Falling oil prices made the giant on feet of clay fall. But how it got feet of clay in the first place?
First, it failed to be self-sufficient. USSR failed to make an independent economic ecosystem, it had to export oil and import numerous things it could not make inside (nor buy from other "communist" countries).
But second, communism failed to deliver the quality of life that first world boasted. Quality of life which of course included rock music, movies with violence and sex, and freedom of expression, but also good clothing, abundant tasty food and friendly service sector.
(I think that importance of Beatles is greatly exaggerated in the article, but I was born in 85 so I'm no expert on the exacts)
First, it failed to be self-sufficient. USSR failed to make an independent economic ecosystem, it had to export oil and import numerous things it could not make inside (nor buy from other "communist" countries).
But second, communism failed to deliver the quality of life that first world boasted. Quality of life which of course included rock music, movies with violence and sex, and freedom of expression, but also good clothing, abundant tasty food and friendly service sector.
(I think that importance of Beatles is greatly exaggerated in the article, but I was born in 85 so I'm no expert on the exacts)