Gorbachev's Reforms and the Transformation of Russia

Russia and the Soviet Union's Path to Reform

After World War II, the Soviet Union and the United States engaged in a Cold War, trying to increase their worldwide influence. The Soviet Union extended over Eastern Europe, establishing permanent Communism. However, big changes and reforms were on the horizon.

Gorbachev Moves Toward Democracy

• Brezhnev and the Politburo (the ruling committee of the Communist Party) crushed all political disagreement and also restricted freedom of speech and worship.
• After Brezhnev's death in 1982, his two successors died after only about a year in office. Therefore, the Politburo debated between two men. One was Mikhail Gorbachev, who finally became the party’s new general secretary.
• The Politburo did not realize that this would enclose another Russian Revolution.
• Gorbachev decided to pursue new ideas unlike other Soviet leaders, who had created a totalitarian state.
• Gorbachev realized that economic and social reforms could not occur without a free flow of ideas and information. That’s why he announced in 1985 a new policy known as glasnost, or openness.

Gorbachev brought remarkable changes:

• Allowed churches to open
• Applied a rationing system
• Allowed the free publication of books by previously banned authors
• Investigated problems and criticized officials
• Started an economic restructuring

The new openness made Soviet citizens complain about their huge economic problems. Gorbachev blamed the economic inefficiency of the system on the Soviet Union central planning, which decided how much to produce, what wages to pay, and what prices to charge.

Perestroika and Economic Restructuring

In 1985, Gorbachev introduced the idea of perestroika, or an economic restructuring. People were allowed to open private businesses with the goal to improve the efficiency, profits, and productivity of the system. In order to do so, it was necessary that the Communist Party lose its grip on Soviet society and politics.

Democratization and Political Opening

A third new policy called democratization was launched in 1987. This would open the political system. The elections for a new representative body caused many surprises: voters, who at this time now had the right to choose among a list of candidates for each office, chose lesser-known candidates and reformers over powerful party bosses.

Shifts in Soviet Foreign Policy

Soviet Foreign Policy also changed. In peacetime history, military spending had been so expensive that Gorbachev realized its inability to afford the costly arms race. Arms control became one of Gorbachev’s top priorities.