Question

He was responsible for the disintegration of the Soviet Russia. In the light of this statement, discuss Gorbachev’s idea of political reforms.

Answer 1

1. Mikhail Gorbachev’s political reforms, intended to enhance democracy within the Soviet system, ultimately led to its disintegration.
2. Under Glasnost (openness), he let people speak freely and cut down on censorship, which showed problems with the government and wrongdoings from the past.
3. Perestroika (restructuring) saw the election of multiple candidates and the transfer of power from the Communist Party to elected organisations.
4. The goal of these changes was to bring life back to the USSR, but they actually made central control weaker, sparked nationalist movements, and reduced the Communist Party’s power. 
5. In the end, Gorbachev’s changes made the Soviet Union less stable, which led to its fall in 1991.