How did the Cold War come to an end? Controversy B History A2

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Gerontocracy
Used to describe the Soviet leadership from 1980-1985. E.g. the last years of Brezhnev, Andropov and Cherneko.
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What was Gerontocracy sometimes referred to?
A succession of old and infirm leaders
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Who was Brezhnev's successor?
Yuri Andropov (who was 69 years old and only seven years younger than Brezhnev)
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Who replaced Andropov when he died in 1984?
Konstantin Cherneko
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Why did Cherneko not have an impact on policy for the USSR?
As he was dying of emphysema when in office and luckily lived a little more than one year in office.
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How long was Gorbachev leader of the USSR?
Six years (1985-1991)
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What did Gorbachev's policies aim to do?
They aimed to make the Communist Party more responsive so that they could liberalise the economy.
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What did Gorbachev do in terms of international relations?
He recognised the inability of the USSR in competing with the USA in the arms race and he called for limitations on nuclear weapons and therefore an end to the Cold War.
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When did Gorbachev's political career come to an end?
In 1991 with the collapse of Communism.
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When did Brezhnev die?
1982
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How haHow did Brezhnev's physical incapacity affect the way he could lead the USSR?
It prevented any change in the direction of Soviet foreign policy
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Was Cherneko a Conservative?
Yes he was, he represented the desire of the majority of the Politburo to avoid reform.
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What is an example of the effect inertia ha on relations between the superpowers?
The response to shooting down of the Korean airliner KAL 007 by Soviet fighters in 1983.
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How many people died in the Korean airliner incident?
269 passengers all died and this immediately outraged the West.
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What did the Soviet authorities assume about the plane?
They just assumed it was a spy plane so they thought that they had to shoot it down.
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Who was Gromyko?
The Soviet Foreign Minister
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What did Gromyko then do?
He ignored questions from the West, then the Soviet military merely reiterated the standard line that any unidentified aircraft flying over Soviet airspace would be treated in exactly the same way
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What prohibited the Soviet leadership in doing?
Old age and illness made sure Soviet leadership was rendered incapable of action.
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What had the 1970s shown?
That the best method of improving relations was by face to face meetings between the two superpowers.
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Who had made this impossible though?
Andropov had during the Korean KAL 007 affair and the incident marked a low point in the Second Cold War.
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When did Cherneko die?
He died in March 1985 after only being leader for 13 months
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Which leader represented a younger generation?
Gorbachev at the age of 54 in 1985. SO change was forseeable and possible for the USSR.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What was Gerontocracy sometimes referred to?

Back

A succession of old and infirm leaders

Card 3

Front

Who was Brezhnev's successor?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Who replaced Andropov when he died in 1984?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Why did Cherneko not have an impact on policy for the USSR?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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