Soviet Union dissolution

The Soviet Union dissolved in 1991 due to a combination of economic struggles, political reforms, and increasing regional independence movements. Decades of centralized control faced economic stagnation, leading to shortages and declining living standards. Reform efforts like glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) aimed to modernize but also loosened central authority. National republics sought greater independence, culminating in many declaring independence. These factors collectively undermined the USSR’s unity, leading to its formal breakup into 15 independent countries. The dissolution marked the end of the Cold War-era superpower and shifted geopolitical dynamics.