term "Velvet Revolution" appeared in the late 1980s - early 1990s.It does not reflect the nature of the events described in the social sciences the term "revolution".This term is always qualitative, fundamental, profound changes in the social, economic and political spheres, which lead to the transformation of the whole society, changing the model of society.
What is it?
"Velvet Revolution" - the common name of the processes occurring in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe in the period from the late 1980s to early 1990s.The collapse in 1989 of the Berlin Wall became a kind of symbol.
name "Velvet Revolution" of these political upheavals received because in most states committed bloodless (except Romania, where an armed uprising and massacre unauthorized c Nicolae Ceausescu, the former dictator and his wife).Events everywhere except Yugoslavia occurred relatively quickly, almost instantaneously.At first sight, the similarity of their scripts and coincidence in time is surprising.However, let us look at the causes and nature of these revolutions - and we see that these coincidences are not accidental.This article will give a definition of the term "velvet revolution" and will briefly look into its causes.
events and processes that took place in Eastern Europe in the late 80s and early 90s, are of interest of politicians, scientists and the general public.What are the causes of the revolution?And what is their essence?Let's try to answer these questions.The first in a series of such political events in Europe has become a "velvet revolution" in Czechoslovakia.From it and begin.
events in Czechoslovakia
In November 1989, there have been radical changes in Czechoslovakia."Velvet Revolution" in Czechoslovakia led to the bloodless overthrow of the communist regime as a result of the protests.The decisive impulse was the November 17 organized a student demonstration in memory of Jan Opletal, a student from the Czech Republic, who was killed during the protests against the occupation of the state by the Nazis.As a result of the events on November 17 were injured over 500 people.
November 20, students went on strike, and in many cities began mass demonstrations.November 24 resignation of First Secretary and some other leaders of the Communist party of the country.November 26 held a grand rally in the center of Prague, which covered about 700 thousand people.November 29 parliament repealed the constitutional article on the Communist Party.December 29, 1989, Alexander Dubcek was elected chairman of the Parliament, and Vaclav Havel was elected president of Czechoslovakia.The reasons for the "velvet revolution" in Czechoslovakia and other countries are described below.Also study the opinions of authoritative experts.
reasons "velvet revolution"
What motivated by the same reasons as a radical breakdown of the social system?A number of scientists (for example, V. Volkov) internal objective reasons for the revolution of 1989 saw the gap between the productive forces and the nature of industrial relations.Totalitarian and authoritarian regimes have become bureaucratic obstacle to scientific, technical and economic progress of countries, hindered the integration process even within Comecon.Almost half a century of experience in the countries of South-Eastern and Central Europe has shown that they are far behind the advanced capitalist states, even by those who were once on the same level.Czechoslovakia and Hungary to the comparison with Austria to East Germany - with Germany, Bulgaria - Greece.East Germany, leading the CMEA, according to the UN, in 1987 GP per capita ranked only 17 th place in the world, Czechoslovakia - 25th place, the Soviet Union - 30th.Widening gap in living standards, quality of health care, social security, culture and education.
stadialnogo character began to acquire the backlog in Eastern Europe.The control system with centralized rigid planning and sverhmonopolizmom so-called command-administrative system creates inefficiency of production, its decay.This was particularly noticeable in the 50-80-ies, when these countries delayed new stage NTR, who brought Western Europe and the United States on a new, "post-industrial" level of development.Gradually, by the end of the 70s, it started the trend to transform the socialist world in a secondary socio-political and economic force on the world stage.Only in the military-strategic area it has remained strong, and that is mainly because of the military potential of the USSR.National
factor
Another powerful factor by which realized "velvet revolution" in 1989, became a national.National pride, as a rule, has been infringed by the fact that the authoritarian-bureaucratic regime reminiscent of the Soviet.Tactless actions of the Soviet leadership and the representatives of the USSR in these countries, their political mistakes have acted in the same direction.This was observed in 1948, after the rupture of relations between the USSR and Yugoslavia (which resulted in the then "velvet revolution" in Yugoslavia), in trials on the model of Moscow before the war, and so on. D. Leaders of the ruling parties, in turn, adopting a dogmatic experiencethe Soviet Union, to contribute to the change in the local regimes of the Soviet type.All this gave rise to a feeling that this system imposed from outside.This was facilitated by the intervention of the Soviet leadership in the events in Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968 (later made a "velvet revolution" in Hungary and Czechoslovakia).In the minds of people was fixed idea of "Brezhnev doctrine", ie limited sovereignty.Most of the population, comparing the economic situation of his country's neighbors to the situation in the West began to involuntarily bind together the political and economic problems.Infringement of national sentiment, socio-political dissatisfaction has its effect in the same direction.As a result of the crisis.June 17th, 1953 there was a crisis in the GDR, in 1956 - in Hungary, in 1968 - in Czechoslovakia, and Poland it took place several times in the 60s, 70s and 80s.They, however, had no positive solution.These crises have only helped to discredit the existing regimes, the accumulation of so-called ideological shifts, which usually precede the political changes, the creation of a negative assessment of the parties in power.
