The Soviet Union collapse

The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 due to a combination of economic struggles, political reforms, and increasing national independence movements. Its economy was weak and inefficient, struggling under central planning. Mikhail Gorbachev's policies of Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring) aimed to modernize the system but also loosened central control, leading to unrest and demands for independence among Soviet republics. Rising nationalism and dissatisfaction with economic conditions fueled breakaways. Eventually, these pressures caused the Soviet Union to dissolve into 15 independent countries, marking the end of Cold War superpower rivalry and a major shift in global geopolitics.