Gorbachev & Soviet Union Essay Example for Free

Gorbachev Soviet Union Essay The disintegration of the Soviet Union was an inevitable matter, and neither the 1991 coup could have prevented it even if it were successful. There were other factors too that contributed to the disintegration of the Soviet. However, Gorbachev had the power to prevent the Soviet from disintegrating, had he acted in a different way than he did after the coup. The coup fails On 19th August, some of the ministers who served Gorbachev, including the minister of defense, Yazov, the minister of internal affairs, Pugo and the head of KGB (Komityet Gosudarstvjennoj Biezopasnost), proclaimed state of emergency. They announced that Gorbachev’s health was a hindrance to his leadership duties, and that due to the poor political and economic situations in the country, a state committee had assumed economic powers. They also sent out messages that no one should disobey the orders of the committee. The leaders isolated Gorbachev in the president’s holiday villa at the Black sea. They also took over the radio and television stations, and instructed the military to roll over tanks in Moscow. The coup was however a failure as some of its members were not confident that it would be a success. Counterargument The failure of the coup radically accelerated the disintegration of the USSR. Also, all of the major organizations and mechanisms that were holding the USSR together, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the KGB, the military, the police, and the office of the presidency, were weakened. They also could not stop the disintegration of the Union because even before the coup was organized, already there were signs of its failure. Therefore, whether the coup happened or not, the disintegration would have occurred anyway. The failed August 1991 coup gave a sharp impetus to the process of the disintegration of the Soviet Union because by the end of the year the USSR had collapsed. Questions have been asked as to why the armed forces never intervened to stop the collapse of the USSR. The answer to this is because the coup and its aftermath increased splits in the armed forces, particularly along ethnic lines. There was also the belief that the coup attempt would fail and that the instigators of a military putsch would be punished. (Treisman 22) What Gorbachev could have done to prevent the disintegration Had Gorbachev acted differently, had he opposed and imprisoned the radicals instead of flirting with them, the USSR might have survived. The author says that the survival of the Soviet Union hinged on the personal determination of one person- Gorbachev’s ability to take advantage of all the powers at his disposal as president of the Soviet Union. Unlimited power as now concentrated in the hands of the general secretary/ president, who, being endowed with emergency powers could have carried out any reforms, completed perestroika, and achieved the same results within a very short time without disintegrating the Union. Gorbachev, like other leaders such as Yakovlev, or Shevardnadze, is said to have realized that the old system could not be maintained without bloodshed and institutionalized terror. The former leader was surrounded by opportunists, and narrow minded bureaucrats who couldn’t accept the end of their privileges. He did not get rid of his subordinates who were a threat to him and the Soviet. Many people did not want the Union to disintegrate, so they hated him because of his refusal to act despotically even if the stake was the future of the Soviet. Counterargument It is argued that perestroika would have been impossible without the leadership of Gorbachev. However, I disagree with this. Gorbachev would have introduced new reforms and enforced them on people, but this too failed. However, it is likely that the entire history of the Soviet Union would be different if someone else would have been in the position. Someone who understood what really needed to be done. Likewise, if someone outside the party leadership had suggested the sort of reforms that Gorbachev instituted, the powerful politburo would never have allowed the individual to remain in power. Because party officials recognized Gorbachev’s loyalty to the Soviet system and to socialism as a world view, they reluctantly endorsed perestroika. As a result of what would have been seen as mistaken judgment, party officials would therefore be extremely diligent in choosing future leaders of the party and would shy away from charismatic, forward thinking leaders. Instead, they would favor reactionary hard-liners for all leadership positions. If Gorbachev had followed the pattern set by Khrushchev and initiated reforms while keeping the reins of control tightly in his own hands, neither the central government nor the republics would have been in a position to quest or resist changes that resulted from the implementation of Perestroika. Another change that might have prevented the dissolution of the Soviet Union would have been for Gorbachev never to have introduced glasnost, which created an unfettered and critical media that in turn fostered a public ready to revolt. Without glasnost, the actions of Soviet leaders would have remained free of public reproach, and Gorbachev would have been able to force the people to comply with his reforms. An uninformed public would have trusted the Soviet government to act in their best interests. Aware of what Gorbachev could have done differently, the hard-liners would have been determined to avoid those same mistakes. With dissidents again in exile or strictly limited in their contact with the outside world and with tightly censored media, the hardliners would have been able to control ongoing influences on public opinion. All forms of Western media would have been banned from the Soviet Union. However, since the people had been exposed to liberalizing forces, the hard-liners would have been forced to resort to Stalin-like tactics to a stamp out all dissent and terrorize the population into submission. (Treisman 25) Conclusion In general, it could be said that Gorbachev’s strategies of leadership were unsuccessful. Although he made a difference in the history of Soviet Union, it is during his era that the soviet disintegrated. Although there were things that he could have done to prevent this, he preferred leading in his own way. His weaknesses are especially seen where the organizers of the coup were not immediately prosecuted. He was also unable to enforce the reforms that could have prevented the Soviet from disintegrating. He would also have denied people the freedom to demonstrate and rebel against authorities. This never happened, as the soviets had become enlightened and knew demonstrations and strikes were their key to freedom. The history of the Soviet Union should be a good indicator of the reasons why we need to choose leaders we can trust to lead us wisely. Works cited 1) Treisman Daniel, The Return: Russia’s Journey from Gorbachev to Medvedev, Daniel Treisman, 2009

