A Crumbling Nation Essay - 1464 Words

For those who do not know much about the Soviet Union, or those intrigued by the almighty Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), the history of the collapse of the Soviet Union is extremely well documented in Stephen Kotkins Armageddon Averted: The Soviet Collapse 1970-2000. This relatively short book provides great insight into the downfall of the Soviet Union, as well as to how it could potentially have sustained longer than it did by the Soviet elite. A dramatic shift occurred in the Soviet Union between 1970 and 2000; numerous events and modifications occurred to pave the way for a long and slow decay, as opposed to a rapid and fervent eruption of a crumble that many may have expected. Kotkin provides the readers with a†¦show more content†¦He incorporates various accounts by numerous insiders and senior dignitaries, along with notable failures by political figures, to elucidate the factors that led to the failure of both Communism and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Kotkin commences by discussing the Arab-Israeli War of 1973, as it is a major turning point for the beginning of the collapse of the Soviet Union. During this time, the Arabs and the Israelis went to war; because of this, an oil embargo was put forth and prices skyrocketed. Many countries and nations around the world were struggling to make do on little to no oil, including the two world superpowers. Tough times were had by all during this time during the Brezhnev era; many resorted to working in and with the black market in order to make ends meet. As thousands were losing jobs and sinking more and more into financial woes, the Soviets struck oil in Siberia. A quick shift took place, putting the Soviet Union as the main oil exporter. The strike of oil led to an abundance of wealth from theirShow MoreRelatedThe World War I And The Persian Question And A History890 Words   |  4 Pagesgeneral monographs on World War I offer a tale of humanity admits a conflict that will change th e known world after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Yet, this story is far more complicated because it involves the crumbling of empires and the development of nation states in the Middle East. Hew Strachan’s The First World War demonstrates the complicated nature of the Great War in the Middle East and the involvement of Persia. Most generalized texts on World War follow the traditional politicalRead MoreThe Link Between British Colonization Of Sub Saharan Africa And Lasting Economic Problems990 Words   |  4 PagesSociety misrepresents Africa as disease ridden, uncivilized, overpopulated and poor. It is generalized as one united nation rather than fifty-four individual states, and is conceived as an inferior nation. 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