Discuss the views of the different sections on the attempts made by Gorbachev for reforming USSR.
Answers
Mikhail Gorbachev served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991. Before he assumed office, much attention went to building up the nation's military at the expense of development within the Soviet Union, which ultimately weakened the economy. Gorbachev was instrumental in several reforms which changed the military, cultural and political climates, which eventually led to his downfall.
Pre-Reform Environment
Although the government of the Soviet Union was Communist in name, it didn't emulate the values and structure of Communism. It reflected a more authoritarian, or even dictatorship, style of government. Citizens were highly controlled, as what they read, watched and said was monitored and their public lives were enforced in a way to prevent rebellion or resistance.Before 1985, political and social freedoms in the Soviet Union were minimal. Citizens were closely monitored about what they said about their country, as they were not free to openly criticize their nation's leadership.What the people knew was monitored too-the press wasn't free the way it is in the United States, and unfavorable stories about the government couldn't run. Censorship of other counties film, music and other cultural objects was in effect as well as books that the government found disagreeable with their ideology.The Soviet Union had been gaining power as a world player in the 1970s and 1980s, but with a new generation being brought up in this strict environment, reform
quickly became necessary.
Gorbachev's Reform Efforts
Gorbachev started reforming the Soviet Union by implementing policies to bring about individual freedom, bureaucratic transparency and to stimulate economic change, most notably with the Sinatra Doctrine and Glasnost.