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Mikhail Gorbachev had a great influence over the culminating desire for change in the Eastern Bloc. This movement effectively brought down the Berlin Wall as Gorbachev instigated the social ideas in the Soviet Union that encouraged nationalism amongst its neighbouring countries. Coming to power in 1985, he brought with him a desire to improve the USSR’s social and economic well being. Mike Sewell describes the changing face of Moscow. “Throughout 1986 the signals emanating from Moscow were mixed, but it was clear that new ideas were circulating in Moscow's highest policy making services.”(Mike Sewell, 2004). New ideas though were often met by opposition amongst his fellow statesmen, who desired to protect the reliably inefficient old system. The extended resistance from the bureaucracy in the USSR to structural change to the economy and social rights would increasingly make Gorbachev’s appear more compelling. He introduced the two significant ideas of Glasnost and Perestroika which essentially evolved into change far greater than Gorbachev intended or foresaw.
The initiation of Glasnost and Perestroika was intended to restructure the Soviet economy and government as well as encourage ‘openness’ in the USSR’s society. Gorbachev believed that the Soviet Union needed to head down a path of greater social liberty. “The new atmosphere is … most vividly manifest in glasnost. We want more openness about public affairs in every sphere of life. People should know what is good, and what is bad … to multiply the good and combat the bad… (M.Gorbachev, 1987). It encouraged the idea of political and social freedom, allowing for expression of opinion and the relaxation on censored media. Gorbachev's quote is corroborated by Tim Krauns view on Gorbachev's influence. “With the benefit of hindsight it appears that Gorbachev’s reforms in the Soviet Union played a key role. In Eastern Europe these kindled hopes of greater independence and meaningful social change.” (Tim Kraun, Jstor). Perestroika was introduced by Gorbachev to initiate semi private business, small influence within the government from citizens and achieve the economic success of capitalist nations such as the USA and Japan. Although ineffective, the old economic system could be relied upon to produce something. The Cold War Museum mentions how Glasnost and Perestroika combined to work against the Government. “Moreover, his (Gorbachev’s) policy of economic reform did not have the immediate results he had hoped for and had publicly predicted. The Soviet people consequently used their newly allotted freedom of speech to criticize Gorbachev for his failure to improve the economy.”(The Cold War museum.com, 2008).The invitations for foreign investment and privatisation led to a completely unfeasible economy. Stock prices were unpredictable as they swayed between the participation of the government and the value that people would actually pay. Historians Baylis and Smith draw a line between these reforms and the Soviet collapse. “Gorbachev’s reforms can be seen as short-term cause which ultimately tipped the scale and brought about the demise of the Soviet Union” (Baylis & Smith, 2005: 116). It was not long before this began to occur. |