V. I. Zhukov Tr. by Su Ruixue, LI Yan

(№.3,2013)

Abstract: From the later period of Brethnev’s accession to power to 1985 when Gorbachev succeeded to the post of General Secretary of the Communist Party of the USSR, the Soviet Union’s economy, although presenting a stagnant state, did not reach the stage of irrecoverableness: Gorbachev’s promise to carry out reform and some data of economic development can be used to testify it. However, the Soviet Union’s economy continued to decline for some years and moved to collapse at last. At the same time, the social psychology became seriously twisted and the national strength descended rapidly and went to collapse finally. Carefully examining the process of Gorbachev’s reform can help one to fully understand the causes of the Soviet Union breakup.

Key words: Gorbachev; reform; Soviet Union