Mikhail Gorbachev

Mikhail Gorbachev was the last leader of the Soviet Union, serving from 1985 until its dissolution in 1991. He introduced reforms like "glasnost" (openness) and "perestroika" (restructuring) to revitalize the Soviet socialist system, aiming to confront economic stagnation and increase political transparency. Gorbachev's policies encouraged freedom of expression and reduced state control, ultimately leading to greater demands for independence among Soviet republics. His efforts to reform Socialism contributed to the end of the Cold War, but also resulted in the collapse of the Soviet Union, fundamentally altering global politics and the landscape of Socialism.