In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Soviet Union encountered great difficulties and finally disintegrated at 199 1.
The predecessor of the Soviet Union was Soviet Russia, and the predecessor of Soviet Russia was the expanding Russian Empire. To put it bluntly, the Soviet Union is actually an enhanced version of Russia.
After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Russian territory decreased by 5.325 million square kilometers, which was more than half that of China, and high-quality land in Central Asia and Southeast Europe was lost. The population decreased by 49%, from 290 million to 65438+48 million. Russia has been severely weakened.
The disintegration of other empires in history was generally a military failure and dismembered by external forces, such as the Ottoman Turkish Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
But the disintegration of the Soviet Union was not defeated. In view of the strong military strength of the Soviet Union, no country can force the Soviet Union to disintegrate. In other words, disintegration is the active choice of the Soviets (high-level), not forced by external pressure.
Then, why did the Soviet Union choose to disintegrate at 199 1?
The Soviet Union encountered great difficulties:
Economically, the Soviet Union developed heavy industry and military industry, while the light industry related to people's livelihood was very backward and the economy was seriously deformed. As a result, the living standards of residents are seriously behind those of western countries, and economic growth is unsustainable.
Militarily, years of war, especially the decade of Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s, led to the financial collapse of the Soviet Union.
Politically, the system is rigid, the aging of cadres is serious, forming a huge privileged class, causing public dissatisfaction. Gorbachev's reform caused social unrest, intensified ethnic contradictions and obvious regional separatism.
The Soviet Union did encounter great difficulties at that time, but it did not have to be disintegrated when it encountered difficulties. Moreover, disintegration does not necessarily solve difficulties, and new difficulties will be encountered.
If it is disintegrated when encountering difficulties, then China, Indian and other countries do not know that it has been disintegrated many times.
Then, why did Yeltsin and others who were actually in power on the eve of the disintegration of the Soviet Union take the initiative to choose disintegration?
1. Historical reasons.
Russia has annexed many countries and regions in history. These countries have a weak sense of identity with Russia and even a tendency to separate.
The 14 * * * countries outside Russia were annexed by Russia, such as Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries, and some were annexed after the October Revolution, such as the Baltic countries.
Because Russia forcibly annexed other countries by force, and Russian rule is cruel and unpopular. When Russia is strong, no one dares to resist, but once Russia's strength declines, these countries will inevitably seek independence.
2. Joining countries give priority to their own interests.
Yeltsin, as the president of Russia, naturally gives priority to Russia's interests. Yeltsin wants to get rid of some poor countries and ease financial difficulties. Wait until you get through the storm, and then take it back.
Other countries, especially the Baltic countries annexed during World War II, are also dissatisfied with Russia and have long wanted to separate.
The Slavic Big Three have different ideas.
Yeltsin wants to get rid of the burden, but Ukraine is by no means a burden. It has developed industry and agriculture, a large population (50 million) and many nuclear weapons, so Yeltsin does not want Ukraine to be independent. Before the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the Slavic Big Three had a meeting in Belarus, and Yeltsin tried his best to retain Ukraine, hoping that the Slavic Three could tide over the difficulties without separation. But kravchuk declined. He wants to be the president, not the governor of Moscow.
Kravchuk returned to Ukraine to push for independence. In the end, more than 74% of Ukrainians voted for independence.
Yeltsin hoped to end the cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union.
The long-term hostility between the United States and the Soviet Union has seriously affected the internal affairs, diplomacy and economic development of the Soviet Union. Yeltsin thought that after the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, the west was no longer hostile to Russia, and Russia could embrace western countries and develop together.
However, to Yeltsin's surprise, after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the former Soviet Union basically fell to the west, but Russia remained hostile to the United States and Europe. This is embarrassing. It is estimated that Yeltsin's intestines are all regretful.