Perestroika, meaning restructuring, was a program of political and economic reform in the Soviet Union led by Mikhail Gorbachev, who became general secretary of the Communist Party in 1985. It aimed to revive a stagnant planned economy by allowing limited private enterprise, giving state firms more independence and opening some markets. It was accompanied by glasnost, or openness, which loosened censorship and allowed public criticism. Reforms also brought competitive elections to a new Congress of People's Deputies in 1989. The changes unleashed nationalist movements and economic shortages, a failed coup by hardliners in August 1991 weakened the central government, and the Soviet Union dissolved in December 1991.
Before and after
- 30 December 1984Birth of LeBron James
- 1985Everybody Wants to Rule the World
- 1985Construction of Bible Lands Museum
- 1985Introduction of new shekel
- from 1985 to 1991Perestroika
- 1985Founding of Economic Cooperation Organization
- 1985Trial of the Juntas
- c. 1980sIslamism in the Gaza Strip
- 1985Establishment of Krka National Park
More in Wars, politics & history
- from 5 June 1967 to 10 June 1967Six-Day War
- 11 February 1990Nelson Mandela is released from prison
- from 2 August 1990 to 28 February 1991Gulf War
- 20 February 2014Russo-Ukrainian war
- 31 January 2020Brexit
- 7 October 2023Gaza War
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.