Limitations of USSR that led to its disintegrationI.
The Political Limitations of Soviet Union
a. The Soviet system became very bureaucratic and authoritarian making life very difficult or its citizens. Lack of democracy and the absence of freedom of speech stifled people who often expressed their dissent in jokes and cartoons.
b. Most of the institutions of the soviet state needed reform: the one party system represented by the communist party of the Soviet Union had tight control over all institutions and was unaccountable to the people. The party refused to recognize the urge of people in the fifteen different republics that formed the Soviet Union to manage their own affairs including their cultural affairs.
c. Although on paper Russia was only one of the fifteen republics that together constituted the USSR, in reality Russia dominated everything and people from other regions felt neglected and often suppressed.
II. The Economic limitations of Soviet Union
a. In the arms race, the Soviet Union managed to match the US from time to time but at great cost. The Soviet Union lagged behind the west in technology, infrastructure (e.g. transport, power) and most importantly in fulfilling the political or economic aspirations of the citizens.
b. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 weakened the system even further. Through wages continued to grow, productivity and technology fell considerably behind that of the west. This led to shortages in all consumer goods. Food imports increased every year. The Soviet economy was faltering in the late 1970s and became stagnant.
c. The Soviet economy used much of its resources in maintaining a nuclear and military arsenal and the development of its satellite states in Eastern Europe and within the soviet system (The five central Asian Republics in particular) this led to a huge economic burden that the system could not cope with.
