While there are unique features of the Soviet collapse,  there may be more general lessons to be drawn from this very important case. There is no doubt that the internal weaknesses of Soviet political and economic institutions, which failed to meet the aspirations of the people, were responsible for the collapse of the system. Economic stagnation for many years led to severe consumer shortages and a large section of Soviet society began to doubt and question the system and to do so openly.

Which of the following statement is correct in reference to the consequences of the disintegration of the USSR?

a- It meant the end of Cold War confrontations

b- The newly independent countries were immediately colonized by the USA.

Only statement a is correct.

The newly independent countries were immediately colonized by the USA is an incorrect statement.

The collapse of the second world of the Soviet Union and the socialist systems in eastern Europe had profound consequences for world politics. First of all, it meant the end of Cold War confrontations. Second, power relations in world politics changed. Third, the end of the Soviet bloc meant the emergence of many new countries. All these countries had their own independent aspirations and choices. Some of them, especially the Baltic and east European states, wanted to join the European Union and become part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). The Central Asian countries wanted to take advantage of their geographical location and continue their close ties with Russia and also establish ties with the West, the US, China, and others.