The Fall of the Soviet Union: Why the Superpower Collapsed
Fexingo History · Eastern Europe
The Fall of the Soviet Union: Why the Superpower Collapsed
In December 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved, ending a seven-decade experiment in communist rule and reshaping global politics. This show, hosted by Lucas and Luna, traces the USSR’s final years from the stagnation of the Brezhnev era through Gorbachev’s perestroika and glasnost, the Chernobyl disaster, the rise of nationalist movements in the Baltic states and Ukraine, the failed August 1991 coup, and the eventual resignation of Gorbachev. We examine key figures like Yeltsin, Gorbachev, and Shevardnadze, and events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, the revolutions of 1989, and the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. Economic decay, the arms race with the US, and the role of dissidents like Sakharov are also explored. The show delves into why a superpower collapsed from within, what it meant for Eastern Europe and the world, and how its legacy still influences Russia’s identity today. Join us for a forensic look at a pivotal moment that ended one era and began another.
