The Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe Quiz

The Role of Communications and Civil Society in the Fall of Communism

• The fall of communism in Eastern Europe and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 were triggered by economic change rather than a defiant uprising of Voice of America listeners.
• The Soviet model of selling expensive oil to buy cheap wheat stopped working due to falling oil prices and rising wheat prices, forcing the Kremlin to secure loans from the West.
• The ability of citizens to communicate was largely irrelevant in 1989, as macroeconomic forces played a more significant role in the collapse of communism.
• Civil societies in East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Poland were strong enough to resist the communist regimes, providing visible governments in waiting.
• The ability of civil society groups to create and disseminate literature and political documents provided a visible alternative to the communist regimes, making it difficult for them to order their troops to take on such large groups.
• The balance of power between the state and civil society shifted, leading to the peaceful collapse of communist control.
• Many opposition leaders became the new political leaders of their countries after the collapse of communism.
• Communications tools during the Cold War did not cause governments to collapse, but they helped the people take power from the state when it was weak.
• The printing press helped democratize Europe by providing space for discussion and agreement among politically engaged citizens, echoing the historical role of media in social change.
• Mass media alone do not change people's minds; opinions are first transmitted by the media and then echoed by friends, family members, and colleagues.
• The Internet and social media play a crucial role in spreading media consumption and production, allowing people to articulate and debate conflicting views.
• A public sphere is more likely to emerge in a society due to people's dissatisfaction with matters of economics or day-to-day governance rather than their embrace of abstract political ideals.

The Role of Communications and Civil Society in the Fall of Communism

• The fall of communism in Eastern Europe and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 were triggered by economic change rather than a defiant uprising of Voice of America listeners.
• The Soviet model of selling expensive oil to buy cheap wheat stopped working due to falling oil prices and rising wheat prices, forcing the Kremlin to secure loans from the West.
• The ability of citizens to communicate was largely irrelevant in 1989, as macroeconomic forces played a more significant role in the collapse of communism.
• Civil societies in East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Poland were strong enough to resist the communist regimes, providing visible governments in waiting.
• The ability of civil society groups to create and disseminate literature and political documents provided a visible alternative to the communist regimes, making it difficult for them to order their troops to take on such large groups.
• The balance of power between the state and civil society shifted, leading to the peaceful collapse of communist control.
• Many opposition leaders became the new political leaders of their countries after the collapse of communism.
• Communications tools during the Cold War did not cause governments to collapse, but they helped the people take power from the state when it was weak.
• The printing press helped democratize Europe by providing space for discussion and agreement among politically engaged citizens, echoing the historical role of media in social change.
• Mass media alone do not change people's minds; opinions are first transmitted by the media and then echoed by friends, family members, and colleagues.
• The Internet and social media play a crucial role in spreading media consumption and production, allowing people to articulate and debate conflicting views.
• A public sphere is more likely to emerge in a society due to people's dissatisfaction with matters of economics or day-to-day governance rather than their embrace of abstract political ideals.