disciplinary policies were restored. One of the causes of Brezhnev's loss of power was in the way he controlled the land of Russia. During this time there was an inefficient use of land, which resulted in an economic slacking once again. The 1980's saw a dramatic drop in the standards of the Soviet citizens. This led to strikes against the government, which greatly threatened the stability of the Soviet Union. The people were angered at the fact that the Communist Party had not lived up to what it had promised which was in return for their obedience. (B, Ulam, "Looking at the Past: The Unraveling of the Soviet! Union" pg.112) March 1985 marked a turning point in the Communist Rule of Russia. Mikhail Gorbachev was elevated to the position of General Secretary. He was fully aware of what he had to do to keep Communism alive in Russia. He began a program called "Perestroika" which was intended to help rebuild the government and military, but the main purpose of this program was to improve the Soviet standard of living. In the end "Perestroika" turned out to be a complete failure. In 1991, the economy deteriorated before the eyes of Gorbachev, and he could do nothing to stop it. Soon following, the USSR voted itself out of existence in December 1991, and Gorbachev resigned as president of the former Soviet Union. Eventually Communism completely destroyed the Soviet Empire. The parasite of Communism finally drained the last bit of strength from the Russian nation in the late 1980's and 1990's, resulting in a sensational break-up of Soviet control. The break up of the Communist regime in the Soviet Union was more than a political event. The powerful bond between the economy and politics of Russia created an uncanny situation for the successor states of the Soviet Union. The people of Russia were so accustom to the way of life under Communism; they were left with little democratic tradition. Russia was faced with one of the toughest tasks, eco...
