Unit 1: The End of Bipolarity 8

The End of Bipolarity Disintegration of Soviet Union, Unipolar World, Middle East Crisis – Afghanistan, Gulf War, Democratic Politics and Democratization – CIS and the 21st Century (Arab Spring).
- Lecture1.1
  
  LEADERS OF THE SOVIET UNION
- Lecture1.2
  
  WHAT WAS THE SOVIET SYSTEM
- Lecture1.3
  
  PROBLEMS WITH USSR / REASONS OF DISINTEGRATION
- Lecture1.4
  
  GORBACHEV AND THE DISINTEGRATION
- Lecture1.5
  
  WHY DID THE SOVIET UNION DISINTEGRATE
- Lecture1.6
  
  SHOCK THERAPY IN POST COMMUNIST REGIMES
- Lecture1.7
  
  TENSIONS AND CONFLICTS IN FORMER SOVIET REPUBLICS
- Lecture1.8
  
  INDIA AND POST COMMUNIST COUNTRIES
Unit 2: New Centres of Power 0

Organizations: European Union, ASEAN, SAARC, BRICS. Nations: Russia, China, Israel, India, Japan and South Korea

No items in this section
Unit 3: Contemporary South Asia 0

Conflicts and efforts for Peace Democratization in South Asia: Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives

No items in this section
Unit 4: United Nations and its Organizations 0

Principal Organs, Key Agencies: UNESCO, UNICEF, WHO, ILO, Security Council and the Need for its Expansion.

No items in this section
Unit 5: Security in Contemporary World 0

Security: Meaning and Type; Terrorism.

No items in this section
Unit 6: Environment and Natural Resources 0

Environmental Movements, Global Warming and Climate Change, Conservation of Natural Resources.

No items in this section
Unit 7: Globalization 0

Globalization: Meaning, Manifestation and Debates.

No items in this section

WHAT WAS THE SOVIET SYSTEM

WHAT WAS THE SOVIET SYSTEM ?

Outcomes of Socialist revolution in Russia (1917)

Emergence of USSR,
Revolution inspired by the ideals of socialism.
opposed to capitalism.
Demanded a egalitarian society.
Abolish the institution of private property.
so, the makers of the Soviet system gave primacy to the state and the institution of the party.
Political system -> Communist, opposition not allowed.
Economy -> planned and controlled by the state.

After 2nd world war

East European countries:

Came under the control of the USSR (Because the Soviet army had liberated from the fascist forces)
Political & economic systems modelled after the USSR.
Second World or the ‘socialist bloc’
The Warsaw Pact, a military alliance, held them together.
The USSR was the leader of the bloc.
The Soviet Union became a great power, economy more developed except USA, complex communications network, vast energy resources including oil, iron and steel, machinery production.
Transport sector connected remote areas efficiently.
Ensured a minimum standard of living for all citizens.
Government subsidised basic necessities including health, education, childcare and other welfare schemes.
No unemployment.
Land and productive assets were owned and controlled by the Soviet state
had a domestic consumer industry that produced everything from pins to cars.