History of the Soviet Union (1982–1991): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:18, 30 December 2005

Revision as of 18:42, 1 January 2006

Line 41:

===The August Coup===

''For main article see [[Soviet coup attempt of 1991]].''

Faced with growing republic separatism, Gorbachev attempted to restructure the Soviet Union into a less centralized state. On [[August 20]], [[1991]], the republics were to sign a new union [[treaty]], making them independent republics in a federation with a common [[president]], foreign policy and [[military]]. The new treaty was strongly supported by the [[Central Asia|Central Asian]] republics, who needed the economic power and markets of the Soviet Union to prosper. However, the more radical reformists were increasingly convinced that a rapid transition to a market economy was required and were more than happy to contemplate the disintegration of the USSR if that was required to achieve their aims. Disintegration of the USSR also accorded the desire of local authorities, such as Yeltsin's presidency, to establish full power over their territories. In contrast to the reformers' lukewarm approach to the new treaty, the conservatives and remaining patriots of the USSR, still strong within the CPSU and military establishment, were completely opposed to anything which might contribute to the weakening of the Soviet state.