蘇聯是如何以及為何解體的？：英語精讀講義

Today's episode is sponsored by Audible.

本集節目由 Audible 贊助。

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今天即可透過30天的免費試用來獲取一本免費有聲書，

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只需在 audible.com/infographics 註冊即可。

Go to audible.com/infographics

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or text infographics to 500-500 to get started.

或傳送簡訊 infographics 到 500-500 即可開始。

Christmas Day 1991,

1991年聖誕節，

Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev announced "We are living in a new world."

蘇聯總統米哈伊爾·戈巴契夫宣布：「我們生活在一個新世界裡。」

And with these seven words,

伴隨著這短短幾個字，

the Soviet Union was dissolved and Gorbachev stepped down from his post. 片語動詞

蘇聯解體，戈巴契夫辭去了職務。

After 40 years of the Cold War and the threat of a nuclear holocaust,

歷經40年的冷戰和核浩劫的威脅，

the world's largest communist state broke up into 15 independent republics, 片語動詞

這個世界上最大的共產主義國家分裂成了15個獨立的共和國，

meaning the USA was now handed the accolade of new world superpower.

這意味著美國如今獲得了新世界超級大國的殊榮。

At its strongest,

在全盛時期，

the Soviet Union had over 5 million soldiers stationed around the world

蘇聯在世界各地駐紮了超過500萬名士兵，

and they all stepped down without a shot being fired under the new regime. 文法

而他們在沒有開一槍的情況下，都在新政權下退役了。

Today,

今天，

we will explore exactly what came to pass in this episode of The Infographics Show. 慣用語

我們將在這一集 The Infographics Show 中探索到底發生了什麼。

How and why did the Soviet Union collapse?

蘇聯是如何以及為何解體的？

In the late 1980s,

在1980年代末，

the Soviet Union appeared to be somewhat of a powerhouse, 片語搭配

蘇聯看起來還有些強國風範，

exhibiting a rigid recovery from the invasion of Afghanistan

展現出了從入侵阿富汗後僵化的恢復，

and with an economy that appeared to be performing well.

而且經濟似乎表現良好。

The Union appeared from the surface as powerful as it was back in the 1950s. 文法

從表面上看，這個聯盟似乎和1950年代一樣強大。

But looks can be deceiving. 慣用語

但外表可能是騙人的。

Beneath the facade, 慣用語

在表象之下，

the Soviet Union was splitting apart

蘇聯正在四分五裂，

and it had been happening for decades.

而且這種情況已經持續了幾十年。

Although there were many factors at play, 片語搭配

儘管有很多因素在起作用，

some reasons were as follows.

但一些原因如下。

Mikhail Gorbachev rose to power in 1985 片語搭配

米哈伊爾·戈巴契夫在1985年掌權，

with plans to reform the nation with a hybrid communist capitalist system

他計劃用類似於現代中國的那種

similar to modern-day China.

共產主義和資本主義混合體制來改革國家。

He also planned to ease restrictions on freedom of speech and religion. 片語搭配

他還計劃放寬對言論和宗教自由的限制。

Before this,

在此之前，

millions of Soviets were arrested for speaking out against the state. 片語動詞

數以百萬計的蘇聯人因發表反對國家的言論而被捕。

However,

然而，

his plan backfired 用詞

他的計劃適得其反，

as he discovered that the loosening of control over the people

因為他發現放鬆對人民的控制

and reforming political restrictions

以及改革政治限制

meant the people used their newfound powers

意味著人民利用他們新獲得的權力

to critique the government until they eventually succeeded

來批評政府，直到他們最終成功

in pushing for reform.

推動了改革。

This brand of communism had operated historically

這種共產主義模式在歷史上

on tight central control.

一直是在嚴格的中央控制下運行的。

The loosening of control led to the abandonment of the entire construct. 片語搭配

放鬆控制導致了整個體制的放棄。

Back in the days of Vladimir Lenin,

在弗拉迪米爾·列寧、

Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin,

列夫·托洛茨基和約瑟夫·史達林時代，

the Soviets were led with strong ideological beliefs tied to Marxism.

蘇聯受到與馬克思主義緊密相連的強大意識形態信仰的引導。

By the 1960s,

到了1960年代，

the radical policies of the past leaders

過去領導人的激進政策

were abandoned in favor of a more conservative approach. 片語搭配

被放棄，取而代之的是更保守的方法。

By the 1970s,

到了1970年代，

the Soviet people noticed the rise of the political elite

蘇聯人民注意到了政治菁英的崛起，

who lived in posh homes,

他們住在豪華別墅裡，

ate in fancy restaurants,

在高檔餐廳吃飯，

and spent their vacations at luxury ski resorts

在豪華滑雪勝地度假，

while millions of average Joes died from starvation. 用詞

而數百萬普通百姓卻死於飢餓。

Younger generations were less keen to toe the line 講解

年輕一代不像他們的父母那樣

as their parents had and were willing to step forward

熱衷於墨守成規，並願意站出來

and protest for change.

抗議要求改變。

These newer generations were more in tune with world events 慣用語

這些年輕一代更了解世界大事，

and slowly but surely began to pull at the strands of the political regime. 慣用語

並開始緩慢但堅定地拉扯政治體制的底線。

Cold War tensions with the United States rose in the '70s and '80s

70年代和80年代，與美國的冷戰緊張局勢升級，

and with Ronald Reagan's leadership

在隆納·雷根的領導

and the resulting increase in military spending,

以及隨之而來的軍費開支增加下，

it seemed that the US had won the nuclear standoff. 用詞

美國似乎贏得了這場核對峙。

The Strategic Defense Initiative, or SDI,

戰略防禦倡議，即 SDI，

claimed to be able to blast Russian missiles as they fell,

聲稱能夠擊落落下的俄羅斯飛彈，

meaning in theory,

這意味著在理論上，

the US could win the long-running battle of wits. 慣用語

美國可以贏得這場持久的智力戰。

Reagan also managed to isolate the Soviets 片語搭配

雷根還成功地將蘇聯

from the rest of the world economy

與世界其他經濟體孤立開來，

and without export sales in oil,

由於沒有石油出口銷售，

the Soviet economy was severely weakened and limited.

