Glasnost

Glasnost, meaning "openness" in Russian, was a policy introduced by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the mid-1980s. It aimed to promote transparency in government and encourage public discussion and criticism. Glasnost allowed for greater freedom of expression, media, and cultural activities, challenging the controls that had long restricted information and opinion in the Soviet Union. This policy played a significant role in the social and political changes that ultimately contributed to the end of Soviet communism and the emergence of more democratic practices in Eastern Europe.