miracle that USRR survived for some years after that.
What else. Losing cultural war, losing allies around the world, revoults, corruption (but every country has it), lack of infrastructure in central and east part of russia, society problems (rampart alcoholism). Commiting too many resources to space race.
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