THE CANADIAN ORIGINS OF GLASNOST YV Introduction Glasnost and perestroika are distinctly revitalize their nation. The concepts of Focus Russian terms, but there is a Canadian glasnost and perestroika intrigued the This News in Re- connection to both of them. In the world. The Soviet Union, historically a view module discusses the mean- 1980s the Russian ambassador to closed society run by a tight committee ings of two very Canada, Alexandre Yakovlev, devel- of party faithful, had ruled the nation powerful terms, oped the idea of opening his nation to with an iron fist for three quarters of a glasnost and change and enlightenment. This man century. Now glasnost (openness) and perestroika. Their could see the writing on the wall for the perestroika (restructuring) became the significance, in Soviet Union. He believed that if buzzwords of a new regime. An experi- terms of modern Russian history, is change from within did not occur, then ment in cultural change was unleashed. explored. As well catastrophic change from without Glasnost applied primarily to the these terms are would be inevitable. He wanted to find media in the Soviet Union. The media discussed from the a way to save his people and provide had long been an extension of the party perspective of their prosperity and happiness to a nation politic and had little to do with accuracy origins, both Russian and Cana- that for too long had done without and truth (despite the leading publica- dian. either. tion named Pravda [Truth]). Glasnost During his tenure as ambassador to led to a lessening of restrictions and an Canada he became a student of our attempt to improve the information flow YV Sections nation. He watched the ways in which to the people of the nation. In fact it marked with this Canadians operated, in agriculture, in went far beyond that. Over time, in symbol indicate the media, and in government. He incremental stages, the press pushed the content suitable for younger viewers. developed his own conclusions about limits of glasnost until the barriers were what he might emulate and what he effectively gone. Freedom of the press, could improve upon. if not formally established, became a de In Russia, he had a person of like facto reality. mind in Mikhail Gorbachev. Gorbachev Perestroika, an attempt to restructure was at that time a member of the the economic and political systems of Politbureau (cabinet) of the Communist the Soviet Union, likewise went beyond Party Central Committee, a powerful the expectations of its originators. The man destined for greatness. Yakovlev economy was thrust into massive invited his friend to visit Canada to change from tight control to a free observe agricultural procedures. While market. However, with no experience in here, Gorbachev and Yakovlev ex- free-market thinking, productivity plored the ideas that had evolved in declined, and in the initial stages the their minds. They agreed that the Soviet economy faltered. Union needed help and they were By 1991, Gorbachev was gone as determined to provide it. leader of the Soviet Union. In fact, the The rest is history. Gorbachev was Soviet Union was gone as well. In its Further Research To view the English elected General Secretary of the Com- place the new Russian Federation led version of Pravda munist Party Central Committee in by Boris Yeltsin tried to pick up the online, visit http:// 1985 and, with his newly returned pieces of the aftermath of perestroika. english.pravda.ru friend from Canada at his side, inspired The economy gradually turned to the changes they felt were necessary to privatization and a free market. Crime CBC News in Review • December 2002 • Page 45 and corruption increased, and the strongly, driving the rebels from their Further Research military declined, even while a war was capital. President Putin had his work cut To learn more being waged in Chechnya. The ruble out for him. The Russian people had about the new Russian Federation collapsed, and inflation ran rampant. In tasted freedom and, while the taste was visit www.gov.ru/ time, even the President was being sometimes bad, freedom had an addic- and www.russian investigated for corruption. Yeltsin tive quality that Putin could not ignore. embassy.org. Here resigned at the turn of the century. There was no turning back. Russia you will find news, Vladimir Putin, Russia’s new Presi- continues to move ahead with a new government docu- dent, quickly began to work to create a attitude. The Second Russian Revolu- ments, maps, profiles, and recent stronger economy. War in Chechnya tion, with its Canadian origins, is firmly speeches. resurfaced, and Putin responded established. Reflecting 1. In general, what elements of Canadian life do you think would be useful for other nations to consider adopting? Why? 2. How much glasnost do you believe actually exists in Canada? Explain. 3. What types of perestroika (restructuring) is Canada itself under- going today? CBC News in Review • December 2002 • Page 46 THE CANADIAN ORIGINS OF GLASNOST YV Video Review 1. In the opening shot of Red Square, what signs of Western civiliza- Answer the ques- tions as you view tion are present? the video. 