Mother-daughter Relationships Essay -- Mother-Daughter Relationships

The relationship between parents and their children is one of the most basic human interactions. Mothers and daughters provide both physical and emotional care for their young sons and daughters. In the process, parents will instill children with family values and goals, while teaching them the accepted norms and values of society. This is done in hope that parents will one day see their own children become mature adults, with their own goals and purposes in life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mother-daughter relationships can be complex, but also filled with compassion and love. Mothers and daughters often seem farther away from each other than they really are. Usually when a girl goes through adolescence, the relationship between her and her mother begin to change in many different ways, but can grow at the same time. Even though the wars between a mother and daughter can ravage a relationship, they can easily be recognized earlier enough to keep a relationship from severing the ties that a mother and daughter have with one another.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Adolescence... a time of seemingly more freedom, junior high to high school, football games, dances, parties, going out for pizza, dating, driving, a later curfew, going to the mall, and talking on the phone almost non stop. Many mothers rarely see their daughters during these times. With all the time she begins to spend with her friends, it seems as if the major issues constantly being discussed are bedtimes, clothing and chores. #Girls are growing up and it may seem as if their mothers are being needed less, but they are needed, just in a different way. When I was beginning to enter adolescence, I wasn’t completely separated from my mother, but I could feel it was beginning to happen. My sister Erin, who is now 21 felt the same way. #â€Å"When I was younger, between 14-18 I separated form my mother and it almost felt like I was completely separated from her.† Even though girls may feel like they are farther away from their mothers that they could ever get, it is not the end of the world. Most girls are close to their mothers when they are young, and many return to that closeness as adults. But few girls manage to stay close to their mothers during junior high and high school. I have realized that before I entered into high school, my mother and I had a close relationship. I was the exception of most girls my age and many of them seemed jealou... ... from knowing that they see them. Every daughter and mother love each other but it’s when a daughter can say I really like my mother and when a mother feels the same way, that one knows the relationship has succeeded. Bibliography http://www.ag.uiuc.edu/~vista/pdf_pubs/GATEWAY4.PDF. Web 20 April, 2015. Bauch, P. A., Vietze, P., & Morris, V. (1973). What makes the difference in parental participation? Childhood Education, 50, 47-53. http://www.ag.uiuc.edu/~vista/pdf_pubs/GATEWAY4.PDF. Web 20 April, 2015. http://www.knowledgetree.com/parents.htm. Web 7 April, 2015. Hickman, C. W., Greenwood, G. E., & Miller, M. D. (1995). High school parent involvement: Relationships with achievement, grade level, SES, and gender. Journal of Research and Development in Education, 28, 125-134. http://www.knowledgetree.com/parents.htm. Web 3 April, 2015. Reynolds, Cathy. Personal Interview. Web 4 April, 2015. Reynolds, Erin. Personal Interview. Web 6 April, 2015. Reynolds, Jason. Personal Interview. Web 8 April, 2015. Troll, Lillian E. "Family-Embedded vs. Family Deprived Oldest-Old: A Study of Contrasts." International Journal of Aging and Human Development

