Frankenstein reforms & USSR's fall

Mikhail Gorbachev, the final leader of the Soviet Union, left an enduring impact on both Soviet history and global politics. His leadership initiated profound changes, and led to the USSR's collapse through his reformist policies: glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring). These policies reshaped the Soviet Union and played a critical role in ending the Cold War.

Advertisement

Born on March 2, 1931, in Privolnoye, Gorbachev grew up in a modest family under the harsh Stalinist regime. He attended Moscow State University, studied law, and quickly ascended the ranks of the Communist Party. By the 1970s, he was recognised for his competence and pragmatism. In 1985, Gorbachev became general secretary of the Communist Party, marking a shift from Leonid Brezhnev's stagnant leadership.

Gorbachev’s most significant contributions were his reforms aimed at addressing the inefficiencies within the Soviet system. Glasnost, introduced in the mid-1980s, encouraged transparency, freedom of expression, and public debate on previously suppressed issues, like political corruption and past atrocities. This policy fostered a more informed and participatory society, but it also exposed deep-rooted issues within the government and led to calls for greater reform and independence.

Simultaneously, Gorbachev introduced perestroika, a series of economic and political reforms to restructure the Soviet system. The focus was on decentralising economic control and introducing market elements. Perestroika aimed to reduce the central bureaucracy's power and grant local leaders more autonomy. While it led to some innovations, it also caused significant disruptions, with economic growth faltering, inflation rising, and shortages becoming more pronounced.

His foreign policy marked a willingness to engage with the West. A key achievement was the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with US President Ronald Reagan, which de-escalated the nuclear arms race. Gorbachev also oversaw the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan in 1989, ending a costly and unpopular military intervention. His flexible stance on Eastern Europe was instrumental in the peaceful end of communist rule in the region, symbolised by the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Politically, Gorbachev pushed for greater democratisation within the Soviet Union. He introduced a new legislative body, the Congress of People’s Deputies, which allowed for competitive elections and provided a check on the Communist Party's power. However, these democratisation efforts came too late to stabilise the Soviet system. By the late 1980s, nationalist movements within the USSR's republics had gained traction, with desires for greater autonomy or full independence growing, particularly in the Baltic States and other republics dissatisfied with Soviet rule.

Ultimately, the reforms Gorbachev introduced to modernise the Soviet Union led to its disintegration. As glasnost and perestroika weakened central authority, demands for autonomy intensified. The Baltic States were among the first to declare independence in 1990, followed by several other republics in 1991. The situation became increasingly unstable, culminating in the August 1991 coup attempt by hard-line communists to oust Gorbachev. Although the coup failed, it undermined his authority and accelerated the Soviet Union's collapse. In December 1991, Gorbachev resigned, and the USSR officially dissolved, giving way to 15 new independent republics.

Gorbachev's legacy is one of both triumph and tragedy. His reforms led to the end of the Cold War and the peaceful dissolution of the Soviet Union. He is praised for reducing nuclear tensions and allowing greater personal freedoms within the USSR. However, his policies also contributed to the collapse of the Soviet state, causing significant hardship for many citizens during the transition to a market economy. Whether viewed as a visionary or the final chapter in Soviet socialism's failure, Gorbachev’s leadership marked a turning point in global history, reshaping the geopolitical landscape.

Gorbachev will be remembered as the man who presided over the Soviet Union's final years and played a pivotal role in ending the Cold War.