Soviet influence
At the same time they showed why the authoritarian-bureaucratic regimes have been stable - they belonged to the police department to the "socialist community", under pressure from the Soviet leadership.Any criticism of existing reality, any attempt to make adjustments to the theory of Marxism from the standpoint of the creative understanding, taking into account the current reality, declared "revisionism," "ideological sabotage" and so on. D. The absence of the spiritual realm of pluralism, uniformity in culture and ideology led to dvoyakomysliyu politicalpassivity of the population, conformism that person morally corrupting.With this, of course, could not accept the progressive intellectual and creative power.
weakness of political parties on the rise
revolutionary situation began to emerge in Eastern Europe.Watching how the restructuring of the Soviet Union, the population of these countries expect similar reforms at home.However, at the decisive moment it revealed the weakness of the subjective factor, namely the lack of mature political parties able to implement major changes.The ruling party in a long time his reign unchecked lost creative flair, the ability to upgrade.The loss of their political nature, which was only an extension of the state bureaucracy, are increasingly losing touch with the people.Intellectuals do not trust these parties, youth paid enough attention, could not find a common language with her.Policy of lost public confidence, especially after the management team stronger corroded corruption, personal enrichment began to prosper, have lost their moral compass.It is worth noting the repression of the discontented, "dissidents" who practiced in Bulgaria, Romania, East Germany and other countries.
While they seemed powerful and monopolistic ruling party, having separated from the state apparatus, gradually began to fall apart.Began to argue about the past (the opposition Communist Party, considered responsible for the crisis), the struggle between "reformers" and "conservatives" inside them - all of this to a certain extent paralyzed the activities of these parties, they gradually lost their fighting capacity.And even in such circumstances, when the political struggle has escalated greatly, they still hoped to have a monopoly on power, but miscalculated.
Was it possible to avoid these events?
Inevitable "velvet revolution"?It is unlikely that you can avoid it.First of all, this is due to internal reasons, which we have already mentioned.What happened in Eastern Europe, largely the result of the imposed model of socialism, the lack of freedom for development.
restructuring that began in the Soviet Union, it seemed, gave rise to socialist renewal.But many leaders of countries in Eastern Europe have failed to understand the fundamental transformation of the urgent need of the whole society, have been unable to receive signals sent by the time.Accustomed only receive instructions from the top party masses found themselves in this situation, disoriented.
Why not intervened leadership of the USSR?
But why foresaw rapid changes in Eastern Europe, the Soviet leadership did not intervene in the situation and ousted former leaders, their actions only strengthen conservative discontent of the population?
Firstly, there could be no talk of military pressure on these countries after the events of April 1985, the Soviet Army withdrawal from Afghanistan and the statements about freedom of choice.It was clear to the opposition and the leadership of the countries of Eastern Europe.Alone this fact disappoint others, it "inspires".
