Teaching Comparative

Russia's '91 coup and teaching opportunities

Anniversaries of major events offer wonderful opportunities for collecting teaching materials. For instance, the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China meant that major print and broadcast media sources produced retrospective and analytical articles and programs. I video taped a good documentary, "harvested" several good readings to supplement my students' textbook and "clipped" several dozen historic and contemporary photographs from online sources that I used as lecture illustrations.

While a 50th anniversary is a bigger deal, even a 15th anniversary can offer materials for important lessons. In 1991, there was a coup in the Soviet Union. It was a crucial event in Russia's transition and the political careers of Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin. Here are some of the gems I found at the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty web site. Some of them might fit into your teaching plans. (And if you want some good photos to illustrate a lecture, there are many in these articles.)

Besides looking at the origins of Russia's political system, these events (and those of 1993) offer opportunities to study (among other things) political change, political culture, democratization, and rule of law.

As you consider and teach about these topics, it may be worth repeating one of the perceptual anomalies surrounding Soviet/Russian politics. A sidebar on the RFE/RL site notes that, "According to a recent Harris poll, some 59 percent of European Union residents regard former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev as the best Soviet/Russian leader. Just 12 percent named Russian President Vladimir Putin and 4 percent picked former Russian President Boris Yeltsin. Within Russia, the situation is quite different, with only 12 percent of Russians saying they have a positive impression of Gorbachev in a recent poll."


The first article consists of Mikhail Gorbachev's answers to six questions from RFE/RL.


Russia: Gorbachev Reflects On The Legacy Of The Coup

"PRAGUE, August 18, 2006 (RFE/RL) --Fifteen years after the failed coup that triggered the collapse of the Soviet Union and transformed his own life, former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev talks to RFE/RL's North Caucasus Service about the events of August 1991 and their legacy.

"RFE/RL: According to many public opinion polls, perestroika remains more popular abroad... than in the overwhelming majority of countries of the former Soviet Union. How would you, as the author of that initiative, explain such a difference in its reputation?

"Gorbachev: The difference between the reputation perestroika has in Russia and abroad is explainable. Central and Eastern Europe gained independence... I can tell you that neither the majority of their people nor their political elite desire a return to the way things were, or have any regrets about exiting the union...

"Russia is a special case. The reason I say this is because Russia lost the most as a result of the break-up, in terms of geopolitical stature, in terms of historical merit, in terms of political power it had by virtue of controlling other republics, and finally in terms of economic strength, having ceased to be the center of a major economic complex with a population of nearly a quarter-billion people.

"[Former Russian President Boris] Yeltsin and [former acting Russian Prime Minister Yegor] Gaidar's reforms destroyed the industrial potential of the country and reduced millions of people to poverty. Privatization was carried out in such a way that instead of contributing to a growing private sector, it only resulted in corruption and mass theft. The country was in shock, so people naturally looked back to the Soviet Union and the social guarantees that it offered. The guarantees were modest, but at least they were guarantees. Now, even though things are improving under Putin, I would still estimate that about 50 percent of our people live in poverty...

"RFE/RL: How do you assess the state of democracy and freedom of speech in Russia today?

"Gorbachev: There are frequent accusations that democracy is being suppressed and that freedom of press is being stifled. The truth is, most Russians disagree with this viewpoint. We find ourselves at a difficult historical juncture. Our transition to democracy has not been a smooth one, and we must assess our successes and failures not in the context of some ideal, but in the context of our history. When Putin first came to power, I think his first priority was keeping the country from falling apart, and this required certain measures that wouldn't exactly be referred to as textbook democracy.

"Yes, there are certain worrying tendencies. We still have certain stipulations and restrictions that cannot be explained by real dangers, or by the realities of life in Russia. However, I would not dramatize the situation. In the past 20 years, Russia has changed to such an extent that going back is now impossible.

"RFE/RL: Let's turn the clock back 15 years. You suffered a horrible betrayal on the part of the people you considered your comrades-in-arms, as well as, perhaps, your personal friends. Not many people have experienced this. What personal lessons have you learned?

"Gorbachev: We need to follow the path of democracy. We need to respect the people, and not turn them back into the herd that was bullied for decades and centuries in our country. We cannot resolve problems through coups. We need the people to participate in the changes that are being enacted in the country. Democracy needs to be effective. The law needs to be efficient. Thieves and corrupt officials should not feel safe. We need to follow the path of democracy toward a free, open, and prosperous country."



Next is a February 2006 article Russia: The Fading Legacy Of The Failed 1991 Soviet Coup


Besides the illustrations on that page, you'll find links there to a dozen more photos from the '91 coup.


There's a short analysis of Yeltsin's career, Russia: Legacy Unclear As Russia's First President Turns 75


Here's an interesting question. In Western media, Gorbachev has been portrayed as a victim of the coup. Yeltsin contends he was in on the plot. Russia: Yeltsin Accuses Gorbachev Of Complicity In 1991 Coup


And finally, a bit of analysis from the man who represented the USA in Moscow in '91. Former U.S. Ambassador Assesses The Coup's Legacy

posted by Ken Wedding @ 9:55 AM