Perestroika

Definition

Perestroika was a series of political and economic reforms initiated in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Gorbachev in the mid-1980s. The term literally means 'restructuring' in Russian, and it was a fundamental shift in Soviet policy that aimed to revitalize the country's stagnant economy and political system.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Perestroika aimed to decentralize the Soviet economy by allowing more market-based reforms and private enterprise, in contrast to the previous centralized command economy.
2. Gorbachev's policies of Perestroika and Glasnost were seen as a significant departure from the rigid, authoritarian rule of previous Soviet leaders.
3. Perestroika was a key factor in the collapse of the Soviet Union, as it led to increased political and economic liberalization that undermined the power of the Communist Party.
4. Perestroika contributed to the end of the Cold War by reducing tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States, paving the way for greater cooperation and the eventual dissolution of the Eastern Bloc.
5. The reforms of Perestroika were met with resistance from conservative elements within the Soviet government and military, leading to attempted coups and other challenges to Gorbachev's leadership.

Review Questions

• Explain how Perestroika was a departure from previous Soviet policies and how it contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
  • Perestroika represented a significant shift in Soviet policy, moving away from the rigid, centralized command economy and authoritarian rule of previous Soviet leaders. By introducing market-based reforms and increased political and economic liberalization, Perestroika undermined the power of the Communist Party and the centralized control that had defined the Soviet system. This led to increased demands for autonomy and independence from the Soviet republics, ultimately contributing to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
• Describe how Perestroika and Glasnost impacted the relationship between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War.
  • Perestroika and Glasnost, Gorbachev's policies of economic and political reform, represented a significant departure from the confrontational approach that had characterized the Soviet Union's relationship with the United States during the Cold War. These reforms reduced tensions between the two superpowers, leading to increased diplomatic and economic cooperation. This process of detente paved the way for the end of the Cold War, as the United States and Soviet Union began to work together on issues of mutual concern and reduce their ideological and military rivalry.
• Analyze the factors that led to the resistance and challenges faced by Gorbachev in implementing the reforms of Perestroika.
  • Gorbachev's efforts to implement Perestroika faced significant resistance from conservative elements within the Soviet government and military who were threatened by the political and economic liberalization. These conservative forces saw Perestroika as a dangerous departure from the established Soviet system and worked to undermine Gorbachev's leadership, including through attempted coups. The resistance to Perestroika reflected the deep-seated power structures and ideological divisions within the Soviet Union, which ultimately contributed to the collapse of the Soviet system as Gorbachev's reforms destabilized the existing order without a clear path forward.

Related terms

Glasnost:

Glasnost, meaning 'openness' in Russian, was a policy introduced by Gorbachev that allowed for increased transparency and openness in Soviet government and society.

Cold War:

The Cold War was the ongoing state of political and military tension between the Western Bloc, led by the United States, and the Eastern Bloc, led by the Soviet Union, that lasted from the late 1940s to the early 1990s.

Detente:

Detente was a period of improved relations and reduced tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1970s, characterized by diplomatic and economic cooperation.