Second, multilateral and bilateral talks and meetings in the period from 1986 to 1989, the Soviet leadership has repeatedly stated the evils of stagnation.But how to react to this?Most of the heads of states in their actions did not show the desire to change, preferring to carry only the bare minimum necessary changes that do not affect the overall mechanism prevailing in these countries, the system of government.Thus, only in words welcomed the restructuring of the management of the Bulgarian Communist Party in the Soviet Union, trying with a plurality peretryasok in the country to maintain the existing regime of personal power.The heads of the CPC (M. Jakes), and SED (Erich Honecker) resisted the change, seeking to limit their hopes on the fact that the alleged restructuring of the Soviet Union is doomed to fail, the impact of the Soviet example.They still hoped that the surviving relatively good standard of living until you can do without serious reforms.
first in a narrow format, and then with the participation of all members of the Politburo of the SED 7 October 1989 in response to the arguments used by Mikhail Gorbachev about the urgent need to take the initiative in their hands, the head of the German Democratic Republic stated that it is not necessaryteach them to live when in the stores of the USSR "is not even salt."The people in the same evening went out, beginning the collapse of the GDR.Nicolae Ceausescu in Romania, stained with the blood, making a bet on repression.And where reforms have been preserving the old structures and did not lead to pluralism, democracy and the real market, they only contributed to uncontrolled processes and degradation.
became clear that without a military intervention of the USSR, without its safety net on the side of the existing modes of supply stability turned out to be small.It should also take into account the psychological mood of citizens, who played a big role, because people want change.
Western countries, moreover, were interested in the fact that the opposition forces have come to power.These forces they supported financially in the election campaigns.
result was worldwide one: in the course of the transfer of power on a contractual basis (in Poland), the exhaustion of the credibility of the reform programs MSzMP (in Hungary), strikes and mass demonstrations (in most countries) or rebellion ("velvet revolution" inRomania), power passed into the hands of new political parties and forces.That was the end of an era.So perfected in those countries, "velvet revolution."
essence implement changes
On this subject, YK Knyazev specifies three points of view.
- first.In four states ("velvet revolution" in the GDR, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and Romania) in late 1989, there have been people's democratic revolution, thanks to the launch of a new political course.The revolutionary changes of 1989-1990 in Poland, Hungary and Yugoslavia were quick completion of evolutionary processes.Similar developments since the end of 1990 began to take place in Albania.
- second."Velvet revolutions" in Eastern Europe - only apical upheavals through which came to power, alternative power, who did not have a clear program of social reconstruction, and so they were doomed to defeat and an early exit from the political arena of the country.
- third.These events were the counter-revolution, not a revolution, as were anti-communist character, were designed to remove from power the ruling Communist Party and the workers, and not to support the socialist choice.
general direction of movement
general direction of movement, however, was a one dimensional, despite the diversity and specificity in different countries.They were speaking out against totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, gross violations of the freedoms and rights of citizens against the existing society of social injustice, corruption authorities, illegal benefits and low living standards.
They were tearing away a one-party state administrative-command system, vvergshey in crisis all the countries of Eastern Europe and unable to find a decent out of this situation exit.In other words, it is a democratic revolution instead of apical coups.This is evidenced not only by numerous rallies and demonstrations, but also the results of later in each of the general election.
"Velvet Revolution" in Eastern Europe were not only "against" but "for".For the establishment of true freedom and democracy, social justice, political pluralism, the improvement of the spiritual and material life of the population, the recognition of human values, developing according to the laws of civilized society efficient economy.
Velvet Revolution in Europe: results of transformation
CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) are beginning to evolve towards the creation of a democratic state, a multi-party system, political pluralism.Was the transition of power to the governments of the hands of the party apparatus.New public authorities acting on a functional rather than sectoral basis.It provides a balance between different branches of the principle of separation of powers.
in CEE countries finally stabilized parliamentary system.None of them has established a strong presidential power, there is not a presidential republic.The political elite felt that after such a period of totalitarian power can slow down the progress of the democratic process.V. Havel in Czechoslovakia, L. Walesa in Poland, Z. Zhelev Bulgaria tried to strengthen presidential power, but public opinion and parliaments opposed to this.The president never defined the economic policy and did not take the responsibility for its implementation, that is, he was not a chief executive.
full power is the parliament, the executive power belongs to the government.The composition of the last parliament approves and oversees its activities, adopts the state budget and the law.Free presidential and parliamentary elections were a manifestation of democracy.
What forces came to power?
almost all CEE countries (except the Czech Republic), power passed smoothly from one hand to another.In Poland, this happened in 1993, the "velvet revolution" in Bulgaria has caused the transfer of power in 1994, and in Romania - in 1996.
In Poland, Bulgaria and Hungary came to power the leftist forces in Romania - right.
