Question

What was the cause of the disintegration of the Soviet Union ?

• A. Political and economic institutions could not fulfil the aspirations of the people.
• B. There was administrative and political deadlock.
• C. There was a big shortage of consumer products.
• D. All of the above

Hint:

When analyzing historical events like the collapse of a superpower, remember that the causes are almost always multi-faceted. Look for the answer that encompasses economic, political, and social factors, as a single cause is rarely sufficient to explain such a significant event.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question asks for the primary causes behind the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The collapse was a complex event resulting from a combination of long-term and short-term factors.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's analyze each option as a contributing factor to the Soviet Union's disintegration:
(A) Political and economic institutions could not fulfil the aspirations of the people: The Soviet Union's one-party communist system stifled political freedom, and its centrally planned command economy was inefficient. This led to economic stagnation and an inability to provide a standard of living comparable to the West, failing to meet the citizens' desires for both political liberty and economic prosperity.
(B) There was administrative and political deadlock: The highly centralized and bureaucratic system of the Communist Party was rigid and resistant to change. This created political stagnation and made the administration inefficient and corrupt, a situation which Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms of 'Glasnost' (openness) and 'Perestroika' (restructuring) tried to address but ultimately failed to control.
(C) There was a big shortage of consumer products: The Soviet command economy prioritized heavy industry and military spending over the production of consumer goods. This resulted in chronic shortages of food, clothing, and other basic necessities, leading to widespread public dissatisfaction and a loss of faith in the communist system.
Since all three options describe significant and interconnected factors that led to the collapse, the most accurate answer is that all of them were causes.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The disintegration of the Soviet Union was caused by a combination of factors including the failure of its political and economic systems, administrative deadlock, and severe shortages of consumer goods.
Therefore, option (D) is the correct choice.