3-GORBACHEV+Yi,+Terrence

The Media

What was the situation for that group/institution before Gorbachev became Premier? >
 * Prior to Mikhail Gorbachev’s rise to power, media was at the point where it became a prime outlet for control and manipulation of the masses through its widespread communication. A society’s mass media can be characterized by the extent to which those influences apply to the people, and how well journalists collaborate in order to spread their message. Using this approach, it was clear that mass communication was at its peak prior to Gorbachev’s ruling, and much of the Soviet Union’s seven-decade existence facilitated highly organized communication control. Adding to the spread of communication were constraints which prevented other ideas from flowing through the network. Media was so centralized and thorough that alternatives to the official line coming from the Communist Party of the Soviet Union did not exist.



How did that group/institution interpret the application of those policies to it? >
 * After Gorbachev’s rise as the general secretary for the Communist Party in 1985, Gorbachev took full use of the media and its widespread grasp over the Soviet Union at the time in order to instill his concept of reform, glasnost, or openness. Gorbachev promoted this reformation as a component to his overlying goal of reconstruction of the Soviet Union, known as perestroika. Because much of Gorbachev’s reformation efforts targeted an entrenched party bureaucracy, he often faced resistance from officials, and much internal discord amongst the rest of the Soviet Union. This disagreement over the goal of glasnost helped accelerate the downfall of the Soviet Union.

How did the Soviet state apply those policies to that group/institution, and what were the effects? >
 * The policies of glasnost were distributed through the media, and in a sense democratized the Soviet Union and its longstanding Communist Party. It allowed the media a little more freedom of expression, and soon editorials complaining of depressed conditions and of the government’s inability to correct them began to appear. With the use of media as another outlet to aid in his goals of reformation, Gorbachev then concentrated his energies on increasing his overall authority, to no avail. He became a constitutional dictator, but only on paper, and many of his policies of perestroika were simply not put to use. Though he gained some power later on, it was evident that even with widespread communication he was unfit to bring the Soviet Union back into power.

"Gorbachev launched glasnost   (“openness”) as the second vital plank of his reform efforts. He believed that the opening up of the political system—essentially, democratizing it—was the only way to overcome inertia in the political and bureaucratic apparatus, which had a big interest in maintaining the status quo. In addition, he believed that the path to economic and social recovery required the inclusion of people in the political process. Glasnost also allowed the media more freedom of expression, and editorials complaining of depressed conditions and of the government’s inability to correct them began to appear. What was the significance of Gorbachev’s reforms as it pertained to that group/institution?" >
 * Though the use of media added to Gorbachev’s theoretical control, it could not prevent the eventual downfall of the Soviet Union. Media was significant in that it allowed a little more freedom through the press and other outlets, however this attempt at partially democratizing the Soviet Union did not help bring it back to life as Gorbachev intended. Gorbachev’s use of the media and promotion of free speech however was significant in advancing Russia into what it is today, and aided in expressing the views of the people. The failure of perestroika and multi party democracy for example were openly discussed in the Soviet media after the failure of Glasnost, and depicted the people’s complaints on the current situation of the Soviet Union. The Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 is another example of how freedom of the press became significant and in a sense caused the media to create the downfall of the USSR. After the incident, the Soviet Union attempted to cover it up, however the network of communication established within the nation was too great and after a mere 48 hours the truth was revealed.

"Glasnost had broken free from its masters by 1989 and began to be used to criticise its creator Gorbachev. Anything was now fair game. The abolition of the Communist Party's leading role, the failure of perestroika and multi party democracy were openly discussed in the Soviet media. These ideas were undreamt of even a couple of years earlier. The turning point for glasnost was the Chernobyl nuclear diaster in 1986. Soviet authorities initially tried to cover up the catastrophe and remained silent for 48 hours. The silence was followed by complete honesty and unparallel information of the like that had never been seen in the USSR before. After Chernobyl environmental concerns became a favourite topic of the liberal press. The turning of Central Asia into a desert by diverting rivers to irrigate cotton plantations were just one example that shocked the nation. The people could not believe the incompetence of their Communist Party planners. As the truth came out piece by piece the Soviet people became more and more angry at their Communist rulers."

Works Cited: Gibbs, Joseph. Gorbachev's Glasnost: The Soviet Media in the First Phase of Perestroika. College Station: Texas A & M UP, 1999. Google Books. Google. Web. 03 Mar. 2014.  FQC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false>. Graham, James. "Gorbachev's Glasnost." History Orb. History Orb, n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2014. . Lapidus, Gail W. "Glasnost: It's Multiple Roles in Gorbachev's Reform Strategy." The Fletcher Forum (1988): 272-73. Tufts University. Web. 03 Mar. 2014. . Medvedkov, Yuri V. "The Gorbachev Era: Perestroika and Glasnost." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2014. .