Reclining Nude

Faith Kim Prof. Hight Introduction to Visual Arts 4 June 2012 Reclining Nude The artwork is called Reclining Nude by Jean-Antoine Watteau and I found this artwork in the Norton Simon Museum. I was captivated by the sensuality and the delicacy in the painting. I first noticed in the painting was her robust ivory figure contrasting with the dark chocolate background because I felt that these contrasting colors evoked a sense of purity and light against the mysterious darkness. She seems to have turned around and noticed something. Perhaps someone just entered the room and surprised her or she could have been waiting for her lover.I also noticed that in this painting, that there are only three objects: the bed, the girl, and the dark background. This painting seemed so simple to me and yet I felt there was so much more to it. What was it about her that was so special? Why was she painted? These thoughts whirled in my head as I looked at this masterpiece. I studied this painting’s importance by researching the important formal elements that composed this artwork such as color and light, the historical context in which the artwork was made, and Watteau’s intent for this artwork.These factors have contributed in the Reclining Nude’s significance not only for me, but in art history. I first analyzed the usage of the formal elements-the color and shape- and Watteau’s skill sets in the Reclining Nude. The woman’s â€Å"creamy pink flesh is wonderfully warm and sensuous against the ivory-white of the bedclothes and the dark, chocolate-brown of the background† (Posner 385). The creamy color adds life to the woman and distinguishes her from the pale white bed sheets, thus giving the effect that her skin has â€Å"a marvelous translucency† (Posner 385).The translucency of her skin could possibly imply her innocence and purity. The rosy blush gives the young girl a sense of modesty that even though she might be alone and lying comfortably on her bed; she is aware of her nudity. Her â€Å"shape [and] weight†¦of the breasts and the firm flesh of [her] stomach†¦are exactly defined by varying values and densities of the paint surface† (Posner 385). Watteau must have applied a certain amount of weight in applying the paint, to give the painting life. This made â€Å"the boldly painted bedding seem buoyant and responsive to the weight of the lithesome figure† (Posner 385).His â€Å"brushwork is free and broad,† especially around the woman’s right elbow where there is apparently â€Å"a lack of clarity about the relationship of weight support† (Posner 385). Despite these irregularities, â€Å"the picture’s handling and description of forms are typical of Watteau† (Poser 385). Watteau was known for his â€Å"freedom of the hand, the lightness of touch, a subtlety in the profiles of heads and the drawing of hair, the expressiveness of the figures and com positions, [and] the pervasive feeling of [his artworks]† (Oxford).Watteau used the Rococo style in the Reclining Nude and this certain style reflected the change in mentality during 18th century France. According to Art: A Brief History, â€Å"The Rococo style may be seen partly as a reaction at all levels of society, even among kings and bishops, against the Grand Manner of Baroque art, indentified with formality and rigidity of seventeenth-century court life† (Stokstad 412). The Baroque style prior to the Rococo style magnified the grandeur of the powerful-the royalty and nobility.They were portrayed as godlike and were painted in a formal and rigid manner. Rococo was a much more relaxed notion and is â€Å"characterized by pastel colors, delicately curving forms, dainty figures, and lightheartedness† (Stokstad 412). The Reclining Nude represents these ideas of the Rococo style. Her body has a delicate curve especially around her hips adjacent to the dark back ground and her fingers are so delicate, it seems as if she has never used them before.During this time was the early emergence of the Enlightenment when â€Å"radical technological advances† and changes in philosophy were happening (Stokstad 469). People were starting to become curious, questioned their surroundings, and were thinking more realistically. The change in France’s notion is reflected in the Reclining Nude. The woman is more humanized with her lying comfortably than posing like a goddess in stupendous fashion. Also, the details of her anatomy, such as the indent of fat between her left breast and hip, give her a more realistic look as well.The Reclining Nude carries the characteristics of the Rococo style and embodies the cultural shift of France. No one knows for certain the true meaning behind Watteau’s Reclining Nude. There are theories that Reclining Nude has no meaning and is a simply a copy of Watteau’s other artwork, The Remedy. The Rem edy â€Å"shows the same reclining nude woman who appears in the painting. But in addition, it includes a maid with a syringe approaching her mistress to administer an enema, and also a night-table at the left and more of the bed at the bottom of the composition† (Posner 386).Only difference is that in the Reclining Nude, the focal point is not the action between the woman and her nurse, but just the woman. However, Watteau might have intended for the painting to be an erotic artwork. Watteau might have portrayed her as the ideal woman and to make love to this woman is as beautiful as her. This type of work would have reflected the â€Å"intellectual and social libertinism†¦ especially in France† (Posner 387). Expressing eroticism such as this was radical, but so was the culture and time period of France.The woman has also been noted to be a pagan goddess for she is â€Å"wonderfully seductive† and shares the modesty of a pagan goddess (Posner 388). Unlike what art historians and theorist say, I believe that Watteau’s intent was for us to just relax like her and enjoy the beauty of life. I think he would have wanted us to unwind and shift our focus from materials and more into the natural beauty. Watteau definitely displayed characteristics of the Rococo style and might have meant to use this style to display some very simple and yet beautiful forms of life.Instead of the opulence of the rich like in the Baroque style, he focused more on the natural beauty. He points out the delicacies and the loveliness of the woman that further attribute to her exquisiteness. Although there are many things I would love to know more about the Reclining Nude, I have learned a lot from my research. I feel satisfied of my discoveries and researching the Reclining Nude has reminded of the great importance art history is in our society. Studying art history gives us glimpses of life during those time periods.They show us their people, cultures, sty les, etc. Utilizing art, we are able to study from past people, cultures, and styles and therefore, apply this knowledge for the future. Jean-Antoine Watteau’s Reclining Nude provides history and meaning to society and can be studied to understand the mentality then, compared to how we are today. The visual techniques, the historical context, and the meaning of the Reclining Nude have helped enlighten me about this painting’s significance on myself and in art history.

Tips For Young Fashion Trends - 814 Words

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