r. Mikhael Gorbachev (1 jan 1985 ano – 1 jan 1991 ano)

Descrição:

He believed in communism but tried to revitalize the Soviet system with fundamental reforms. Immediately, he tried to attack bureaucratic corruption and incompetence and reduce the widespread problem of alcoholism. He worked to restructure the economy to provide for the real needs of the population, an economic restructuring called perestroika, by easing government price controls, giving more independence to state enterprises, and creating profit-seeking private cooperatives to provide personal services. At first successful, these reforms eventually caused shortages and dissatisfaction.

His new openness, or glasnost, of the government and the media was far more popular. Intellectuals, literature, and the media enjoyed significantly more flexibility. The nation also became more democratic, with candidates outside the Communist Party on the ballot for the first time since 1917. A minority of critical independents was elected to a revitalized Congress of people’s Deputies. An active civil society was emerging. This led to demands for greater autonomy from non-Russian minorities. Gorbachev withdrew troops from Afghanistan and, along with Reagan, halted the arms race with the U.S.

Gorbachev’s reforms then snowballed into independence movements from satellite states and the ultimate collapse of the Soviet Union.

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