Dear history buffs, today I would like to discuss with you a thought-provoking historical topic: the truth about the collapse of the Soviet Union. As one of the most significant historical events in the late 20th century, the collapse of the Soviet Union not only changed the world pattern, but also profoundly affected the subsequent international political, economic and social development. However, historians and researchers have been discussing a variety of theories and perspectives on why this once-powerful superpower collapsed. Recently, the chairman of the Russian Communist Party, Zyuganov, in an interview, put forward a new opinion, in which he pointed out that the real reason for the collapse of the Soviet Union was the corruption of the minds of the leaders, and this point of view provoked extensive discussion and reflection.
To understand the reasons for the collapse of the USSR, we first need to review the development of Soviet history. As a country with a huge territory and many nationalities, the Soviet Union experienced a series of turbulences from the revolutionary period to the rise of Lenin and Stalin, and then to the succession of leaders in the periods of Khrushchev, Brezhnev, and Gorbachev. However, by the late 60s of the 20th century, with the end of the Khrushchev era, the development of the USSR entered a new stage.
The end of the Khrushchev era marked a change in the leadership of the Soviet Union, with new leaders pursuing a policy of total Westernization, trying to learn from the economic models and social systems of Western countries. This policy of total westernization led to ideological corruption within the Soviet Union, leading to doubts and denials of the traditional values and cultural traditions of their own country. At the same time, various malpractices and problems arose in the economic and political system of the Soviet Union, and internal corruption and bureaucracy began to seriously affect the stability and development of the country.
Against this background, there was a gradual shift in the thinking of the Soviet leadership, who began to pursue personal interests and power, ignoring the interests of the state and the people. Politically, the Soviet leadership did not pay enough attention to democracy and human rights, and the repression and restrictions on dissidents exacerbated social contradictions in the country. Economically, the planned economic model of the Soviet Union was no longer able to meet the development needs of the times, which led to economic stagnation and depression. The accumulation of these problems eventually led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
In an interview, Zyuganov mentioned an important event - the 819 incident. This was a political crisis in which some high-ranking leaders within the Soviet Union were fighting for power and saving their political position. In this crisis, the contradictions between Yeltsin and Gorbachev and others were exposed, which led to a further deterioration of the political situation. Although the crisis was eventually quelled by the popular protests led by Yeltsin, the problems and contradictions exposed in it have already indicated a deep crisis within the Soviet Union.
Zyuganov pointed out that the fundamental cause of the collapse of the Soviet Union was the ideological corruption of the leaders. This ideological corruption led to the loss of the Soviet leadership's sense of identity and responsibility for its own country, which led them to no longer focus on the interests of the state and the people, but only about the power and interests of individuals. This individualistic and egoistic thinking led to internal turmoil and chaos in the Soviet Union, which eventually led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
There were mixed reactions to Zyuganov's views. Some argue that his views upend previous understandings of the causes of the collapse of the Soviet Union and offer a new perspective on how to think about it. However, some people have questioned his view, arguing that the cause of the collapse of the Soviet Union is not limited to the ideological corruption of the leaders, but also involves various factors such as international politics and economic structure.
In any case, we should think deeply about and study the important historical event of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Only by understanding the truth of history can we better guide our future development and progress. I hope that through today's sharing, I can bring you some inspiration and thoughts. Thank you all for listening, and we'll see you next time!