Return of the USSR?

Was there ever a point during Russia's economic troubles in the 90's when there was an opportunity for former elements of the old Soviet regime to overthrow the Russian government and restore the USSR? Would such a coup have been likely to succeed if it had been attempted? Attempted coups in other former Soviet republics probably would've happened soon after as well, if not outright invasions. What would have been the international response to a resurgent Soviet Union?
 
Was there ever a point during Russia's economic troubles in the 90's when there was an opportunity for former elements of the old Soviet regime to overthrow the Russian government and restore the USSR? Would such a coup have been likely to succeed if it had been attempted? Attempted coups in other former Soviet republics probably would've happened soon after as well, if not outright invasions. What would have been the international response to a resurgent Soviet Union?

There was an attempted coup by the old guard in 1991 and it was crushed. It also had very little public support. And was massively opposed abroad. The problem is that too many of the Yeltsin and Putin generations (the people that would be needed to run a Soviet State) know that it doesn't work.

The other thing is Russia only gets through the 90s with foreign investment, especially Germany and the US. When Communism collapsed, their gold reserves turned out to be tiny. It was a bit like Europe after the war. Without outside assistance, they go nowhere.

A successful coup is not impossible, especially if the Yeltsin regime had been even more corrupt and incompetent than it was, but it would be a dead end.
 
While I was in Russia a guy told me that there was a time around 1995 where Yeltsin was so unpopular that everyone wanted the Soviet system back. I think it is possible for some Soviet elements (Politburo, Supreme Soviet, other naming stuff) to be returned, but you wouldn't have an open dictatorship or command economy, as it would be too unpopular.
 
Gennady Zyuganov leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation beats Yeltsin in the mid-1990 (forget the year) elections Yeltsin only won via outright-vote rigging, murder and western assistance. Coupled with the fact that Zyuganov bottled it. He could’ve taken the presidency, if he hadnt chickened out. Yeltsin was so ridiculously unpopular that only ’’fuck-up fatigue’’ prevented a major anti-Yeltsin revolt in the 1990's.

This might not mean the return of the ''U.S.S.R'' as most people think of it but the old Hammer & Sickle would fly over the Kremlin and Russia will be much better off. ‘’Western aid’’ came mostly in the form of helping Yelsin’s ‘’young reformers’’ to rip off the Russian nation and stash their loot in Swiss bank accounts. Putting a stop to that prevents a lot of long term misery.

The Communists would’ve at least tried to put to put some sane economic policies in place (oh the irony) but a return to a planned economy or seeing the Red Army swarming over the former SSR’s to recreate the evil empire is ASB. Unless parts of Ukraine, Belarus or Kazakhstan wish to re-form a union with Russia. (possible if Russia is doing better ITL and their economies tank as per OTL)
 
‘’Western aid’’ came mostly in the form of helping Yelsin’s ‘’young reformers’’ to rip off the Russian nation and stash their loot in Swiss bank accounts. Putting a stop to that prevents a lot of long term misery.

Very good point. The oil/gas company that part-time Londoner Roman Abramovich bought turned out to have been so under-valued that he only paid the Russian state 1% of what it was worth.

They ended up with a choice between the frying pan and the fire!

And people wonder why Russians always seem so paranoid
 

Blair152

Banned
There was an attempted coup by the old guard in 1991 and it was crushed. It also had very little public support. And was massively opposed abroad. The problem is that too many of the Yeltsin and Putin generations (the people that would be needed to run a Soviet State) know that it doesn't work.

The other thing is Russia only gets through the 90s with foreign investment, especially Germany and the US. When Communism collapsed, their gold reserves turned out to be tiny. It was a bit like Europe after the war. Without outside assistance, they go nowhere.

A successful coup is not impossible, especially if the Yeltsin regime had been even more corrupt and incompetent than it was, but it would be a dead end.
Are you referring to what I call the McCoups? Why do I call it that? Because the Old Guard planned it at McDonalds. :D
 
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