Crash Course European History: The Collapse of Communism

Introduction

• Host: John Green
• Covers European history post-Prague Spring and the eventual fall of communism in Eastern Europe.
• Key events:
  • Prague Spring crackdown
  • OPEC oil crisis impacts
  • Rise of neoliberal policies
  • Soviet Union's struggles
  • Rise of dissent in Eastern Europe
  • Fall of the Berlin Wall

Economic and Political Context

OPEC Oil Crisis

• 1973 and 1979: OPEC raised oil prices, leading to stagflation in Europe and the US.
• Economic effects: High unemployment, inflation, and declining living standards.

Neoliberal Policies

• UK: Margaret Thatcher's cuts to welfare benefits and tax reductions for the wealthy.
• US: Ronald Reagan followed similar policies.
• Germany: Helmut Kohl adopted neoliberal policies without race-baiting.
• Impact: Focus on reducing government spending and promoting individualism.

Soviet Bloc Challenges

Internal and External Pressures

• Corruption and incompetence in leadership.
• Economic struggles and declining support for Soviet communism.
• Publication of "The Gulag Archipelago" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn exposed Soviet prison camp horrors.

Dissent in Eastern Europe

• Poland: Strikes in response to wage freezes and price increases.
  • Formation of Solidarity led by Lech Walesa.
  • Government declared martial law in 1981.
• Czechoslovakia: Issuance of Charter 77 opposing Communist rule.
• Hungary and East Germany: Protests against ecological damage and peace vigils, respectively.

Cultural Movements

• Punk Rock in East Germany: Adopted as a form of rebellion.
  • Punks faced persecution by Stasi.
  • Churches supported punks and hosted concerts.

Gorbachev's Reforms

Policies and Impact

• Became General Secretary of the Communist Party in 1985.
• Glasnost: Promoted openness and reduced censorship.
• Perestroika: Aimed at economic reforms and modernization.
• Reduced military expenditure and ended the Afghan war.

Western Relations

• Gorbachev's travels improved relations with Western leaders.
• Policies exposed Soviet issues, notably the Chernobyl disaster.

Collapse of Communism

Eastern Europe

• Poland: Legalization of Solidarity; Communism ended in 1989 elections.
• Hungary: Ousted Communist Party; border openings led to Berlin Wall's fall.
• Czechoslovakia: Velvet Revolution with minimal violence.
• Romania: Violent overthrow of Nicolae Ceaucescu.

Yugoslavia

• Ethnic tensions exacerbated by political manipulation.
• Slovenia and Croatia declared independence in 1991.
• Resulted in a decade of violence.

Soviet Union

• 1991: Failed coup following Boris Yeltsin's election.
• Dissolution of the USSR by end of 1991.
• Formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Personal Reflection

• John Green shares his memory of the Berlin Wall's fall as a symbol of change.

Conclusion

• Understanding that history is not permanent.
• Significance of the events in shaping modern Europe.