Thread:For love and happiness!/@comment-26201338-20170507153227/@comment-30924651-20170507155455

Nationalism always rises if the empire is weak. That's a result, not a cause.

USSR's economy was bad because the country was intself bad for a good economy. When planned economy started collapsing during Lenin's rule, they just restored capitalism for several years, which get them more money. Stalin treated a country like a trainer treats an athlet. He was brutal but in the end his actions were good for economy. But then came Hrustsev, who had personal hate on Stalin because he executed his son and ruined all. For example Stalin created military fleet that could make USSR naval superpower but Hrustsev just destroyed it.

Also there was all that "Star Wars" -stuff. USA bluffed that they will create some mega-futuristic space gun and Soviets belived that and spent a lot of money to create something that could defeat it, ignoring national economy.