Soviet citizens waiting in lines to buy goods. In the 1980s, Soviet leaders began reforms to change the country's governance. Mikhail Gorbachev implemented perestroika, glasnost, and demokratizatsia in the late 1980s, allowing more economic freedom and political openness. However, these reforms failed to save the Soviet Union, which dissolved in 1991, leaving newly independent countries with unstable governments, economies, and security situations.

1. Soviet citizens waiting in lines
to buy goods…..

2. Soviet Reforms
• In the 1980’s government leaders began to think of
changing the way the country was governed
• 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev came into power and he
created 3 big reforms
– Perestroika – allowed companies to make business
decisions
– Glasnost – allowed freedom to talk about the country’s
problems
– Demokratizatsia – freedom to vote for leaders other than
just communist leaders

3. Fall of Soviet Union
• By 1991 The Soviet Union fell, and countries became
independent, but they faced many problems.
– Government changed
– Warsaw pact dissolved, many countries wanted to join
NATO for protection
– Poor Economy
– Eastern European countries also wanted to join the
European Union for political and economic reasons.