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The death of the former leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Mikhail Gorbachev, brought to a close an era that witnessed fundamental reforms in Russian history. Through his glasnost and perestroika reforms, Gorbachev ensured greater freedoms for the people as well as free enterprise that eventually led to the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Apart from ensuring more freedom of expression and access to information, Gorbachev brought to an end the Cold war and engaged more with the West.
His regime also witnessed the dismantling of many nuclear weapons. He was regarded as a promoter of world peace. Gorbachev, who died on August 30, at 91, was the last leader of the defunct Soviet Union. He was in office from 1985 to 1991, when the Russian empire disintegrated. Born in 1931 to humble parentage, the late Gorbachev, a lawyer by training, served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 and as head of state in 1988. He was the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet from 1988 to 1989, Chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 1989 to 1990 and the only President of the Soviet Union from 1990 to 1991.
Gorbachev initially adhered to Marxism–Leninism ideology but moved towards social democracy by the early 1990s. He came to power at a critical time in the political history of the then Soviet Union, unleashing sweeping reforms that fundamentally altered the form and structure of the Republic.
Although committed to preserving the Soviet state and its socialist ideals, Gorbachev believed that significant reforms were necessary, particularly after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. He withdrew troops from the Soviet–Afghan War and embarked on summits with President Ronald Reagan of the United States (US) to limit nuclear weapons and end the Cold War. More than any other action, the accord with the US, lowered tension that characterised the then bi-polar international relations.
Domestically, his policy of glasnost (openness) allowed for enhanced freedom of speech and press, while his perestroika (restructuring) sought to decentralise economic decision-making and enhance its efficiency. His democratisation measures and formation of the elected Congress of People’s Deputies transformed the one-party state structure of the Union and introduced some form of democracy in place. His attempt to transform the Soviet Union with democratic reforms eventually triggered its demise. Widely considered as one of the most significant figures of the second half of the 20th century, Gorbachev will be remembered as a controversial figure. Known affectionately in the West as Gorby, he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for negotiating a historic nuclear arms pact with US leader, Ronald Reagan. He was praised for his role in ending the Cold War, introducing new political and economic freedoms in the Soviet Union, playing great role in the reunification of Germany and for signing a landmark nuclear arms reduction pact with the United States. Endorsing the nuclear arms reduction pact helped to strengthen the US/Soviet relations.
However, Gorbachev was often derided at home for facilitating the dissolution of the Soviet Union, an event which weakened Russia’s global influence and the economy of Russia and associated states. After his resignation, he launched the Gorbachev Foundation and campaigned for Russia’s social-democratic movement and world peace. There is no doubt that the exit of Gorbachev would create huge vacuum in his native Russia and the global community where he earned the reputation of a peace maker. Presently, the world is still in dire need of such charismatic leaders to steer it away from a nuclear holocaust. Following his demise, world leaders praised the former Russian leader for his remarkable social and political reforms in pursuit of global peace. No doubt, Gorbachev was a great leader and reformer. His contributions to world peace are indelible.
Regardless of how his compatriots judge him, history will be kind to Gorbachev, the leader who lived according to his own convictions and worked so much to ensure greater freedoms for his people. It will be good for the Russian people if its current leader, Vladimir Putin, can learn one or two lessons from the reforms of Gorbachev and use them to moderate his despotic grip on power.
