Question

question 9 of 10

one reason for the soviet unions collapse in 1991 was that:

a. infighting within the soviet communist party created political instability.
b. the soviet government under gorbachev resisted calls for change and progress.
c. the soviet government had been unable to win the cold war against the united states.
d. the soviets were frustrated by the lack of openness and transparency in the soviet system.

Explanation:

Analyze the question context

Using the Soviet Union Dissolution knowledge point, we examine the factors leading to the 1991 collapse. The prompt asks for a primary reason behind this historical event.

Evaluate the options

Using the Gorbachev Reforms knowledge point, we assess the political and social climate of the late Soviet era:

• Option A: While political divisions existed, "infighting" alone does not capture the systemic collapse.
• Option B: Incorrect, as Mikhail Gorbachev actively initiated reforms like glasnost and perestroika rather than resisting change.
• Option C: The Cold War was a broader geopolitical rivalry, but "unable to win" is an oversimplification of the internal domestic collapse.
• Option D: Correct. The policy of glasnost (openness) exposed deep-seated systemic issues, and the public grew increasingly frustrated with the historical lack of transparency, accelerating demands for autonomy and reform.

Answer:

• (A) infighting within the Soviet Communist Party created political instability.
• (B) the Soviet government under Gorbachev resisted calls for change and progress.
• (C) the Soviet government had been unable to win the Cold War against the United States.
• (D) the Soviets were frustrated by the lack of openness and transparency in the Soviet system. (Correct answer)