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Mikhail Gorbachyov Михаил Горбачёв | |
|---|---|
 Gorbachev in 1987 | |
| Born | 2 March 1931 Privolnoye, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Died | 30 August 2022 Moscow, Russian Federation |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Political orientation | Anti-communism Social democracy |
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (2 March 1931 – 30 August 2022) was a Soviet politician who is known for organizing the overthrow of the Soviet Union. He supported the 1989 CIA-backed riots in Beijing and advocated for the overthrow of remaining socialist states in Asia and the rest of the world.[1] Gorbachev lacked experience in the military, foreign affairs, industry, science, and trade unions and did not understand Marxism or Soviet history.[2]
Early life
Gorbachev was born in the farming village of Privolnoye, south of Stavropol. German invaders killed seven of his relatives during the Great Patriotic War. He moved to Moscow in 1950 to study at Lomonosov State University and joined the CPSU in college. He returned to Stavropol after graduating and supported Alexander Dubček's revisionist policies in Czechoslovakia.[2]
Political career
In 1970, Gorbachev became First Secretary of Stavropol Krai and was elected to the Supreme Soviet. He became a member of the Central Committee in 1971 and became its head of agriculture in 1978. In 1979, he became a member of the Politburo.[2]
General Secretary
Gorbachev became General Secretary in 1985 and initially followed Andropov's line, continuing the anti-alcohol campaign and encouraging new cadre. He increased support for Nicaragua and Afghanistan while trying to improve relations with the West. Within a year, he replaced half of all Politburo members and the leaders of five republics and promoted his supporters to Foreign Minister and Premier. Beginning in the fall of 1985, he reduced assistance to Afghanistan.[2]
By the 27th congress of the CPSU in 1986, counterrevolutionaries controlled much of the party leadership. Gorbachev worked with other traitors including Alexander Yakovlev, Eduard Shevardnadze, and Boris Yeltsin to overthrow socialism.[3] He ended Soviet nuclear tests and reduced strategic arms by 50% while receiving no concessions from the United States and reduced government planning of enterprises.[2]
Gorbachev removed deputies from the Central Asian and Caucasian republics from the Politburo. In December 1986, he replaced Kazakh General Secretary Dinmukhamed Kunaev with Gennady Kolbin, an ethnic Russian, which caused nationalist riots in Kazakhstan.[2]
In 1988, Gorbachev began dismantling central planning and abandoned international solidarity.[4]
Later life
In 1996, Gorbachev ran for president of Russia but received less than 1% of the vote.[5]
Political positions
Gorbachev promoted a policy of glasnost[a] (openness), which resulted in communists being purged from the CPSU and mass media. He established market reforms called perestroika[b] (restructuring), which diminished state support for the working class. He reduced assistance to less developed parts of the Soviet Union, increasing national conflict.[5]
Notes
References
- ↑ Mikhail Gorbachev (2000). My Ambition was to Liquidate Communism. Revolutionary Democracy.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Roger Keeran, Thomas Kenny (2010). Socialism Betrayed: Behind the Collapse of the Soviet Union: 'Promise and Foreboding, 1985-86' (pp. 95–101, 120–128). [PDF] iUniverse.com. ISBN 9781450241717
- ↑ Nikos Mottas (2022-09-01). "Mikhail Gorbachev, a modern Judas" In Defense of Communism. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ↑ Roger Keeran, Thomas Kenny (2010). Socialism Betrayed: Behind the Collapse of the Soviet Union: 'Turning Point, 1987-88' (pp. 132–133). [PDF] iUniverse.com. ISBN 9781450241717
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Gorbachev: Darling of the West, despised at home & worldwide" (2022-08-31). Liberation News. Retrieved 2022-09-01.