On the 70th anniversary of the storming of the Winter Palace, the country was in the grip of perestroika, glasnost, Lacoste sweaters and a sense of uncertainty. The once mighty Soviet Union was facing a period of profound change and upheaval that would ultimately lead to its dissolution.
While initially experiencing rapid economic growth, the Soviet command economy collapsed after it grew more complex. Inefficiencies and shortages began to plague the system, leading to widespread discontent among the populace.
A military defector who fled Russia on foot has given a rare interview to the BBC, in which he paints a picture of an army suffering heavy losses and struggling to maintain control over its vast territory. The Soviet military was facing challenges both internally and externally, as tensions with the West continued to escalate.
Indian inflation is best tackled by addressing food inflation – which is clearly a government responsibility. The role that monetary policy played in exacerbating economic woes in the Soviet Union cannot be ignored, as hyperinflation and economic instability became increasingly prevalent.
SAN DIEGO — This week's News 8 Throwback not only takes us back in time – but also to the other side of the globe. In the 1980s, some of our world's most significant geopolitical events were unfolding in the Soviet Union, setting the stage for the country's eventual collapse.
The history of dynamic migration flows throughout the Soviet Union pre- and post-collapse has significantly shaped the current demographic landscape of the region. Many former Soviet republics are still grappling with the consequences of mass migration and population decline.
It is dangerous to follow the Western prescription that military men are not good for a democracy. Which democracy? Whose democracy? The Soviet Union's military played a crucial role in shaping the country's political landscape, with military leaders exerting significant influence over government policies.
Russia's intervention in Georgia in 2008 and, more recently, in Ukraine awaked many in the West to a category of wars they had assumed to be a thing of the past. The Soviet Union's legacy of military intervention in neighboring countries continues to reverberate across Eastern Europe, as tensions between Russia and its former satellite states remain high.
After 25 years of independence, some former Soviet republics are experiencing record population decline while others are soaring to new highs. The breakup of the Soviet Union had far-reaching demographic consequences, with some countries struggling to maintain their populations while others experience rapid growth.
