Gorbachev's reforms led to Soviet collapse from "summary" of The Cold War by John Lewis Gaddis
Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms, initiated in the mid-1980s, were intended to revitalize the Soviet Union, but they ultimately hastened its demise. Gorbachev's policies of glasnost, or openness, and perestroika, or restructuring, aimed to bring about transparency and efficiency within the Soviet system. However, these changes had unintended consequences that weakened the Soviet regime. The policy of glasnost, which allowed for greater freedom of expression and the press, led to a flood of criticism against the government. Citizens began to openly voice their grievances, questioning the legitimacy of the Communist Party and challenging the authority of the state. This newfound openness exposed the deep-seated problems and corruption within the Soviet system, eroding public trust in the government. At the same time, perestroika sought to modernize the Soviet economy by introducing elements of capitalism and decentralization. However, the rapid pace of these economic reforms destabilized the planne...
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