For the 35th anniversary of Gorbachev's perestroika: a clear plan or complete improvisation of the authorities of the USSR

Marks 35 years since then, as to power in the country and the party came an energetic young leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, once said of himself as a reformer established in the Soviet Union political and economic system. The same Gorbachev who first put the policy of "acceleration" and then "restructuring".
Already a month and a half after the election of the General Secretary of the CPSU Gorbachev held a Plenum of the Central Committee, which declared a policy to accelerate economic and social development of the USSR. Prior period (not particularly outlining its timeframe) on the Plenum has been described as "stagnant".

Historians argue, did Gorbachev's plan of modernization of the country and its political system. Some argue that was. As an argument, remember a plan of economic reforms, if developed in 1983-1984 by order of the Secretary of the CPSU Yuri Andropov.

The Argument extremely doubtful. Due to the fact that it contradicts the politics of Andropov, imprisoned Bolshevik forcing people to labor discipline. In addition, the party practice of the time included a discussion of the developed plans and programmes in the primary organizations and in the plenary sessions of the parent Committee. None of this was not even close.

Therefore agree with the position of those who claim that the reforms of Gorbachev improvised. What they saw quite clearly, so is the rate of change of the party elite. He realized, as they say, all the blades. Within six years, 70% were updated composition of the top political leadership (the Politburo), 60% of the heads of Republican and regional party organizations. The government flogged even more. Of the 115 members of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, appointed in 1985, Gorbachev left only 10.
His reforms, he began with the anti-alcohol campaign quickly has ruined the country's budget. The fact that the sale of alcohol took a quarter of the income of the trade coming into the Treasury. About the same accounted for the proportion of alcohol in volumes the cost of production of the food industry.
In total, the state budget has lost more than 40 billion (out of total fees 390 billion). Fallen income, no substitute could not. But ordinary Soviet people to reduce the sale of alcohol responded with a 18% increase in sugar consumption (1.4 million tons).
It is Assumed that he made 140-150 million decaliters of vodka. But it is known: from 1985 to 1987 for the moonshine detained 577 thousand citizens! Simultaneously, up to 1000 tons (32%) increased sales of alcohol-based glue BF.

Bitter end

Anyway, the throwing of Gorbachev and his team will be called the first stage of "Perestroika". The second will begin in January 1987 Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist party, which proclaimed a radical change in economic and political relations in the country and its foreign policy.

The economy was stimulated by self-employment, created cooperatives and joint ventures with foreign companies. In domestic policy, announced the democratization of the society, reform of political institutions and publicity in the media. In international relations, became the dominant doctrine of the "New thinking" proclaimed the rejection of the class approach to diplomacy and improved relations with the West.

Under these revolutionary new directions in public policy for good should be the base, worked in specialized research institutes of the time. Was among them, for example, a Institute for social and economic research.

However, the party leadership took over the base of scientific knowledge and their point of view. Eventually shook the nation. In the economy there is a conflict between regulated wages in state enterprises and free – in the private sector. This caused widespread dissatisfaction among the people.

In public relations. The removal of a number of quite reasonable restrictions opened the way for the creation of nationalist and separatist organizations. From that time, for example, the Ukrainian party "MOVEMENT". Originally named as "people's movement of Ukraine for perestroika," she quickly mimic the radical nationalist organization, from whose ranks came out then all the leaders of the Ukrainian Maidan.

In international politics. Improving relations with the West led to the unilateral surrender of the geopolitical position of the country. Now some experts interpret these actions of the top leadership of the Soviet Union as a betrayal. Stop for a milder rating is "poor policy".

In any case, this reflects the lack of detailed action plan. This approach characterizes the second (1987-1989) the basic step of "Perestroika". At this time, conditions were created for further degradation and destruction of the country and the party. Not by chance the third phase (1989-1991), historians have referred already to the period of destabilization of the political situation, which led directly to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

People say: measure twice, cut once. Improvisation in the policy, which allowed himself to Mikhail Gorbachev, had brought many of the Soviet people's suffering and distress, brought down a great country. This bitter lesson, we must always remember.