Mikhail Gorbachev and the Collapse of Communism

Mikhail Gorbachev was the Soviet Communist leader who followed and pursued his own ideas. He followed his own ideas and demonstrated what a real government should be while straying away from Stalin’s ideas. Russia's history was ran by totalitarian rulers. Gorbachev represented a turning point because he didn't follow this way of government. The collapse started with Mikhail Gorbachev's policies of glasnost and perestroika. Glasnost is the declared public policy within the Soviet Union of openly and frankly discussing economic and political realities. Perestroika was an economic and political reform in the USSR which occurred during the Russian Revolution. These policies tried to open up and reform the old fashioned system of communism. In 1985 he announced a glasnost; this marked a turning point and brought many changes. The government allowed churches to open, he allowed books to be published by previously banned authors and freedom of the press rised. He encouraged Soviet citizens to discuss ways to improve their society. By opening the Soviet Union to other countries, Mikhail lessened the power of the Communist Party over the country. The political system slowly changed to something closer to a Democratic system, and the Communist Party lost control. Perestroika was another policy Gorbachev brought to the Russian economy. This policy allowed people to own their own small businesses which weren't owned buy the government. This made the economy more efficient and productive. He also introduced democratization, this allowed people to elect their own national leader through a list of candidates. Mikhail Gorbachev was one of the first leaders who slowly strayed away from communism. He opened up the economy, achieved his goals and allowed for positive change in Russia.