2. How many Russians perished in wars and oppression in the last century? _________________________ 3. Why, in 1945, did Yakovlev first begin to doubt Communism? 4. In 1957 where did Yakovlev attend university? 5. Why was Yakovlev sent to be ambassador to Canada? 6. In 1983 who was Canada’s Minister of Agriculture? 7. Why was the wheat field near Windsor, Ontario, considered “historic”? 8. What happened in Moscow in August 1991, and what was the result of this event for the Soviet Union and Mikhail Gorbachev? 9. Why does Yakovlev not like the Russian national anthem? 10. What does “don’t let the past become Russia’s future” mean? CBC News in Review • December 2002 • Page 47 THE CANADIAN ORIGINS OF GLASNOST Timeline: Russia: The Last Hundred Years In the course of one century Russia has 1939 Soviet Union invades Poland and Did you know . gone from rule by an all-powerful czar, Finland. Czar sometimes to rule by the Communist Party, to the written as tsar, 1941 Germany invades Soviet Union. owes its origins to beginnings of democracy. At times it 1941-1945 Soviet Union pushes Ger- the Roman title has been a rough ride, and the people of many back to Berlin, Second World caesar, based on Russia have weathered storm after War ends. the power and storm: rebellion, invasion, war, natural exploits of the disaster, political upheaval, economic 1949 Soviet Union tests first atomic great Roman failure, and nuclear meltdown. Through bomb. leader, Julius 1953 Stalin dies, Nikita Khrushchev Caesar? it all they have managed to persevere. Now, after such a difficult history, the becomes First Secretary. Russian people have the opportunity to 1959 Russian satellite Sputnik is prosper and to control their destiny. launched. Following is a thumbnail sketch of 1961 Yuri Gagarin is the first man in highlights from this challenging journey. space. 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis (Russia and 1904 Trans-Siberian Railway com- U.S. almost stumble into nuclear war) pleted 1964 Khrushchev is replaced by Leonid 1904-5 Russo-Japanese War Brezhnev. 1905 “Bloody Sunday,” the Russian 1979 Gorbachev enters Politburo. Revolution of 1905 Soviet Union invades Afghanistan. 1914 First World War begins. Russia 1982 Brezhnev dies, is replaced by Yuri loses the Battle of Tannenburg. Andropov. 1917 “February Revolution,” Czar 1983 Gorbachev leads Soviet delega- Nicholas abdicates. tion to Canada, meets with Prime “October Revolution,” Bolsheviks Minister Trudeau. under Vladimir Lenin seize power 1984 Andropov dies, is replaced by 1918 March: Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, Konstantin Chernenko. Russia exits First World War (8 million casualties) 1985 Chernenko dies, is replaced by July: Czar Nicholas and family are Mikhail Gorbachev. assassinated. Gorbachev initiates restrictions on production and sale of alcohol. 1918-1921 Russian Civil War Perestroika begins. 1920-1921 Soviet-Polish War 1986 Nuclear power facility at 1922 Union of Soviet Socialist Repub- Chernobyl explodes, sending radioac- lics (USSR) is declared. tive material into the atmosphere. 1924 Lenin dies. 1987 Gorbachev engages in talks with 1927 Josef Stalin begins his leadership U.S. President Ronald Reagan to reduce of the Soviet Union. nuclear arms. 1934 Stalin begins purges (imprison- Laws restructuring banking, business ment and murder) of Soviet military. are enacted. CBC News in Review • December 2002 • Page 48 1988 Easter services are televised in Yeltsin assumes expanded presidential USSR for first time. powers. Laws on state enterprise, co-operatives, 1994 Russia invades rebellious Repub- working for profit are enacted. lic of Chechnya. Armenian earthquake, 150 000 killed or Ruble (Russian currency) becomes injured. virtually worthless. 1989 Price controls, work productivity 1995 Russian troops reach Grozny incentives established. (Chechen capital), thousands killed or Individual farmers permitted to lease left homeless. land. Yeltsin suffers two heart attacks. Gorbachev elected President. 1996 Yeltsin wins re-election as Presi- Coal miners strike to protest poor dent. wages, medical care, housing. Chechen rebels retake Grozny. Nationalist sentiments increase in many Peace accord signed in Chechnya, of the Soviet Republics. Russian troops begin to withdraw. Berlin Wall torn down. This signals the Yeltsin undergoes quintuple bypass end of the Cold War. surgery. 1990 Gorbachev receives Nobel Peace 1997 New criminal code is established. Prize for efforts to end the Cold War. Russia develops an accommodation Gorbachev is re-elected President. with NATO. First McDonald’s opens in Moscow. 1998 Financial Crisis, market crashes, 1991 Gorbachev initiates monetary ruble is devalued. reform. Yuri Primakov is appointed Prime Soviet economy declines. Minister by Yeltsin. Independence sentiments spread 1999 Primakov fired, Sergei Stepashin throughout Soviet Republics.