蘇聯經濟被嚴重削弱和限制。

The Soviets were unable to turn a corner 慣用語

蘇聯無法扭轉局面，

and in the 1980s,

在1980年代，

breadlines were commonplace as poverty soared. 文法

隨著貧窮加劇，排隊買麵包成了家常便飯。

Many people didn't have basic clothing or shoes

許多人連基本的衣服或鞋子都沒有，

and under these conditions,

在這些條件下，

it is only a matter of time 文法

人民呼籲政權更迭

before the people call out for regime change.

只是時間問題。

And then there is the nation structure itself.

其次是國家結構本身。

When you have 15 radically different republics under one flag

在同一面國旗下有15個截然不同的共和國，

with different ethnicities,

有著不同的民族、

cultures,

文化

and languages,

和語言，

there are bound to be inherent tensions. 文法

必然會存在固有的緊張關係。

1989 nationalist movements brought about regime change 片語動詞

1989年的民族主義運動帶來了

in Poland and Czechoslovakia

波蘭和捷克斯洛伐克的政權更迭，

as the Soviet satellite nations began to split away. 文化背景

隨著蘇聯的衛星國開始分裂出去。

As these nations began to pull away,

當這些國家開始脫離時，

the central apparatus was weakened until it finally collapsed. 用詞

中央機構被削弱，直到最終崩潰。

Due to all these factors, 表達脈絡

由於所有這些因素，

by 1991,

到1991年，

the Soviet Union was unable to maintain

蘇聯已無法在維持

a normal functioning economy

經濟正常運轉的

and run a huge military simultaneously.

同時維持龐大的軍隊。

Gorbachev,

戈巴契夫，

unwilling to go to war like his predecessors

不願意像他的前任

Lenin and Stalin might have done,

列寧和史達林那樣去發動戰爭，

instead pulled the plug on the military 慣用語

而是切斷了對軍隊的支援，

and the 15 republics went their separate ways. 慣用語

於是這15個共和國各奔東西。

Although a devoted Marxist, 文法

儘管戈巴契夫是一位忠誠的馬克思主義者，

Gorbachev was an independent thinker

但他也是一位獨立思考者，

who respected the need for reform

他尊重改革的必要性，

and planned a restructuring of the economy.

並計劃對經濟進行重組。

This,

這一點，

along with his vision to lessen the control

再加上他減少

held by central government

中央政府控制的願景，

and a move towards uncensored media,

以及向未受審查的媒體邁進的舉措，

laid the path for total reform.

為徹底改革鋪平了道路。

The seeds were planted 慣用語

種子已經種下，

and the Soviet Union was no more. 慣用語

蘇聯不復存在。

So today we looked at the downfall of the Soviet Union.

今天我們探討了蘇聯的垮台。

But if you want to know more about specific stories

但是如果你想了解更多關於冷戰期間

during the Cold War,

發生的特定故事，

we suggest listening to an audiobook on Audible

我們建議在 Audible 上聽一本有聲書，

called Stalking the Red Bear,

名叫《Stalking the Red Bear》，

the true story of a US Cold War submarine's

講述了一艘美國冷戰潛艦

covert operations against the Soviet Union.

針對蘇聯進行秘密行動的真實故事。

Audible is offering our listeners

Audible 為我們的聽眾提供

a free audiobook with a 30-day trial membership,

一本免費有聲書和30天的試用會員資格，

so you can check out this book risk-free. 片語動詞

這樣你就可以無風險地試聽這本書。

The great thing about Audible is

Audible 的絕佳之處在於

that you can switch seamlessly between your devices, 片語搭配

你可以無縫地在裝置之間切換，

picking up exactly where you left off, 片語動詞

從你停下的地方繼續聽，

whether it's on your phone,

無論是在你的手機上、

through your car,

在你的車裡、

from a tablet,

透過平板電腦，

or at home on an Amazon Echo.

還是在家裡用 Amazon Echo。

You can get through tons of books 片語動詞

你可以聽完大量的書，

while doing almost anything.

同時幾乎可以做任何事情。

Go to audible.com/infographics

前往 audible.com/infographics

and browse the unmatched selection of audio programs.

瀏覽無可匹敵的音訊節目精選。

Download a title free

免費下載一本書

and start listening.

然後開始收聽。

It's that easy.

就這麼簡單。

Go to audible.com/infographics

前往 audible.com/infographics

or text infographics to 500-500

或傳送簡訊 infographics 到 500-500

to get started today.

今天就開始吧。

So,

那麼，

what do you think?

你怎麼看？

Can communism work as a political model?

共產主義作為一種政治模式能行得通嗎？

For the countries that still operate under this system,

對於那些仍在這一體制下運作的國家來說，

what does the future hold for them? 慣用語

他們的未來會怎樣？

Let us know in the comments.

請在留言區告訴我們。

Also,

另外，

be sure to watch our other video

一定要看看我們的另一個影片，

called Most Common Ways People Died in the Middle Ages.

名叫《中世紀最常見的死法》。

Thanks for watching

感謝觀看，

and as always,

一如既往，

don't forget to like,

別忘了按讚、

share,

分享，

and subscribe.

並訂閱。

See you next time.

我們下次見。