Which among the following is not a reason for why Soviet system had become weak?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Economic prosperity that led to fulfilment of consumer demands.
Option (1) The Soviet economy used much of its resources to maintain a nuclear and military arsenal. A reason (Incorrect). To keep up in the arms race with the US, the Soviet Union poured its resources into weapons. This was a huge economic burden that the system could not cope with.
Option (2) The development of the satellite states in Eastern Europe. A reason (Incorrect). The Soviet Union also spent heavily on developing its satellite states in Eastern Europe and the Central Asian republics within the Soviet system. This drained the same resources further.
Option (3) Alienation of the ordinary people due to slow and stifling administration. A reason (Incorrect). Ordinary people were alienated by slow and stifling administration, rampant corruption and the privileges of party bureaucrats. People stopped identifying with the system, and the government lost popular backing.
Option (4) Economic prosperity that led to fulfilment of consumer demands. Not a reason (Correct). The opposite happened. Productivity and technology fell behind the West, and this led to shortages in all consumer goods; food imports rose every year. There was no prosperity, so it cannot be a reason for the weakness.
NCERT (2025-26): “What was the Soviet System? … In the arms race, the Soviet Union managed to match the US from time to time, but at great cost. The Soviet Union lagged behind the West in technology, infrastructure (e.g., transport, power), and most importantly, in fulfilling the political or economic aspirations of citizens. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 weakened the system even further. Though wages continued to grow, productivity and technology fell considerably behind that of the West. This led to shortages in all consumer goods. Food imports increased every year. The Soviet economy was faltering in the late 1970s and became stagnant. Why did the Soviet Union Disintegrate? … Why did the system become so weak and why did the economy stagnate? The answer is partially clear. The Soviet economy used much of its resources in maintaining a nuclear and military arsenal and the development of its satellite states in Eastern Europe and within the Soviet system (the five Central Asian Republics in particular). This led to a huge economic burden that the system could not cope with. … … The Soviet Union had become stagnant in an administrative and political sense as well. The Communist Party that had ruled the Soviet Union for over 70 years was not accountable to the people. Ordinary people were alienated by slow and stifling administration, rampant corruption, the inability of the system to correct mistakes it had made, the unwillingness to allow more openness in government, and the centralisation of authority in a vast land.” |