Mikhail Gorbachev, the final leader of the Soviet Union, recently passed away at 91, having left his indelible mark on history. A member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from a young age, Gorbachev ascended through the ranks of the party, eventually becoming a strong advocate for de-Stalinisation reforms under Nikita Khrushchev. By 1970, he was the First Party Secretary of the Stavropol Regional Committee, and by 1985, he had become the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, effectively the country’s leader.
Major Reforms: Glasnost and Perestroika
Throughout his tenure, Gorbachev introduced significant reforms, two of the most noteworthy being “glasnost” and “perestroika.” Glasnost, translating to “openness”, was designed to increase freedom of speech and press within the Soviet Union and started the process of democratization. On the other hand, perestroika (“restructuring”) was aimed at reshaping the Soviet economy and political system by introducing elements of a market economy. This resulted in financial decision making being decentralized.
Gorbachev’s Role in Arms Reduction and End of the Cold War
Furthermore, Gorbachev was instrumental in forging arms reduction deals with the United States and establishing relationships with Western powers. These actions helped dismantle the “Iron Curtain”—a barrier that separated the Soviet Union and its eastern and central European allies from the West since World War II. His efforts led to the end of the Cold War, dissolution of the USSR, and subsequently his award of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990.
Gorbachev’s Visit to India
Gorbachev also visited India twice, in 1986 and 1988, aiming to extend disarmament initiatives and secure Indian cooperation. His visit was significant as it was his first trip to a non-Warsaw Pact country since taking the Soviet Union’s leadership. The then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi praised Gorbachev as a “crusader for peace”. Gorbachev’s address to India’s Parliament became a high point of Indian diplomacy, receiving extensive coverage in both Indian and Soviet press.
Understanding the Cold War
The Cold War, a significant historical event, was essentially a conflict between Russia and western countries like the US and Britain, lasting from the 1940s until 1991. It was a battle of ideologies—communism, which Russia embraced, versus capitalism, embodied by the West. During this period, communist and capitalist nations aggressively competed, striving to develop superior technologies and weapons.
India’s Role in the Non-Alignment Movement
Amidst this ideological tension, India chose a distinct path, aligning itself with neither the United States nor the Soviet Union. This stance was formalized in the Non Alignment Movement (NAM), a group that originated in 1955 during discussions at the Asia-Africa Bandung Conference held in Indonesia. The first NAM Summit Conference took place six years later in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
Purpose of the Non-Alignment Movement
The Havana Declaration of 1979 defined the organization’s purpose—to safeguard “the national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of non-aligned countries” in their struggle against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, and all forms of foreign aggression. Throughout the Cold War, NAM played a crucial role in maintaining world order and preserving peace and security. Through NAM, India could make independent international decisions serving its own interests rather than those of superpowers.
UPSC Civil Services Examination: Previous Year Question
In relation to NAM, a question asked in the 2009 UPSC civil service exam was: “Among the following Presidents of India, who was also the Secretary General of Non-Aligned Movement for some period?” The correct answer was Giani Zail Singh, who served as NAM Chairperson from 1983-86.
