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Article: Cold War (1972–1989): the Collapse of the Soviet
Union
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- Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, andSecurity
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Cold War (1972
–
1989): the Collapse of the Soviet Union
█
JOSEPH PATTERSON HYDER
By the early 1970s, the Soviet Union was at the peak of its power. The Communist Party remained the sole political force in the Soviet Union, but decades of post-Stalinist economic reforms left the Soviet empire with a seemingly robust economy and an increased standard of living for Soviet citizens. Wages in the Soviet Union increased sharply. The Soviet Union was the world's leading producer of steel and oil. Urban dwellers enjoyed modern appliances, such as televisions and dishwashers, and lived mostly in the plentiful newly-constructed single-family apartments.
In addition to these ...