ABSTRACT
In previous chapters, we have discussed the fact that the party had lost its administrative functions and the Soviet system entered the phase of a power vacuum. In this chapter we will consider three days that shook the world, the attempted coup in August 1991, which was the attempt at filling the vacuum; its failure became the final blow to the party. Immediately after the coup failed, the party’s activity was suspended by Russian president Yeltsin. For understanding the development of the event, the following issues should be looked into. First, why was the coup attempted? Some argue that it was for reviving the old – that is, communist – regime. Others argue that the attempted coup was for maintaining social order. Second, what was the main organization that attempted the coup? While a view that the security organs, especially the KGB, played a leading role has been advanced by many researchers, others argue that the party led the coup.1 Third, why did the coup fail? It is too simple to argue that the resurgence of ‘civil society’ beat conservative forces. This chapter tries to answer these questions by analysing the relationship between the party and security organs during the final years of the perestroika period.
