The Fall of the USSR: From Perestroika to Modern Russia with Vadim Malinovsky
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Perestroika and Glasnost, Gorbachev and Yeltsin, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of the Cold War, the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, and the coup attempt in Moscow: how do they connect with or explain the collapse of the USSR? Join Russian historian Vadim Malinovsky for a detailed look at how - and why - the Soviet Union ended.
December 26, 1991, is the official anniversary of the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Today, 29 years later, it is still not easy to understand how this powerful nation could disintegrate so unexpectedly. In this seminar, we will explore all of the players and events that lead to this monumental moment in history. Starting with Mikhail Gorbachev, one of Russia’s most famous political figures, we will look back at his time in office and his policies, like Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika(restructuring), to understand his role in the unfolding of the events.
We will consider the impact of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia on the progression of events in the Soviet Union. Also, we will explore how the coup attempt of August 1991 influenced the outcome. We will conclude by discussing the process whereby fifteen republics broke away to declare independence from Russia and how those political relationships continue to evolve today.
Led by historian Vadim Malinovsky, this seminar is a deep dive into all the changes Soviet citizens faced with the dissolution of the USSR as well as a detailed look at the changes within the institutions of the state. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased understanding of the reasons and events that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Vadim is a historian (MA) who has graduated from Lomonosov Moscow State University. His focus is contemporary Russian history. He is working on a PhD dissertation on Stalin’s national policy.
This conversation is not suitable for children under age 16
90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.
It was fascinating to get a Russian's perspective on these seminal events. Clear and comprehensive. Highly recommended.
We have taken several seminars with Vadim and he never disappoints. His presentations are always extremely well organized and creative and his slides are fabulous. He is definitely the best!
Very interesting presentation on the fall of the Soviet Union outline some of the key historical events of the years from the 1970’s to the 1990’s. Well done with nice presentation slides. A good attempt to bring cultural components in by highlighting films that were popular or meaningful in the Soviet Union during each decade.