On this day March 11 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev became the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union making him the country's de facto leader. Gorbachev would go on to introduce major reforms including glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) which aimed to modernize the Soviet economy and society.
His leadership from 1985 to 1991 saw significant changes including improved relations with the West nuclear arms reduction treaties and ultimately the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Gorbachev’s reforms played a major role in ending the Cold War but also contributed to internal instability that led to the collapse of the USSR.
80s insight: Gorbachev was the first Soviet leader born after the Russian Revolution making him a new-generation leader compared to his predecessors.
His leadership from 1985 to 1991 saw significant changes including improved relations with the West nuclear arms reduction treaties and ultimately the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Gorbachev’s reforms played a major role in ending the Cold War but also contributed to internal instability that led to the collapse of the USSR.
80s insight: Gorbachev was the first Soviet leader born after the Russian Revolution making him a new-generation leader compared to his predecessors.
