AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
The USSR and the Soviet Empire, 1953–2000 (A-level only) – The Gorbachev…
Full specification wording
2T The Crisis of Communism: The USSR and the Soviet Empire, 1953–2000 (A-level only) – The Gorbachev Revolution, 1985–2000: Yeltsin as leader: personality and aims; style of rule; economic and political problems and policies; political unrest; re-election and resignation; Putin as leader; the state of Russia politically, economically and socially by 2000
Boris Yeltsin’s leadership was defined by his populist personality and aim to dismantle the Soviet system, adopting a highly personalised, often erratic style of rule.
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 4 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Boris Yeltsin’s leadership was defined by his populist personality and aim to dismantle the Soviet system, adopting a highly personalised, often erratic style of rule. He faced severe economic problems, implementing 'shock therapy' policies that caused hyperinflation and social hardship, alongside political unrest culminating in the 1993 constitutional crisis. Despite low popularity, he secured re-election in 1996 through oligarch backing, before his sudden resignation in 1999. Vladimir Putin succeeded him, projecting a strongman image to restore order. By 2000, Russia was politically fragile but stabilising under Putin, economically devastated by the 1998 crash but recovering via oil exports, and socially fractured by poverty, crime, and the rise of the oligarchs.
What earns the marks
- Assess Yeltsin's 'shock therapy' and its role in creating the oligarch class and widespread poverty.
- Evaluate the significance of the 1993 constitutional crisis in shaping Yeltsin's authoritarian presidential style.
- Analyse the factors behind Yeltsin's 1996 re-election, particularly the role of media control and financial loans-for-shares schemes.
- Examine Putin's early leadership style and his appeal as a stabilising figure following Yeltsin's erratic tenure.
- Evaluate the political, economic, and social condition of Russia by 2000, noting the contrast between democratic structures and actual governance.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Assuming Yeltsin's economic policies immediately created a prosperous capitalist state.
Put it right: Emphasise that 'shock therapy' led to hyperinflation, wiped out savings, and caused severe economic contraction before any stabilisation.
Treating Putin's rise as a sudden, unexpected event.
Put it right: Trace Putin's elevation through Yeltsin's inner circle (the 'Family') as a calculated move to protect them from prosecution after Yeltsin's resignation.
Ignoring the social impact of the transition by 2000.
Put it right: Explicitly discuss the decline in life expectancy, rise in organised crime, and widespread poverty that characterised Russian society by 2000.
Exam tips
- When evaluating Yeltsin's aims, contrast his initial democratic rhetoric with his increasingly autocratic actions, such as shelling the parliament in 1993.
- Use the 1998 financial crash as a key turning point when assessing the economic state of Russia by the end of the period.
- Link the social conditions of 2000 directly to the political appeal of Putin's promise of a 'dictatorship of the law'.
Try the lesson
The start of the 2T The Crisis of Communism: The USSR and the Soviet Empire, 1953–2000 (A-level only) – The Gorbachev Revolution, 1985–2000: Yeltsin as leader: personality and aims; style of rule; economic and political problems and policies; political unrest; re-election and resignation; Putin as leader; the state of Russia politically, economically and socially by 2000 lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which economic policy was introduced by Boris Yeltsin in the early 1990s to rapidly transition Russia to a market economy?
Listen
Boris Yeltsin’s leadership was defined by his populist personality and aim to dismantle the Soviet system, adopting a highly personalised, often erratic style of rule. He faced severe economic problems, implementing 'shock therapy' policies that caused hyperinflation and social hardship, alongside political unrest culminating in the 1993 constitutional crisis. Despite low popularity, he secured re-election in 1996 through oligarch backing, before his sudden resignation in 1999. Vladimir Putin succeeded him, projecting a strongman image to restore order. By 2000, Russia was politically fragile but stabilising under Putin, economically devastated by the 1998 crash but recovering via oil exports, and socially fractured by poverty, crime, and the rise of the oligarchs. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Assess Yeltsin's 'shock therapy' and its role in creating the oligarch class and widespread poverty. Evaluate the significance of the 1993 constitutional crisis in shaping Yeltsin's authoritarian presidential style. Analyse the factors behind Yeltsin's 1996 re-election, particularly the role of media control and financial loans-for-shares schemes. Examine Putin's early leadership style and his appeal as a stabilising figure following Yeltsin's erratic tenure. A common slip: Assuming Yeltsin's economic policies immediately created a prosperous capitalist state. Instead, Emphasise that 'shock therapy' led to hyperinflation, wiped out savings, and caused severe economic contraction before any stabilisation. Exam tip: When evaluating Yeltsin's aims, contrast his initial democratic rhetoric with his increasingly autocratic actions, such as shelling the parliament in 1993.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Yeltsin secured re-election through oligarch backing
- 2. Constitutional crisis shaped Yeltsin's authoritarian presidential style
- 3. Russia politically fragile but stabilising under Putin
- 4. Financial crash devastated the economy
- 5. Yeltsin suddenly resigned
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Economic transition and crisis
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Authoritarianism versus democracy
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Social dislocation and inequality
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Political instability and succession
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Economic transition and crisis
- Yeltsin implemented 'shock therapy' policies that caused hyperinflation and social hardship, and by 2000 the economy was devastated by the 1998 crash but recovering via oil exports.
- Authoritarianism versus democracy
- Yeltsin adopted a highly personalised, often erratic style of rule, and by 2000 there was a contrast between democratic structures and actual governance.
- Social dislocation and inequality
- Shock therapy caused social hardship, and by 2000 society was fractured by poverty, crime, and the rise of the oligarchs.
- Political instability and succession
- Political unrest culminated in the 1993 constitutional crisis, and Yeltsin's sudden resignation in 1999 was followed by Putin succeeding him.
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